Planning commission approves Quail Valley Recreation Center site plan amid neighbor traffic concerns

The Indian River County Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 20 approved a major site plan and administrative permit use for the Quail Valley Recreation Center, a private civic and social membership facility proposed south of 40th Street, east of 11th Drive and southwest of Indian River Boulevard.

County planning staff said the proposal from Quail Valley Club LLC, with Sulke, Brittle and Stoddard LLC as agent, would include multiple recreational uses — tennis, paddleball, bocce, pickleball, racquetball, squash, a spa, a market, administrative offices and fitness facilities — share access with the adjacent Riverton subdivision via a roundabout and be gated. “It meets or exceeds all the specific land use criteria as listed within section 971.28 subsection 2 of the county land development regulations,” staff told the commission and recommended approval subject to conditions in the staff report, including final tree protection and mitigation plans, installation of required landscape buffer improvements, lighting improvements and completion of sidewalks and common areas.

Neighbors who spoke at the meeting said they welcomed the facility but pressed the commission about traffic, safety at the nearby intersection and potential impacts from lights and noise. Tom Sullivan, who gave his address as 4187 West 16th Square, said he was concerned about egress at the intersection of 40th Street and 11th Drive and the potential for added congestion on Indian River Boulevard. “Where is their egress access going to come? Is it going to come through the proposed site?” Sullivan asked. Assistant Planning Director Ryan Sweeney said access for a future medical site to the east would be from Indian River Boulevard and that the current traffic study did not warrant a signal at 40th Street and 11th Drive.

Resident Andy Spalding, of 1479 Lily’s Place Circle, said existing conditions at the nearby US 1 and 40th Street intersection — including a lack of an eastbound turn signal and a railroad crossing — made him worry that additional traffic and the project’s roughly 272 parking spaces could cause backups and safety problems. “I see that as a projected problem because if they can’t make a left, it’s backing up toward the track,” Spalding said.

Commissioners asked staff clarifying questions about phasing, drainage and utilities. Staff said the recreation center would be constructed in a single phase, would tie drainage into the southern Riverton project (making the projects interdependent), and that there is a master lift station on 11th Drive that the project would use. On a disclosed potential conflict, one commissioner said they were on a waiting list for membership at Quail but the county attorney advised that mere placement on a waiting list did not constitute the type of monetary interest that would require recusal.

After discussion the commission member moved to approve the major site plan and administrative permit use as recommended by staff. The motion was seconded and the chair called for the vote; the chair declared the motion passed.

The approval is subject to the conditions listed in the staff report, including final landscaping, tree protection and required lighting and sidewalk improvements. Staff said those conditions and the project’s compliance with section 971.28(2) of the Indian River County land development regulations are recorded in the project file.

The commission had no further business and adjourned the special meeting.