The Martin County Local Planning Agency on Oct. 2 approved a rezoning application for about 111.11 acres at 5000 Southwest Green Farms Lane in Palm City, changing the parcel from an A-2 agricultural district to an AG-20A general agriculture district.

Luis Aguilar, principal planner for the Growth Management Department, told the panel the request (G091-002) includes a mandatory rezoning because a recorded covenant affects part of the property and the application also requests a certificate of public facilities exemption. "Development review staff have found 5000 Southwest Green Farms Lane rezoning application to comply with all applicable regulations and the comprehensive growth management plan as detailed in the staff report," Aguilar said.

The parcel, owned by 5000 Southwest Green Farms Lane LLC, is undeveloped and lies about 2 miles south of the Martin Highway interchange with I‑95. The county staff report and the applicant describe the property’s future land use designation as agricultural and say adjacent lots along Southwest Green Farms Lane are also agricultural.

Under the AG-20A district described in the staff report, minimum lot area is 20 acres, minimum lot width is 300 feet, maximum building height is 30 feet, minimum open space is 50 percent and front, rear and side setbacks are 50 feet. Aguilar said the AG-20A district is intended to implement comprehensive plan policies for agricultural density in parcels exceeding 20 acres and is compatible with nearby uses.

Responding to a board question about prior dredging and a covenant on the site, the applicant’s attorney said the lake fill work continues under existing permits and the applicant will comply with those requirements. "The lake continues to be filled as part of that agreement that was concluded with the prior property owner, and so we'll continue that process until the lake is filled," the applicant’s representative said. The panel chair noted that the covenant on part of the property will be removed as part of the rezoning process.

There were no interveners or members of the public who spoke. The chair moved to approve the application and a second was made; the motion passed unanimously. Growth Management Director Paul Schilling told the agency that several applications are on the Nov. 6 agenda and encouraged members to attend.

The decision changes the county zoning atlas for the subject parcel and was recorded on the agency’s Oct. 2 docket. No separate vote counts were read into the record.