Commissioners authorize P3 solicitation for mixed-use county facility including wellness clinic and medical offices
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Summary
The board approved a two-step solicitation for a public‑private partnership to develop a county facility combining a possible backup dispatch center, leased medical office space and a county wellness clinic; the board also directed staff to initiate a land-use map amendment for a portion of county property.
Martin County commissioners on Oct. 21 approved a solicitation to explore a public‑private partnership (P3) to build a multi-use facility on county land that could include a backup dispatch center, leasable medical office space and the county’s planned wellness clinic.
The board approved a two-step competitive process: (1) a request for qualifications (RFQ) to identify qualified developers, and (2) a request for proposals (RFP) for the top two or three selected teams. The county will evaluate proposals with assistance from outside advisors and return to the board with evaluation results and recommendations.
Why this matters: A P3 could allow the county to access private-sector design and construction expertise, attract a tenant to lease medical space, and reduce upfront capital costs while ultimately providing county services in a modern facility. Commissioners also supported a related Land‑Use Map amendment to change a portion of the county parcel’s designation from Institutional General to Commercial Office Residential to permit medical uses on the site.
What staff proposed and what the board approved - Assistant County Administrator Mac Grama and General Services Director Sean Donahue outlined a two‑step solicitation: an RFQ to screen developers followed by an RFP for shortlisted proposers. Consultants (broker/advisor Kirschman Wakefield) will help evaluate financing proposals and construction approaches. - The project would be on county-owned land currently zoned institutional general; the board authorized initiating a Future Land Use Map amendment to permit commercial office/residential uses needed for medical offices and related revenue generation.
Key points raised by commissioners and staff - Commissioners said the P3 model could speed delivery by leveraging private development expertise for specialized spaces such as medical offices or dispatch backup centers; they discussed term lengths, ownership at lease-end and opportunities to preserve county control of land and design standards. - Staff said typical P3 or lease‑purchase terms could be 15–30 years depending on financing, with details to be negotiated in proposals.
Next steps - County staff will issue the RFQ, evaluate responses, shortlist two to three proposers and issue an RFP. Staff will return to the board with evaluation results and a recommended proposal for approval. - Separately, staff will start the formal land‑use map amendment process and return to the board for any required public hearings.
Ending: The board’s vote initiates a competitive procurement and land‑use amendment process that could lead to a privately developed facility serving county needs and generating rental revenue; the board will review proposals and any final agreements in future meetings.
