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Commission postpones vote on Martin County's Hope Sound ocean rescue project after requests for more evidence and commitments
Summary
Martin County sought a hardship variance to rebuild Hope Sound Beach Park and add an ocean rescue office; the county and fire officials argued the project is needed for lifesaving and triage, while multiple commissioners pressed for written evidence and a septic-to-sewer commitment. The commission voted to postpone the variance until May for additional documentation and commitments.
Martin County asked the Town Commission to grant a hardship variance so it could demolish existing structures at Hope Sound Beach Park and rebuild a modern restroom, pavilion and an 850-square-foot ocean rescue office. County officials and fire-rescue staff described the proposal as a public-safety upgrade and asked the town to preserve the existing seaward footprint rather than require relocation landward of the waterfront setback line.
Don Donaldson, Martin County administrator, and county consultants outlined the project and said county ownership of the park dates to the 1940s. Fire Chief Chad and Ocean Rescue Chief Ian told commissioners the current lifeguard facilities are cramped, unsanitary and inadequate for triage and lifesaving operations; Chief Chad cited a six-year review of beach calls and said the beach had two drownings in 2025 as part of his public-safety rationale for upgraded, dedicated triage space.
Commissioners pressed county staff on several points. They asked for the underlying incident data that the fire chief cited, questioned whether the lifeguard station and restrooms could be reconfigured within the existing footprint without relief from the waterfront setback, and raised practical concerns about parking, stormwater and whether connecting the site to sewer had been fully explored. Don Donaldson said the county remains willing to partner on a septic-to-sewer project and would consider a funding commitment, but commissioners requested that any such commitment be memorialized in writing.
Several commissioners also questioned the hearing process and evidence. Commissioner Scott (speaker 6) said the commission had not been provided the promised incident data and asked for "competent, substantial evidence" to support any balancing of the public interest against the town's setback regulations. Other commissioners asked for written commitments on parking management, sewer planning and interlocal arrangements that would protect town residents and beach funding sources.
After extended questioning and public comment, the commission voted to postpone action on the variance until its May meeting so the county could return with the requested documentation, a written sewer commitment if feasible, and clearer mitigation measures for parking and construction impacts. The county's representatives indicated they would return with additional materials and that they were willing to accept conditions, including exploring a force main or other sewer connection if the regional utility could accommodate it.
The postponement preserves the commission's ability to conduct an evidentiary review under the town's land development regulations and signals that commissioners expect more detailed, documentable evidence before granting a government-to-government variance affecting the waterfront setback.
