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Commission approves abandonment of county rights‑of‑way for Goose Development Fund LLC; resident raises drainage concerns
Summary
The board authorized abandonment of multiple county rights‑of‑way so Goose Development Fund LLC can unify seven parcels for a City of Fort Pierce development. A nearby resident urged the county to address flooding; county engineers said drainage and grading will be reviewed as part of future site‑plan approvals with the City and South Florida Water Management District.
The St. Lucie County Commission approved a petition to abandon multiple county rights‑of‑way described in plat book 5, page 58, to allow Goose Development Fund LLC to consolidate seven parcels for a planned development within the City of Fort Pierce's jurisdiction. County property‑acquisition staff told the board the petitioner obtained City of Fort Pierce and affected utility approvals and that staff has no objections to the abandonment as presented.
During public comment, Carl Hoverman of 3832 Saint Francis Road urged the board to address chronic flooding he says began after a nearby storage facility was built. “We're getting inundated with water… I have over 3 feet of water standing on my property,” Hoverman said, describing standing water, mosquitoes and other impacts. He told commissioners the original developer grading and retention measures have not resolved the issue.
Dan Zuralik, county engineer, said county staff has been involved with the resident and is aware of the drainage concern. Zuralik noted an unmaintained drainage feature runs through the area and that Flagship (the storage developer) attempted improvements; he said the county will work with the City of Fort Pierce and require site‑plan submittals with grading and drainage plans for further review. Zuralik also confirmed the South Florida Water Management District will have jurisdiction over permit and drainage performance for new development.
Staff said Goose Development Fund initially advertised a larger abandonment area but reduced the request; after the reduction county notices went to adjacent owners (within 500 feet) and staff received no objections tied to the scaled‑back area. The petitioner recorded affidavits of consent from some abutting owners; one owner, Muslim Friends of Florida International Inc., could not be contacted.
After discussion the board moved, seconded and approved the abandonment and authorized the chair to sign Resolution 2025‑231; the clerk was instructed to publish the final notice and record any Fort Pierce Utilities Authority easement in the public record. The transcript records the motion as carried; individual roll‑call vote details were not included.
What to expect next: the abandonment permits consolidation of parcels at the county level; because the property is inside the City of Fort Pierce, the city's site‑plan approvals will control building, grading and drainage on the parcels. County staff said they will continue to monitor and comment on city submittals to ensure drainage issues affecting unincorporated parcels are addressed.
