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Council debates using old city nursery for workforce housing versus hurricane debris storage
Summary
Councilors, staff and public commenters debated whether the city’s 14‑acre old nursery site should be used for workforce housing under the Live Local Act or retained as a designated hurricane debris site; legal questions about charter protections and practical concerns about stormwater setbacks and site suitability were raised.
Council members and staff spent a lengthy portion of the meeting debating whether the city should pursue workforce housing on the surplus old nursery property or keep the site designated for hurricane debris storage and emergency operations.
Supporters of using the site for workforce housing cited the Live Local Act and the need for affordable housing, noting long local Section 8 waiting lists and a lack of other city‑controlled large sites. A council member said there are "1,100 people in Indian River County waiting for Section 8 housing currently," and argued the site is centrally located.
Opponents raised operational and legal concerns: staff and other councilors emphasized that the property is identified in the city’s emergency management plan as a temporary debris site and that using part or all of it for housing would require detailed site studies to assess stormwater, setbacks and how much upland area would remain available for debris. Several council members also warned that if the Live Local Act were found to conflict with the city charter, the decision could trigger a referendum and negate time spent by staff and applicants.
Council directed staff to draft a resolution under the Live Local Act stating the city has no appropriate property available for immediate workforce housing if that remains the council’s position, and to return with recommendations in January. Staff also noted other options to pursue workforce housing including conversations with large landowners (Dodger Pines, hospital surplus parcels) and potential RFP/RFI approaches if there is appetite among councilors to proceed.
