Martin County approves Phase 1 of 3,900‑acre Ranch PUD, including two 18‑hole courses and habitat preservation

Martin County commissioners on Sept. 9 adopted a resolution approving the Phase 1 final site plan for the Ranch Planned Unit Development, a project applicant records describe as roughly 1,842 acres of a larger, approximately 3,900‑acre site near Southwest Canner Highway and Southwest Bridge Road.

The approved Phase 1 plan covers two 18‑hole golf courses, a short course, clubhouse and training facilities, seven golf cottages, maintenance buildings, about 500 acres of bona fide agricultural land, and a package of wetland preserves and buffers intended for restoration and long‑term management.

The county’s principal planner, John Sennett, said staff found the application consistent with Martin County Land Development Regulations and the Martin County Comprehensive Growth Management Plan and recommended approval.

The development team highlighted environmental restoration and off‑site public benefits in presentations to the board. Environmental consultant Toby Overdorf said the owner wants to "restore this area to a place that I'm gonna be really proud of," and described plans to rehabilitate degraded wetlands and littoral shelves and to preserve a heron rookery with a voluntary large buffer.

Project engineer Jason Weber of Kimley‑Horn told commissioners the stormwater and water‑quality design exceed regulatory requirements: "We went above and beyond what the requirement is ... by 52%" for required treatment volume on Phase 1 and reported modeled reductions in nutrient loading of about 23% for nitrogen and 42% for phosphorus versus the site's predevelopment agricultural condition. Weber also said the design reduces discharge rates and holds more water on site compared with preexisting conditions.

Commission discussion addressed public‑safety service capacity. Commissioner Vargas asked whether the developer would pay for a staffed fire station. County staff and the applicant said the project met the county's current concurrency and level‑of‑service tests for fire rescue and has reserved capacity through the certificate of public facilities reservation required with the site plan; the county attorney noted each subsequent final site plan must again reserve capacity and be reviewed.

Speakers from the applicant and community described several off‑site and community benefits tied to the project: the applicant has contributed roughly $50,000 in‑kind work cleaning invasive species from Banner Lake on the Pine School campus; the ranch team committed about $750,000 in‑kind to renovate the South Fork High School par‑3 golf course and engage students in turf and greenskeeping mentorship; the project team also proposed donating at least 20 acres to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) for an active agricultural demonstration site. Tom McNicholas, representing the applicant, described the combined contribution to schools, IFAS and local sports fields as part of the project's public benefits.

Commissioners and several public speakers framed the project as preserving a large share of open space while allowing a limited, concentrated development footprint. Commissioners noted the PUD, as approved, retains substantial upland and wetland preserves and a large acreage of active agricultural land.

Commissioner Campey moved adoption of the resolution approving the Phase 1 final site plan; Commissioner Capps seconded. The board voted unanimously to approve the resolution.

The approval implements the PUD and authorizes staff to file the adopted resolution and associated preserve area management plan. Subsequent final site plans for later phases must demonstrate continued compliance with concurrency and reservation of public‑facility capacity.