[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6215954,"mediaKeyId","3655799-e18343ee6ce7873380535f836b449e5a","parentId",3655799,"title","St. Lucie County to require neighborhood meetings for major rezoning and streamline final site‑plan review","audioSeconds",738,"startMs",2747000,"endMs",3485000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3655799-e18343ee6ce7873380535f836b449e5a&start=2747&end=3485","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3655799-e18343ee6ce7873380535f836b449e5a/thumbnail_2747000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6215954/St-Lucie-County/Florida/St-Lucie-County-to-require-neighborhood-meetings-for-major-rezoning-and-streamline-final-siteplan-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215954-9a2e0d55475f7fe7397838fe9c6fb4b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103273&Signature=VIFuaAcFeCCdNwlzlUN7vQf1JoX-mXpg8gspzhtpzfuS16XlLxTmD6gm2hQPEX5uBFxkdHSCb6GD8kzPxxtlldwdnDfGPqirB~-59tB2kIAEpkNjuHbG6xKycKeffyFINhc0mcYIC8RZYvkLUdd-fXUMDQleYgLH-vp-PsLQ12sZuiip~APn6mZWsfaicXXC09iAx1Do064VIkuo8-Ty8Jz9MQn2bpRA24ASEhETE7N51OLDWZCYD1UA3vDML4R5NHZKi6BBxbqQOpzIKD7t9TFvN38J4MDP4c5bE5G9PY2XmpUcaD58WHn0bfm3JTTpOlYT8~tAVpbdIvrwj972Hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Lucie County, FL ","date","2025-06-04T12:17:35Z","article","The St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously at its June meeting to move forward with a Land Development Code text amendment that would require community participation meetings for several types of major development applications and would allow some final site plans that conform to an approved preliminary plan to be approved administratively.

The change is intended to increase early public engagement on planned development rezonings and similar large applications, clarify thresholds for administrative review, and bring the county’s code into alignment with recent state statutory changes such as the Live Local Act.

Planning staff presented the draft ordinance, saying it would require mandatory community participation meetings for planned development rezonings (including PUD, PNRD, PMUD), conditional use permits, and certain future land‑use map amendments to Mixed or Special District categories. The draft sets meeting standards: weekday evening meetings held near the project or at a county facility, scheduled between 20 and 120 days before the first public hearing; applicants must mail notice to property owners and invite Planning and Development Services staff and provide a written summary to the project manager after the meeting. Ben Balser, Planning and Development Services, told commissioners the changes “improve transparency, legal consistency and efficiency within the development review process.”

The draft also expands the scope of projects eligible for review under the minor site plan process — for example, permitted uses up to 106,000 square feet or residential projects under 1,000 dwelling units, provided planning is not otherwise required — and would allow final site plans that conform to a Board‑approved preliminary plan to be approved administratively. Planning staff noted the code retains a director’s ability to classify any application as a major site plan if public safety, public facilities or natural resource impacts warrant Board review.

The Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended larger mailed‑notice radii; during the meeting commissioners approved a motion to adopt the mailing distances recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission: mailed notice to property owners within 1,000 feet if the site is inside the Urban Service Boundary and 1,500 feet if the site is outside the Urban Service Boundary. Commissioner Clasby said expanding the notice radius would bring more nearby residents into early conversations and “is a good step.” The Board scheduled the ordinance’s second reading for July 1, 2025.

The ordinance also incorporates statutory provisions from the 2023 Live Local Act so qualifying affordable housing projects may be processed through the county’s minor site plan process as required by state law.

Staff and some commissioners said future code refinements may be needed, including possible additional detail required for preliminary PUD submissions so the Board sees sufficient information at the rezoning stage. Staff will return to the Board for a second reading on the date set by the motion.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","St. Lucie County BOCC Regular Meeting, June 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to schedule a second reading on July 1 of a Land Development Code amendment that will require community participation meetings for many major development applications and expand administrative review of final site plans.","taxTitle","St. Lucie County, Florida","taxId",2868,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6215959,"Commissioners deny appointment to Affordable Housing Committee after public allegations of threats and trespass",1073,2162000,3235000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3655799-e18343ee6ce7873380535f836b449e5a&start=2162&end=3235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3655799-e18343ee6ce7873380535f836b449e5a/thumbnail_2162000.jpg","/articles/6215959/St-Lucie-County/Florida/Commissioners-deny-appointment-to-Affordable-Housing-Committee-after-public-allegations-of-threats-and-trespass","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215959-b0de947007f00bb0964c94e622240036/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103273&Signature=PLtPhl9ar43jIkOUTYWAgfXs5NcCd3X~vuMA8wqBc8JlPIlCvp~F-mli1b9ZU2WTgRGFn5mfydgnggrblEUX4FIi9f~OJhnm99hI3rF3bHvF17-diRCGd0eHVuqgl30Vft9bQyg1iAxNRFQJ3vafPMdYsi9BQ9XMDEC9g2p-wOOdhmEhgjh3nbvbsee2jgObZ-AyhcFWJaYFIDWYERfQIYw65B6eUNVXxj1AuQDU7R7yi80tKiKvU8VV8RjFkzgzDsSy1AvBSF2ClP4cpwrfK1JMvW5mMfeFhVjjzDTV~EgEJzH0j7vyPcQVKRvvfztchLof91R6VV8twSbcaEaZLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Lucie County commissioners voted 3–2 at their June meeting to deny an appointment to the Affordable Housing Committee after public testimony raised concerns about the nominee's past conduct.

The decision matters because advisory boards such as the Affordable Housing Committee influence policy and recommendations the Board may rely on for housing programs and funding. Several commissioners said those responsibilities require appointees with stable judgment and conduct.

Public commenter Rick Reed urged commissioners to reconsider the appointment and described the nominee, identified in public comment as Mario Wilcox, as having a pattern of threatening emails, saying Wilcox had been trespassed from St. Lucie County school properties and “sent out over a hundred emails threatening several of y’all” and at times included images of firearms. Reed said the nominee “claims to be a minister of the gospel, a community activist, and retired military” and that his conduct was “atrocious.”

Commissioner Townsend, who said the nominee had been her appointee and had previously been removed from another board in December, told the chamber she could not “consciously vote and support returning him to that appointed position because I still have concerns.” Commissioner Lee echoed that position. Commissioner Clasby, who nominated the individual, said he believed the appointment offered an avenue for the person to be productive and pledged to monitor the appointee closely.

Board counsel told commissioners there is no explicit requirement in the code that the Board ratify governor or commissioner appointees, but that the county follows a longstanding practice of Board ratification; he said the county’s usual policy is to bring appointments before the Board for approval. The Board then took a motion to deny the appointment. The roll call on the motion to deny the appointment recorded Commissioner Lawrie: yes; Commissioner Clasby: no; Commissioner Lee: yes; Commissioner Townsend: yes; Chair Fowler: no. The motion to deny the appointment therefore carried 3–2.

Staff and several commissioners noted that the public can still attend and speak at committee meetings; the Affordable Housing Committee meeting was scheduled for the following morning, and counsel said the appointee could attend as a member of the public but not participate as a voting committee member without formal appointment.

The Board did not adopt additional restrictions during the meeting. Commissioners who opposed the appointment said their vote reflected concern about protecting residents and the credibility of advisory panels; the commissioner who made the nomination said he would remove the person if problems arise on the committee.

Clarifying details: the nominee was reported by a public speaker to have been trespassed from school property and to have sent “over a hundred emails” with threatening language; Commissioner Townsend said she had removed the individual from a previous appointment in December; Board counsel said ratification by the Board is historical practice but not expressly required in the county code.

The Board took no further formal action on the matter at the meeting; the denial of the appointment stands as the formal outcome.

","St. Lucie County commissioners voted 3–2 to deny an appointment to the Affordable Housing Committee after public comments alleging the nominee had been trespassed from school property and sent repeated threatening emails.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6215950,"County accepts airport connector study and endorses Alignment D as preferred route",2582,3762000,6344000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3655799-e18343ee6ce7873380535f836b449e5a&start=3762&end=6344","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3655799-e18343ee6ce7873380535f836b449e5a/thumbnail_3762000.jpg","/articles/6215950/St-Lucie-County/Florida/County-accepts-airport-connector-study-and-endorses-Alignment-D-as-preferred-route","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215950-88f44b2c20cbc39564f290e13c8c06e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103273&Signature=E0CFUbEQr36Lh0uQOPQqVq6WSQbmEw1dOGxlaUE6XW5z7ut6smJ1aCtw7v4y2m3Cw7WYiZgZ1Xzw1SmK8b6qTAjB2DYop-fjOK3io-jtZllMrW3CH-xOrcXwF8iC7d2wDTDki8Dr1kyX~DcPjyaXgwRIHzf3CPkiBmILgAEQ5T8CiflVDz9wUwZg3MbHgi9znfhDhluM89ZC4sEuyN386x5Z6amdW7cxJq8WqQpebfXHLJ-SeZ1I4DEJQTfCiQp-iU9MabWhLSXYZbaB8SsUEXtBOTzMmpDJaI3-wASbBUp9rVy2Tuq6eU1-5HBgOXVX1SEAZ-svIi30pBSHLqp5KQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners accepted an alternatives analysis and endorsed “Alignment D” as the preferred route for a proposed Treasure Coast Airport connector between Kings Highway and I‑95, officials said at the June meeting.

County staff and consultants said the connector — envisioned as a four‑lane, divided arterial with a 160‑foot right‑of‑way, a 22‑foot raised median, five‑foot paved shoulders and 10‑foot multi‑use trails on both sides — would provide a more direct route to Treasure Coast International Airport, improve mobility for employment centers in the Airport Commerce Park and reduce congestion on Kings Highway and Indrio Road.

Patrick Deyen, Public Works director, said the study was funded in partnership with the Treasure Coast Transportation Planning Organization and is intended to give staff a defined corridor to reference as development applications come forward. “The recommendations of the study provide that specificity to staff as development occurs,” Deyen said.

Kimley‑Horn consultant Brian Goode reviewed nine alternative alignments plus a no‑build option. The preferred Alignment D was recommended because it met planning and safety objectives, generally follows existing or planned right‑of‑way corridors, has relatively low acquisition needs (about 34 acres), the second‑lowest capital cost estimate (about $49 million) and the smallest wetland impact among evaluated routes (approximately 2.5 acres), the study reported. Alignment G, the study noted, had the single lowest capital estimate but slightly greater wetland and acquisition impacts.

The analysis also estimated public‑safety benefits: over a 30‑year horizon the connector could reduce crashes by roughly 1,000 incidents with a corresponding monetized value cited by the study.

Commissioners stressed this is a corridor study, not approval to build. Goode and Deyen noted many steps remain, including detailed interchange justification with FDOT to connect to I‑95, environmental permitting, right‑of‑way acquisition, and design and construction phases; an interchange justification report and additional engineering studies would be required before any physical connection to I‑95. The Board accepted the report and approved staff moving forward with the next coordination steps.

The study will be used as a reference when developers are asked to set aside right‑of‑way and when staff evaluates future land‑use and site plans near the proposed corridor.

","St. Lucie County accepted a study recommending ‘Alignment D’ as the preferred Treasure Coast Airport connector route, citing lower right‑of‑way needs, limited wetland impacts and alignment with planned development; the project remains a long‑range plan requiring further engineering, permitting and funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

St. Lucie County to require neighborhood meetings for major rezoning and streamline final site‑plan review

Commissioners deny appointment to Affordable Housing Committee after public allegations of threats and trespass

County accepts airport connector study and endorses Alignment D as preferred route