Public comment at the Dec. 2 Martin County Board of County Commissioners meeting focused on a proposed amendment to the Stewart West planned unit development to add ‘domesticated animals’ as a permitted use. Long‑time residents said the phrase is ambiguous and could permit barnyard animals such as chickens, goats or pigs, creating noise, odor and predator issues and running counter to private covenants.

Carol Zolton, a Stewart West homeowner, told commissioners she appreciated the county’s work but asked them to deny the amendment. “The term domesticated animals is vague and undefined…Allowing them at a county level would directly conflict with the private covenants that protect our neighborhood’s character,” Zolton said. She added that harboring illegal chickens is already a frequent code‑enforcement complaint in Stewart West and that broadening allowed uses would likely increase neighbor disputes and enforcement burdens.

Ken Haines, speaking as a Stewart West resident and board member, called the phrase a “Trojan horse” and said the amendment would invite nuisance and predator problems that threaten small house pets and property values. Residents also said the amendment was initiated by a small group and not drafted with input from the neighborhood’s roughly 249 families.

Commissioners acknowledged the concerns. Commissioner Campey asked staff to research past communications and suggested a follow‑up agenda item to address misinformation circulating about county involvement. No formal vote on the PUD amendment occurred during the meeting; several commissioners said they would schedule additional discussion in a future session.

The Stewart West PUD amendment remains pending; commissioners and staff signaled they would further review the public feedback and address procedural clarifications at a future meeting.