St. Lucie County board votes to transmit Pruitt Commerce Center land‑use change to state reviewers

The St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to transmit a proposed future land‑use map amendment for the Pruitt Commerce Center to state and regional reviewing agencies, a procedural step that begins formal review by FDOT, regional planning and water‑management districts. Irene Sedlmeier, senior planner with the county planning department, presented the transmittal item and recommended sending the amendment forward.

The amendment would change about 160 acres — roughly 100 acres of county‑owned land plus a 60‑acre parcel the applicant holds under an option — to an MXD (mixed‑use development) future land‑use designation and require subsequent rezoning to a planned non‑residential development (PNRD) district. Leslie Olson, representing Ashley Capital, told commissioners the company holds an option agreement with the county and the school district parcel and intends to build a Class‑A commerce park intended to attract manufacturing, aviation, marine and agricultural‑technology employers.

Why it matters: Transmittal is the step that lets state and regional agencies review potential impacts and offer comments before the county proceeds to adoption. County staff emphasized that the MXD designation includes sub‑area policies that limit development intensity (maximum floor‑area ratio 0.35, maximum building coverage 35%, minimum 25% open space) and tie transportation mitigation to specific development thresholds.

Staff and applicant presentations cited the site’s location inside the urban services boundary and proximity to major roadways as reasons the change fits county planning goals. The applicant’s traffic consultant, Stephanie Guerra of Kimley Horn, said the study examined a short‑range (five‑year) and long‑range (2045) build‑out and modeled a 35% lot coverage scenario that could equate to as much as 2,400,000 square feet of industrial space; she told the board that, under that maximum scenario, roadway segments reviewed would operate acceptably in short‑ and long‑range analyses and that a more detailed concurrency analysis will accompany rezoning and site‑plan review.

Commissioners pressed on the RFP history and local benefits. Commissioner comments supporting transmittal noted the lengthy county effort to assemble properties and earlier economic development work on the corridor. A motion to transmit the amendment to state and regional agencies was made, seconded and carried by unanimous vote.

Next steps: If transmitted, the amendment will be reviewed by state and regional agencies and will return to the county for adoption. The applicant must later secure PNRD rezoning, a PNRD master plan and final non‑residential site plans; the county and the applicant’s option agreement tie milestone payments and closing to those entitlements.

Quotes: "This project is an outcome of the county’s RFP to engage these properties... to create the first Class‑A Commerce Park in St. Lucie County," Leslie Olson said. Stephanie Guerra said the traffic work "determined that all significantly impacted roadway lengths would operate acceptably in the short and long range scenarios."