Planning board backs Pulte Cornerstone master plan but presses county on full access and school bus loop

The Fort Pierce Planning Board on Aug. 11 recommended approval of a master plan development application from Pulte Home Company for the Cornerstone planned development at 2721 South Jenkins Road, subject to 15 conditions including a new condition requiring phasing changes to secure a north access and a school bus loop in phase 1.

Leslie Olson, principal with District Planning Group representing Pulte, told the board the project proposes a 250-unit fee-simple single-family neighborhood on roughly 49.92 acres, with two phases, a linear park, walking trails, rain gardens and a sculptural identity feature at the site's southwest corner that would serve as a city entrance. "This will be a tall sculptural feature," Olson said, describing a planned public-art call coordinated with the St. Lucie Cultural Alliance.

Lee Dobbins of DME Law Firm summarized the regulatory process, saying, "this project requires both a future land use map amendment and also a zoning change to plan development." The board previously recommended the associated future land use amendment in December; the current hearing covered the master plan (rezoning) and related PD agreement. Staff recommended approval, noting departmental review and consistency with the comprehensive plan.

Traffic and access were central to the discussion. The applicant and a neighboring commercial property owner said they had negotiated cross-access easements and were seeking a county decision on whether the commercial parcel to the north could have full access to Jenkins Road. Ken Semigran, who identified himself as the neighboring commercial property owner, said the proposed full access was "critical" for attracting commercial tenants; he said potential tenants were watching whether the county would allow full access.

Pulte's traffic consultant, Luke Lambert of TMC Traffic, told the board the signal warrant analysis shows the school and the Pulte development together warrant a traffic signal, and that the signal "is warranted based on the school's impacts." Lambert said the combined uses meet more than one hour of the signal warrant, and that the applicant would contribute toward signalization and turning lanes.

Board members pressed Pulte to address a school bus stop plan for Independence Classical Academy (ICA). Olson said the school board wanted "something that was easy, an easy loop in and out," and that Pulte had designed a bus stop area and was willing to adjust project phasing to ensure the bus loop and sidewalks would be built early. Staff proposed, and the board adopted, a 15th condition requiring the phasing plan be revised prior to the final PD so the north access and the bus loop with completed sidewalks are included in phase 1.

The board also discussed buffers, walls along the Interstate 95 ramp, and the planned transformation of stormwater detention into bioswales and rain gardens. With the 15 conditions (14 staff conditions plus the added phasing condition), Mr. Whiting moved for a recommendation of approval; Ms. Clemens seconded. The roll call vote was unanimous in favor: Mr. Collins: yes; Ms. Clemens: yes; Mr. Whiting: yes; Mr. Johnson: yes; Ms. Carter: yes; Chair Bridal: yes. The planning board's recommendation will be forwarded to the City Commission for final action.

The county decision on whether to allow full access between the commercial parcel and the residential development remains unresolved; staff asked the board to state whether it supported full access so staff could transmit the board's opinion to the county. The board expressed support but noted the county retains final authority.