Commission approves 94-unit Treasure Townhomes on Regina Drive with condition for on-site dumpster

The Fort Pierce City Commission on April 7 approved a site plan for Treasure Townhomes, a 94-unit fee-simple townhome development at 4601 Regina Drive, subject to staff’s six standard conditions and an added condition that the developer provide an on-site dumpster enclosure rather than individual curbside trash cans.

City planning staff described the project as a 9.574-acre development of 94 fee-simple units assembled into 15 buildings. Staff confirmed the proposal met zoning and landscaping requirements and noted that the Planning Board recommended approval 6–0 on March 10. The commission’s approval included required conditions such as a landscape maintenance agreement, an updated environmental assessment, sidewalks along Poinsettia Avenue and Wetherby, tree mitigation for city-regulated trees, submittal of addresses for each unit prior to building permit application, and a city disclaimer about state and federal permit requirements.

During deliberations commissioners and staff focused on waste collection, stormwater and road improvements. Planning staff said sidewalks would be installed along both Poinsettia and Wetherby and that the developer was coordinating required roadway work with the county because Regina Drive is a county right of way. The applicant, represented by George Messimer of Kotler and Hearing and developer representatives, told the commission the design included more parking than code requires; units would each have single-car garages but additional parking spaces were provided after the developer’s assessment of resident needs.

Commissioners questioned whether individual unit trash cans would create multiple curbside pickups and traffic disruption in a compact development. Public works staff advised that adding 94 city curbside pickups could strain routes and recommended on-site dumpsters sized for front-load collection. The developer agreed to modify the plan to provide a dumpster enclosure on site; the motion to approve included that change.

Other conditions imposed by the commission require a tree mitigation survey and coordination with the city arborist, submission of unit addresses before building permits, and confirmation that required state or federal permits are obtained during the building-permit process. The developer said Waste Management had signaled it could service the community but that final arrangements could involve city pickup or a private hauler depending on the final dumpster configuration. The commission approved the site plan on a roll-call vote with one commissioner congratulating the developer and welcoming the project to Fort Pierce.

The approval allows the applicant to proceed to building-permit review and subsequent construction; staff said the developer’s site plan resubmittal will be subject to technical review, historic-preservation review where applicable, and planning-board recommendations as required.