Martin County approves Río Marine Village site plans, accepts $70,000 privilege fee for right‑of‑way abandonment

Martin County commissioners unanimously approved a package of actions on Nov. 4 to advance the Río Marine Village redevelopment on the St. Lucie River, including abandonment of about 9,763 square feet of platted right‑of‑way for an appraised privilege fee of $70,000 and adoption of three final site plans covering Phase 1 East, Phase 2 West and the Preserve at Río.

County planning staff told the board the project will provide a mix of uses along the riverfront, totaling roughly 190 residential units in Phase 1 East (178 apartments, four townhomes and eight live/work units), commercial waterfront uses and a marina clubhouse, plus additional restaurants, marine services and public riverwalks in Phase 2 West and 145 residential units and upland preserve areas in the Preserve phase.

“Development review staff have found the Ryo South Dixie LLC application to comply with all applicable regulations,” Principal Planner Brian Elam said during the hearing, and recommended the board adopt resolutions to approve the final site plans and related easement and right‑of‑way dedications.

Developer representatives said the plan emphasizes public waterfront access, pedestrian amenities and expanded shoreline habitat in areas not already hardened by existing boat basins. “We’ve designed additional mangrove locations as well as riprap, native grasses and oyster bags,” said George Missimer, the applicant’s attorney and representative, describing a living‑shoreline approach for open sections of beach frontage.

Local residents, neighborhood advocates and members of the Rio Civic Club addressed the board during public comment, generally supporting the redevelopment and praising elements such as view corridors to the river, public walkways and proposed civic amenities. Julie Priest, a longtime Rio resident and past NAC chair, told commissioners the project aligns with the community’s master plan and would “revive Rio’s economy and provide public waterfront access visible from Dixie Highway.”

The approvals included minor technical changes to an earlier revised master site plan, acceptance of multiple right‑of‑way and drainage easements, a public access easement, transit stop easement, and the documents needed to dedicate and maintain circulation improvements. The board approved the abandonment and each final site plan by unanimous vote.

What the board approved: the Phase 1 East final site plan (apartment buildings, live/work units, marina clubhouse and public riverwalk), Phase 2 West (restaurants, marine services, mixed use and living shoreline boardwalk), and the Preserve at Río (multifamily and townhome units with an upland preserve management plan). The $70,000 privilege fee associated with the right‑of‑way abandonment will be paid to Martin County following proper publication and receipt required by the resolution.

Next steps: County staff will execute documents to complete the dedications and easements approved by the board and the developers said construction documents are already prepared; the project teams indicated they expect to begin construction permitting in 2026.

Statements: “It was really important to us to provide pedestrian amenities and access to the waterfront for the Rio community and the Martin County community in general,” developer Josh Simon said. County staff noted that review found the applications consistent with the Martin County Land Development Regulations and the county’s Comprehensive Growth Management Plan.

Provenance: Staff presentations and applicant testimony occurred during the quasi‑judicial hearings beginning with the abandonment presentation (staff: Michael Grzalka) and continuing through the Phase 1, Phase 2 and Preserve site plan hearings; the board’s votes occurred in the same meeting.