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Planning board approves 6-foot Colusia hedge in lieu of wall for Southern Grove Lowe’s buffer
Summary
Port St. Lucie’s Planning and Zoning Board approved a landscape-modification to allow a continuous 6-foot Colusia hedge with canopy trees within a 10-foot northern buffer in Southern Grove, rather than the prescribed 6-foot wall; approval requires the hedge be maintained at a 6-foot minimum height.
The City of Port St. Lucie Planning and Zoning Board on Feb. 3 approved a landscape-modification request (P25‑169) allowing enhanced landscaping — a continuous 6‑foot Colusia hedge plus assorted canopy trees — within a 10‑foot northern perimeter buffer in the Southern Grove SGA and PUD in lieu of the code’s usual 6‑foot wall or fence.
Planner Sophia Veil described the request, told the board the applicant submitted letters of support from Mattamy Palm Beach and the NRP Group, and said staff’s recommendation included a condition requiring the hedge be maintained at a minimum height of 6 feet. Veil noted the parcel already has a site plan for a 134,000 square‑foot home‑improvement store (Lowe’s) under construction and that a separate multifamily site plan for the adjacent northern parcel (about 312 units proposed) is under review.
"The landscape modification request is to provide enhanced landscaping within the 10 foot northern perimeter landscape buffer in lieu of a wall or fence," Veil said, describing the continuous hedge treatment proposed along the northern property line.
Derek Phillips, the applicant’s authorized agent with Lucido and Associates, said the design follows the area’s existing landscaping character and that the shared access easement and parking‑island landscaping provide additional buffer. "We do... have 3 letters approving... to our residents... it's about a good 100 or so feet away," Phillips said, summarizing the support and noting separation between uses.
Board members voiced support for landscaping in general but raised concerns about specific locations where truck turning or seasonal outdoor displays could cause noise or visibility issues. One member suggested considering a short wall on the western side near the parking lot to better mitigate truck activity at that location; the applicant and staff said site‑plan review addresses ancillary retail storage and that the building orientation and on‑site circulation were designed to limit those impacts.
After discussion a motion to approve P25‑169 as presented (with the maintenance condition) was made, seconded and adopted by voice vote.
The board’s approval allows the property owner to install the continuous Colusia hedge and canopy trees in place of the code‑required wall or fence, provided the hedge is maintained at the required minimum height.
