Martin County approves purchase of Port Salerno parcel to create public green space

Martin County commissioners voted unanimously Sept. 23 to finalize acquisition of a roughly one‑acre parcel at 4070 Southeast Salerno Road in Port Salerno and to begin a future‑land‑use map amendment that will classify the site as general institutional.

Real property staff told the board the county had entered a conditional contract with the owner, Christina Waldron Fortin, for a purchase price of $604,375. Staff presented two appraisals; the meeting record shows the average of those appraisals as $622,500. The parcel abuts Salerno Creek, which connects to the Salerno Creek retrofit stormwater treatment area, and contains an existing 914‑square‑foot structure and a detached garage.

Mandy Johns, real property professional with the county’s public works department, said funding will come from District 4 MSTU (municipal service taxing unit) funds and that, after closing, the county will initiate a future land‑use map amendment from CRA center to general institutional consistent with county practice for public properties. Johns said the plan is to remove the existing structure and retain the property as green space, working with the district commissioner and the community on whether the site should remain passive or include minor improvements.

Commissioners who spoke in favor said the parcel provides an opportunity to preserve waterfront access and to link publicly owned parcels to create an integrated open‑space and pedestrian plan for Port Salerno’s community redevelopment area. The motion to approve the contract, accept the warranty deed after closing and initiate the map amendment passed unanimously.

County staff said the acquisition is intended as the start of a coordinated open‑space blueprint for Port Salerno, consistent with comprehensive plan policy objectives calling for connected civic open space and pedestrian/cyclist connectivity within CRAs.