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Canaveral Port Authority board unanimously rejects sale/lease of 50‑acre Barge Canal parcel, blocks LNG proposal
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Summary
At a March board meeting the Canaveral Port Authority voted unanimously to designate the 50‑acre Barge Canal property as strategic and to direct staff to reject an unsolicited sale or lease and any LNG liquefaction proposal, following public concern about proximity to homes and long‑term strategic value.
The Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to designate a 50‑acre parcel at the Barge Canal as a strategic port property and directed staff to reject an unsolicited sale or lease and any proposal to develop an LNG liquefaction facility on the site. A commissioner introduced the motion during the monthly meeting and the vote passed without opposition.
Board members and staff framed the decision as a long‑term stewardship choice that weighs potential near‑term revenue against future strategic value and community impacts. One commissioner who reviewed the unsolicited proposal and visited a Jacksonville LNG facility urged caution, saying he was “not ready to sell it” given the parcel’s size, location and the potential for federal maritime investments that could alter future uses.
Residents who had turned out for the board’s town‑hall briefings applauded the decision. Phil Stasick, who identified himself as a longtime Merritt Island resident and retired airline captain, praised the board and said placing what he called a “rocket fuel factory” within 350 feet of homes would have been “insane.” Diana Glens, who spoke during public comments, thanked commissioners for their careful review and for listening to community concerns.
The motion’s language directed staff to reject the unsolicited offer and not to convey the property for LNG use; commissioners discussed several factors that influenced their vote, including potential environmental and public‑health stressors for nearby neighborhoods, long‑term land‑value projections, and a recommendation to gather input from the Brevard legislative delegation and local governments before any future conveyance.
The board’s action came after a town‑hall review of the LNG proposal and multiple public comments at the meeting urging the port to retain the land. Commissioners emphasized they were charged with balancing economic opportunity and community safety and said the designation preserves future options for the port. The meeting adjourned with the board’s next regular session scheduled for April 29.
