Fort Pierce planning board tables annexation of 2.03-acre parcel owned by Goose Development Fund LLC

The Fort Pierce Planning Board on Monday tabled consideration of a voluntary annexation request from Goose Development Fund LLC for a 2.03-acre parcel near the intersection of East Market Avenue and South U.S. 1.

Senior planner Carrie Driver presented the application on behalf of the planning department, saying the parcel (Parcel ID 243450100040005) is in unincorporated St. Lucie County, contiguous to the Fort Pierce city boundary, and inside the Fort Pierce Utility Authority service area. Driver said the county’s current future land use for the parcel is commercial (COM) and the applicant proposed changing the city future land use to RL (residential low) with an R2 (single-family intermediate density) zoning if annexed.

Board members said they were sympathetic to the applicant’s plan for a larger development that would ultimately include adjacent parcels under the same ownership, but expressed concern about allowing an R2 zoning directly on U.S. 1 because that could permit residential development facing the highway. Sebastian Rena, representing the applicant Keith Team, said the developer intends to later request a planned development (PUD) so units would not face U.S. 1 and the parcel would function primarily as an entrance.

Planning staff noted state planning policy on enclaves and cited a relevant Florida statute (identified in the record during the presentation as chapter 171.046, subsection 1) and a city comprehensive plan policy referenced as "comprehensive policy plan 1.11 0.5." Staff recommended forwarding the annexation to the City Commission with the proposed land-use and zoning designations but offered mixed-use alternatives to preserve a commercial presence along U.S. 1 while allowing some residential component.

Board members and staff discussed options including a mixed-use future land use with C-3 zoning or holding a commercial zoning until the applicant submits a PUD with a site plan that would commit to locations of residential and commercial uses. Several commissioners asked to give staff and the applicant more time to negotiate a zoning and land-use solution that would reduce the chance of residential units fronting U.S. 1 if the property were later sold.

Following that discussion, the board voted to table the annexation until the next planning-board meeting so staff can meet with the applicant and explore alternatives.

The applicant and staff will return with further options at a subsequent planning-board meeting; no final land-use or zoning change was approved at Monday’s meeting.