Fort Pierce approves John Carroll High School site plan with conditions, planners say stormwater and access improved

The Fort Pierce City Commission on May 18 voted to approve a major site plan amendment for John Carroll High School, authorizing a three‑story, 45,159‑square‑foot academic and administrative building on the school’s Delaware Avenue campus with six staff‑recommended conditions.

City planning staff (senior planner Carrie Charles Driver) described the proposal as a vertical consolidation that will replace eight portable classrooms and about 12,000 square feet of older structures while adding modern stormwater treatment, paved parking and ADA‑accessible circulation. Staff recommended approval with six conditions including a notarized landscape‑maintenance agreement, a site development permit with St. Lucie County Public Works, land‑clearing and tree‑removal permits with mitigation, separate sign permits, and required demolition permits prior to final site development permit submission.

Applicant Mike McCarty and John Carroll President Corey Heroux described the project as necessary to modernize facilities without raising enrollment capacity; the applicant provided a traffic statement calculated for a 500‑student cap and said the redesign pulls drop‑off circulation off Delaware Avenue to reduce congestion. Neighbors raised concerns about traffic at a rear gate and unimproved local roads; the applicant said the rear access point is long‑standing and is needed for emergency access and that school resource officers will manage traffic and safety.

Commissioners asked about drainage and fire access; staff and the applicant said drainage issues were addressed in conditions and the design accommodates fire apparatus. The motion to approve the site plan with the six conditions passed unanimously by roll‑call vote.

Next steps: the applicant must satisfy the planning board’s and staff’s conditions prior to building permits and certificate of occupancy.