Fort Pierce Board of Adjustment approves variances to allow vertical expansion of Hixson quadraplex at 1144 South Ocean Drive

The City of Fort Pierce Board of Adjustment voted 3–0 on Aug. 28 to approve three variances that will let the owner of a legally nonconforming four‑unit building at 1144 South Ocean Drive add two stacked floors while retaining a maximum of four dwelling units.

The board’s action, taken after a quasi‑judicial hearing, clarified that the approval applies only to the subject property and does not change zoning for adjacent parcels. Chair Galinis confirmed for the record that she had visited the site before deliberations. Board member Mister Drummond moved to approve the variances and the motion was amended to explicitly limit the property to four units; Miss Mitchell seconded and all three members present voted yes.

City planning staff described the request as project PZVAR2025‑0004 and read for the record the relevant City Code sections cited by staff. The variances seek exceptions to sections addressing maximum density (expressed as units per acre) and rules that limit rebuilding of nonconforming structures when the work exceeds 50% of replacement value. Staff recommended approval, saying the proposal would preserve the existing residential use while bringing the building closer to FEMA and state flood‑resilience standards.

The applicant, Roger Templeman of CADCON Design, told the board that the project would not add units but would convert the ground floor to compliant garage space with breakaway walls and flood vents and place two penthouse units above the existing second floor. "We're not increasing the number of units," Templeman said, describing the top two floors as penthouse units and noting that the lot is approximately 0.26 acres. He argued the site faces a hardship because the overlay and flood‑plain requirements changed after the building was constructed.

Members pressed staff and the applicant on technical points including whether the finished building would reach the city’s 45‑foot height limit and how the change in overlay affected density calculations. Staff noted that prior approvals and overlay rules constrain future development and reiterated that approval for this property would not automatically authorize identical changes on neighboring lots.

Two nearby residents who spoke during the public comment period — one who identified herself as Joanne Alaborrelli and a commenter who said his name was Marco — asked how the project would affect local views and whether neighbors would be required or entitled to the same relief. Templeman and staff responded that the plan is intended to make the structure flood‑compliant without increasing density and that each parcel’s entitlement depends on its own zoning and lot configuration.

The board’s approval includes an explicit clarification limiting future development on the parcel to four dwelling units, reflecting an amendment made during the motion. The motion passed with the recorded votes: Mister Drummond, yes; Miss Mitchell, yes; Chair Galinis, yes. No members voted no or abstained. The board advised that the applicant must still complete required engineering reviews and obtain applicable permits.

The hearing record lists the property as located at the northeast corner of Atlantic Drive and South Ocean Drive on Hutchinson Island and refers to project number PZVAR2025‑0004. The board closed the public hearing and adjourned with no further business.