Planning board approves Sunbelt Rentals site plan for Vero West Business Park

The Indian River County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a major site plan for Sunbelt Rentals on Nov. 13. Staff recommended approval with conditions including a recorded unity of title, completion of final landscaping and buffer plans, finalized street design and installation, and external sidewalk installation.

Lawrence county planning staff member Kelly McKinley told commissioners the project covers five platted lots in Vero West Business Park, will provide a full-access driveway to Enterprise Road, and will use the subdivision’s master stormwater-management system. "Staff recommends that PCC grant major site plan approval for Sunbelt Rentals with the following conditions," McKinley said.

Ryan Sweeney, acting planning development services director, said traffic engineering reviewed and approved the layout and that trip generation associated with the facility is low. "Traffic engineering reviewed and approved the layout," Sweeney said, adding that heavy equipment would likely use secondary gated aprons while the primary driveway would serve customer passenger vehicles.

Parker Hudson of Moffett Properties, the developer, introduced the project and the tenant. He said Sunbelt Rentals will relocate some operations to the new site but retain an existing Vero Beach division. "They've committed 10 years to Vero Beach with over $8,000,000 commitment," Hudson said, and described building elevations, parking and a gravel storage yard at the rear of the site.

Staff and the developer clarified technical details raised by commissioners, including that the recorded unity of title required by conditions had been executed and recorded the day before the meeting, that the plan incorporates a 15-foot thoroughfare buffer and 15-foot local road buffer (with a three-foot berm and plantings), and that on-site collection will convey stormwater underground into existing subdivision ponds.

After discussion, Commissioner (Speaker 6) moved to adopt staff recommendation; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The commission approved the site plan and the chair announced the vote was unanimous.

The approval is conditioned on the listed staff requirements; commissioners did not attach additional conditions. The project next proceeds to any ministerial permitting required for construction and infrastructure work.