The Martin County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Dec. 9 to approve a revised final site plan allowing Meadow Run to install a gated rear entrance to Southwest Layton Farm Avenue, an alternative access the neighborhood said will cut emergency response times and provide an additional evacuation route.

The decision follows testimony from residents who said emergency responders were misrouted or delayed by GPS to a locked back gate. "They could not get in," said Kathy Jensen, a Meadow Run resident, recounting two summer incidents in which sheriff deputies arrived at the back gate but initially could not access the community. "It took all that time for them to get turned around." Her account was echoed by other homeowners who described narrow pavement, limited lighting and safety concerns along Layton Farm Avenue.

County staff and design professionals told commissioners the proposed gated entrance meets Martin County standards for access, queuing and emergency vehicle circulation. Sean McKenzie, a professional engineer with McKenzie Engineering and Planning, said the gate "meets all of the county standards for access" and will include adequate lighting, queuing and a gated call box to control entry.

Why it matters: Meadow Run currently relies on a single full access point on Citrus Boulevard and an emergency gate that county staff described as a 20‑foot easement with only 10 feet paved—insufficient for regular two‑way traffic or for heavy construction vehicles. Supporters said the rear gate will reduce emergency travel distance and could lower insurance costs for residents by bringing response times inside policy thresholds.

What was decided: After a quasi‑judicial hearing that included sworn testimony from planners and engineers and extended public comment, commissioners moved and approved the resolution adopting the revised final site plan. The motion passed unanimously.

Conditions and limitations: Commissioners discussed but did not adopt a strict, enforceable prohibition on contractor or heavy‑equipment use of the back gate, noting enforcement challenges. Staff and the applicant said signage, lighting, and design details would be included in the approved site plan to guide safe traffic flow, and the gate will operate with a call‑box access control system.

Next steps: The applicant will implement the site‑plan improvements per the development order and county engineering approvals. County engineering and growth‑management staff will monitor post‑approval details such as lighting and signage. The commission deferred additional enforcement ideas to the community and county staff to implement as feasible.

The board moved on to other agenda items after the Meadow Run vote.