Fort Pierce commission approves 1.1M sq ft refrigerated warehouse on Kings Highway

The Fort Pierce City Commission on May 4 approved a major site-plan amendment for a proposed 1,100,000-square-foot refrigerated warehouse and office building to be built at 2300 South Kings Highway.

Assistant Planning Director Chris Senes presented the application (PZ site 2026-00001), describing the project as a 1,100,000-square-foot refrigerated warehouse and accessory office on roughly 69–70 acres. According to applicant materials cited by staff, the project is anticipated to create about 745 permanent jobs. Senes said the development footprint would cover roughly 35.6% of the site, with parking and paving covering about 34.9% and lakes/bio-retention areas comprising about 29.4% of the property. Staff recommended approval with conditions, including separate permitting for signage, a final review of tree-survey mitigation, a gopher tortoise survey at least 90 days before land clearing, and all required state and federal permits and a Saint Lucie County right-of-way permit prior to issuance of a building permit.

The applicant’s representative described site circulation that separates semi‑truck movements from employee traffic and said the developer will fund off-site improvements. The representative said White Road will be reconstructed at an estimated cost of about $3,000,000, intersection improvements excluding signalization about $500,000, and the traffic signal about $700,000—tallies the applicant summarized as roughly $4,200,000 of public‑improvement investment tied to the project. The applicant estimated the construction value at about $240 million and projected a two‑year construction period with a first certificate of occupancy in September 2027 and final CO in March 2028 if the project proceeds on schedule.

Commissioners focused questions on truck ingress/egress, secondary access for emergency response and how FDOT warrants and storage lanes would operate. The applicant said FDOT has approved dedicated storage lanes and that truck movements would use designated turn‑storage so tractors would not make U‑turns on Kings Highway; staff confirmed that traffic review and required bonds and permits remain outstanding conditions prior to vertical construction.

Commissioner (S7) moved to approve the site plan with the five staff conditions; Commissioner (S4) seconded. The commission approved the motion by roll-call vote.

Why it matters: the project would add a major industrial user to the Kings Highway corridor, bring an estimated several hundred permanent jobs and generate construction activity and off‑site road improvements that the applicant said would benefit area circulation. The approval includes standard environmental and permitting conditions designed to address trees, protected species (gopher tortoise) and required state/county agency signoffs.

What happens next: the approval is conditional on the listed permits and studies. Staff and the applicant said additional permits, FDOT and county access approvals and construction bonds must be obtained before the city issues land-development and building permits. The applicant also noted a possible second phase (an additional ~500,000 square feet) would return for separate review if pursued.

Representative quotes from the meeting include Assistant Planning Director Chris Senes: “According to applicant supply documents, the project is anticipated to create approximately 745 permanent jobs.” The applicant representative said: “So overall, the project would be spending $4,200,000 improving the traffic and circulation that would be used by everybody in a city.”

Authorities and references: the staff presentation referenced the city comprehensive plan floor‑area ratio policy, the property’s CP‑1 zoning and prior rezoning under ordinance 21‑025. Staff also listed the project’s parcel ID and noted planning‑board approval occurred at the April 13 meeting.

The commission adjourned following routine business; staff and the applicant will continue to coordinate outstanding permits and conditions before construction permits are issued.