Commissioners approve subdistrict change to allow continued RV park use in Hobe Sound

Martin County commissioners voted unanimously Jan. 28 to adopt an ordinance amending Division 5, Hope Sound, Article 12 of the county’s community redevelopment code to change the CRA subdistrict on a property at 10705 Southeast Federal Highway from the General subdistrict to the Corridor subdistrict.

The change clears the way for Florida’s Mobile Park LLC to retain the site’s recreational-vehicle park use and pursue a redevelopment plan that would make the existing RV use permitted under the corridor rules, county staff said.

Senior planner John Sennett told the board the site is roughly 7.98 acres in the Hobe Sound CRA, bounded by Federal Highway to the west, Dixie Highway to the east and Porter Boulevard to the north. Sennett said recreational-vehicle parks are not permitted in the current General subdistrict, and the applicant sought the subdistrict change so the existing RV park can be recognized as a permitted use and so the owner can pursue redevelopment.

Brad Curry of Haley & Ward, representing the owner, said the property has operated as an RV resort since the owner purchased it in 2010 and that a subdistrict change is the first step to any larger redevelopment, including replacing an on‑site package sewage treatment plant with a lift station to tie to municipal sewer. Curry said the owner, Susie and Mike Graham, have improved the property since acquiring it.

Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant about whether the corridor subdistrict would allow different development than exists today. Sennett and Curry said the corridor and general subdistricts share the same development standards for maximum residential density (10 units per acre), building coverage (60 percent), maximum height (30 feet, two stories) and minimum open space (20 percent). That means density caps would remain the same whether the property is developed with RV spaces or multifamily units, they said.

Commissioner Capps moved approval. Commissioner Campey seconded. After brief comments noting the owner’s cleanup of the property and the potential public benefit of tying the site to municipal sewer, the board voted to adopt the ordinance.

The local planning agency had previously voted 4‑0 (with one absence) to approve the subdistrict change, and development review staff reported the application complies with the county’s land development regulations and comprehensive plan, Sennett said.

The ordinance alters only the CRA subdistrict designation for the subject parcel; any specific redevelopment, including a site plan change, sewer tie‑in, stormwater improvements or conversion to a different land use, would require separate review and approvals, staff said.

The applicant and staff told commissioners any future redevelopment would require a site plan and related permitting, and the owner would be responsible for constructing and maintaining any lift station needed to connect to South Martin Regional Utilities. The board’s action was limited to the subdistrict change and did not approve any specific site plan or construction.

Commissioners also noted the Hope Sound Neighborhood Advisory Committee had reviewed the application and spoke favorably of the owner’s long‑term vision for the property.

The ordinance passed unanimously.