Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use And Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves Gatlin Plaza PUD amendment adding up to 353,000 sq ft and new traffic conditions
Summary
City council approved a fourth amendment to the Gatlin Plaza Planned Unit Development to add 353,000 square feet (bringing total up to 750,000) and reallocate Tract B; public works conditions require traffic mitigation steps tied to occupancy milestones.
The Port St. Lucie City Council on first reading approved an amendment to the Gatlin Plaza Planned Unit Development that adds approximately 353,000 square feet of building area — bringing the PUD's possible total to about 750,000 square feet — and reconfigures Tract B into six parcels for future development, stormwater and conservation use.
Why it matters: The amendment allows expanded commercial development in a site south of Southwest Gatlin Boulevard and east of Interstate 95 and includes new traffic-control and mitigation requirements designed to ensure buildout does not outpace roadway capacity.
Staff presentation and applicant response: Francis Foreman of Planning and Zoning described the amendment, said the Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval, and noted the Public Works Department and the city's traffic consultant reviewed a traffic impact analysis. The applicant, BDG Port Saint Lucie LLC, represented by counsel and developer representatives, told council they accepted the new traffic condition language in concept and agreed to work with staff on language tweaks prior to second reading.
Key provisions and conditions: The amendment reallocates Tract B into six tracks (four for future development, one for stormwater, one for a conservation easement), allows up to 120 hotel rooms within the PUD and adds a condition from Public Works that ties future permitting and certificates of occupancy to staged traffic analyses and required mitigation. Specifically, at defined square-footage milestones the city may pause issuance of additional certificates of occupancy until the applicant provides updated traffic analysis and implements agreed mitigation measures.
Council discussion and outcome: Council members expressed a desire for clearer early submissions and criticized "last-minute" conditions that emerge late in the review process. The applicant's counsel said the developer was generally comfortable with the condition's intent and would work with staff to finalize wording. The council approved the amendment at first reading with the Public Works conditions included; the motion carried unanimously.
Next steps: Staff will finalize the PUD document, including Public Works' recommended conditions, and return for second reading. The applicant indicated practical development applications for portions of the site will follow in coming weeks.
