The Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County voted 4-1 on May 20 to extend the county's urban service boundary (USB) to fill a roughly 1.9-mile gap near the new I-95/Oslo Road interchange, impose a one-year moratorium on rezonings and comprehensive-plan land-use amendments in the study area, and direct staff to prepare a corridor-specific overlay district and design standards.

The vote followed a multi-year public process and a formal Oslo Corridor study prepared by county Planning and Development Services. County planner Chris Balter told commissioners the study recommended reviewing USB expansion in this location because the new interchange will improve connectivity and could support commercial and industrial development the comprehensive plan envisions.

The moratorium will pause requests to change zoning or comprehensive-plan land use in the rectangular study boundary while staff drafts an overlay that would apply additional corridor rules for setbacks, landscaping and design. Balter said an overlay does not replace existing zoning, but places additional controls "to promote consistency and quality" along the corridor.

The board's action also directs staff to complete any required comprehensive-plan amendments (an "EAR-based" amendment process) and to hold additional public meetings and hearings. Commissioners and staff described the one-year moratorium as a practical window for the state review of plan amendments and for staff to prepare zoning and overlay language for public review.

Commissioner Daryl Moss cast the lone dissenting vote. Moss said he supported preserving agriculture and open space and expressed concern about pace and scale of the USB change; he argued a moratorium might not be necessary if the board chose not to expand the USB at all.

Supporters of filling the gap argued the change would correct a puzzle-like USB boundary and make planning and infrastructure provision more orderly. Vice Chairman Daryl Law — who led the motion — and other commissioners emphasized that a corridor overlay could preserve agricultural character in many places while steering higher‑intensity uses into locations suited to freight and industrial access.

County staff briefed commissioners about environmental constraints in the study area, transportation improvements tied to the I-95 interchange (including widening Oslo Road and upgraded truck turning radii), and the need to coordinate with the Florida Department of Commerce for plan amendments. Staff also noted the area contains large portions of vacant parcels and that the overlay and moratorium are planning tools intended to guide future development, not to immediately change existing parcels' current allowable uses.

The board directed staff to return with an ordinance implementing the moratorium and the schedule for the corridor design standards and comprehensive-plan amendments. Commissioners said they expect more public outreach as staff prepares detailed overlay language and visuals.

Votes at a glance: the motion to close the USB gap and adopt a 1-year moratorium with an overlay passed 4-1; Commissioners Law, Adams, Hammond and Ehrman voted yes; Commissioner Moss voted no.

The board's decision sets an active planning period for the corridor and authorizes staff to pursue the statutory and public-notice steps needed to change the comprehensive plan and adopt overlay regulations.