Martin County LPA approves Bridge Road car‑club storage complex with wetland waiver

The Martin County Local Planning Agency voted 4‑0 on Feb. 5 to approve a major final site plan (T130‑005) for the Bridge Road Car Club, a private vehicular self‑storage development proposed by MCFL Properties and represented by HJA Design Studio.

Staff planner John Sennett told the LPA the 32.27‑acre site at 7550 Southeast Bridge Road includes about 14.9 acres of wetlands and 8.99 acres of wetland buffer, and that staff found the applicant’s environmental waiver met the criteria of LDR section 4.3(b). "Staff recommend approving the Bridal Road car club final site plan, including the preserve area management plan," Sennett said.

The approved plan allows three one‑story buildings totaling about 55,823 square feet and 36 vehicle‑storage units on roughly five acres of the site after a 42‑foot right‑of‑way dedication. The applicant will pay $53,120 in lieu of constructing a sidewalk along Southeast Bridge Road. The approved waiver authorizes 0.16 acres of wetland impacts and 0.36 acres of wetland buffer impacts, with on‑site mitigation consisting of creation of a 0.16‑acre wetland and a recorded conservation easement covering about 23.89 acres.

Erica Beitler of HJA Design Studio, the applicant’s presenter, emphasized site conservation and stormwater controls: "We are providing a 95% reduction for both nitrogen and phosphorus, to the new statewide regulations for stormwater," she said. Beitler also described three dry retention systems, native landscaping in buffers and an overall plan that she said preserves roughly 77% of the property and provides 91% open space.

Board members questioned drainage and culvert placement. Captec Engineering’s TJ Shaw explained the drainage model and said post‑development discharge rates were modeled to be lower than predevelopment conditions and that existing outfall structures would not be modified. "We modeled the pre‑post discharge rate and made sure we were less than the preconditions," Shaw said when describing the analysis of culvert connections and flows toward Kitchen Creek and the downstream stormwater treatment area.

A resident who identified himself as Gary told the LPA he was concerned about car‑washing or vehicle maintenance and runoff reaching wetlands; he restated acreage figures from the notice and asked where cleaning water would be treated. The applicant said HOA covenants will prohibit vehicle maintenance and overnight occupancy, and that civil engineering and the drainage design will prevent wash water from entering wetlands. Matt Pesraba, representing the owner, said the South Florida Water Management District reviewed the project’s operating and maintenance materials and approved the wetland waiver.

After the public comment and a brief additional discussion about hydrology and neighboring flooding risks, an unnamed board member moved to approve the final site plan and a second was given. The motion carried 4‑0.

The staff presentation noted the item will be heard by the County Commission next week.