The Port St. Lucie City Council on Aug. 11 approved multiple ordinances and resolutions covering land use changes, a property acquisition and improvements partnerships. The council passed a rezoning, abandoned a utility easement, extended its community redevelopment area, authorized the city to buy the county’s annex building and approved a planning special exception for a Murphy USA convenience store with fuel sales subject to conditions on gateway signage and landscape buffering.

Votes at a glance (outcomes recorded in meeting transcript):

- Ordinance 25-39 (rezoning): Approved. Summary: Rezones approximately 8.31 acres north of Northwest Enterprise Drive from an industrial zoning district to Warehouse industrial zoning district (property described as Lot 6, Saint Lucie West Plat No. 133). Motion carried; recorded outcome: motion carries (transcript recorded 'Aye' and 'Motion carries').

- Ordinance 25-43 (abandon easement): Approved. Summary: Abandonment of a portion of a 20-foot-wide rear utility and drainage easement affecting Lot 69, Block 53, South Port St. Lucie, Unit 5 (plat book citations listed in the ordinance). Public hearing opened and closed with no public comment; motion carried.

- Ordinance 25-44 (CRA plan amendment/extension): Approved. Summary: Amendment and extension of the revised original Community Redevelopment Area plan to June 11, 2055. Public hearing held with no public comment recorded; motion carried.

- Ordinance 25-45 (acquisition of county annex, tract K): Approved. Summary: City to acquire the County Annex building at 1664 SE Walton Road (Tract K, Port St. Lucie Section 61). Key fiscal and contractual points presented to council: two appraisals (St. Lucie County appraisal $4,200,000; city appraisal $5,500,000), agreed purchase price $4,372,000, an inspection period of 90 days and closing 30 days after inspection expiration, and an agreed settlement payment of approximately $427,000 required by a prior settlement. The city will execute a lease back to St. Lucie County for about 18 months; the county, as lessee, will be responsible for building and site maintenance during the lease. Council discussion identified the acquisition as supporting the Walton and 1 master plan and economic-development strategy; motion carried.

- Resolution 25-R-28 (Murphy USA special exception): Approved with conditions. Summary: A special-exception use under section 158.124.C.11 to allow a convenience store with fuel sales (Murphy Oil USA) in the CG General Commercial zoning district at the northeast corner of SW Port St. Lucie Boulevard and SW Bayshore Boulevard. The Planning & Zoning Board had recommended approval with a staff condition requiring a recorded city gateway-sign easement prior to issuance of the first building permit. During the council discussion members expressed concern about ingress/egress and the visual appearance of the site as a city gateway; council added language directing that the site plan comply with landscape standards and that staff/landscape professionals ensure adequate buffering and screening around the proposed gateway sign. Council voted to approve the special exception with the staff-recommended gateway-sign easement condition and to require the enhanced landscape buffering in the site-plan process; motion carried.

- Resolution 25-R-44 (CRA extension per state statute): Approved. Summary: Formal city resolution approving the extension of the CRA to June 11, 2055 in accordance with the cited section of Florida Statutes; motion carried.

- Resolution 25-R-45 (interlocal for Prima Vista Boulevard improvements): Approved. Summary: Authorized execution of an interlocal agreement with St. Lucie County for funding of county improvements along Prima Vista Boulevard from NE Estia Lane to NE Naranja Avenue; motion carried.

Vote tallies and procedure: The roll call at the meeting recorded five council members present; individual roll-call votes were not read aloud for each item in the transcript excerpts provided. For each motion the transcript shows unanimous voice votes (“Aye”) and the mayor stating “Motion carries.” Where public hearings were required, the transcript records that no members of the public spoke for several items.

What the approvals mean: Several approvals are administrative steps enabling development, property acquisition and intergovernmental coordination. The Murphy USA special exception was approved but conditioned to require a recorded gateway-sign easement and enhanced landscaping/screening per staff/landscape-architect review; the county annex acquisition includes a short-term lease back to the county and sets an agreed purchase price and closing schedule.

Documentation: The clerk entered ordinance/resolution texts into the record during the meeting; the council referenced staff reports, appraisals and consultant materials during deliberations.