Martin County Commissioner Sarah Heard
District 4 Newsletter, February 19, 2025 |
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Dear Friends,
From January 30 to February 1, I attended the annual Everglades Conference held this year at the Miccosukee Casino and Resort west of Miami. The Conference is a gathering of local, state and federal elected officials, state and federal agencies, attorneys, tribal members, and scientists to evaluate and review progress in the restoration of the Greater Everglades.
By lawful agreement, the state and federal governments are equal partners in the success of implementing the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). The partners' contributions to CERP are rigorously documented. Both partners are robustly funding restoration, and respect and cooperation between the partners is palpable and admirable.
The primer to CERP, negotiated and formalized in the nineties, was called The Yellow Book, because of its cover color. Many of the guiding principles of the Yellow Book are precisely consistent with conditions on the land today but adaptive management must also be adopted to deal with changing conditions.
Thirty years ago climate change and sea level rise were not clearly understood or forecast. In a delicate subtropical ecosystem like the Everglades, several inches of sea level rise or temperature increase create vastly different conditions. In the Yellow Book times, urban encroachment was the biggest threat to environmental degradation. It still it but the natural systems' responses to climate change and seal level rise are also rapidly impacting the ecosystem.
As the earth warms, plant and animal species are migrating north to unheard of locations. Mangroves are an icon of saltwater/estuarine subtropical Florida. In the very recent past, we have seen the mangroves march the subtropical border all the way to the Georgia border.
Scientists have a hundred years of nesting records for the Florida roseate spoonbill. Like sea turtles, roseate spoonbills return each year to the same place to nest. In Florida, the nesting sites were limited to Florida Bay, Tampa Bay, and Brevard County. Suddenly, successful spoonbill nests declined precipitously. Then after at least 100 years of nesting only in these 3 sites, the spoonbills nested all over Florida. Scientists speculated that the 3 successful Florida sites were selected because of plentiful food foraging prospects. Nesting birds fed on fish living in shallow waters whose levels were being drawn down in the dry season, so there was a plentiful food supply. With sea level rise, the spatial extent of these marshes increased and deepened and the fish weren't concentrated as before. Also, bigger predatory fish moved in and out - competed the spoonbills' primary food sources so foraging became impossible for the birds. Hence, the forced migrations.
The team that restores the Everglades will be an astonishing coordination of scientists, hydrologists, mathematicians, historians, engineers and lawmakers - dreamers all. Successful Everglades restoration has always been about getting the water right. We will live and learn.
Sarah Heard |
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| BOARD SUMMARY FROM 01/28/2025 |
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PH-1 was a public hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance amending Article 12, Community Redevelopment Code, Land Development Regulations, Martin County Code regarding architectural design standards.
This agenda item proposed adopting compulsory architectural styles in all of the Community Redevelopment Areas (CRAs). Each Neighborhood Advisory Committee voted separately on which architectural styles will be allowed in each CRA. The styles include Florida Vernacular, Mediterranean Revival, Anglo Caribbean, Bunglalow, Art Deco, Ranch, Mission, Main Street Vernacular, Classical Traditional and Contemporary. Approvals ranged from 6 styles to all of the above in the various CRAs.
Other requirements were also proposed, ones that are not required elsewhere in the county outside of the CRAs. These additional requirements may add time to permitting and cost to construction. Big developers can easily absorb these costs as they pass them on to the buyers. Individual single lot owners building their own homes to occupy may not be able to easily absorb additional costs. New Monrovia and Port Salerno were disproportionally impacted by Hurricane Milton's tornados. Dozens of homes were destroyed. These homes are within the Port Salerno CRA and will now be subject to the new requirements. This means that many of these homes will not be able to be rebuilt as they were pre-tornados. It is important to note that the new requirements are not to improve safety (which we all could support) but rather to conform aesthetically and cosmetically.
These new CRA standards seem overreaching to me. Moreover, they may delay or defeat rebuilding of storm-destroyed homes in New Monrovia and Port Salerno.
Commissioner Capps stated that in his tenure on the Hobe Sound NAC, anytime someone asked for alternative compliance to build something different than the standards, the request was granted.
Ciampi, Hetherington and Vargas voted to approve. Capps and Heard opposed.
PH-2 was a legislative public hearing to consider transmittal of Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA) 24-21, Nine Gems.
Nine Gems consists of 1533 acres located south of SW Bridge Road between SW Pratt-Whitney Road and I-95. It is part of the 2886 acre parcel called Pal Mar East, which was purchased by the South Florida Water Management District in 2006.
The parcel currently possesses a future land use designation of agricultural. This agenda item proposes to change the land use to Institutional-Public Conservation.
The Board voted unanimously to approve. |
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PH-3 was a public hearing to consider changes to Hobe Sound's community redevelopment code regarding maximum height for institutional use gymnasiums in the general sub-district.
This was a request by Architects Design Collaborative on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club of Martin County for approval of an amendment to change the maximum allowable height for certain structures. The applicant proposes a maximum height increase to 35 feet, instead of the existing 30 feet.
The existing Hobe Sound Boys and Girls Club is being torn down and a new Club will be constructed on the same site.
The maximum allowable height has been 30 feet for many years. Staff was unable to recite what the current tallest building is in Hobe Sound in the general sub-district.
In its own narrative explaining the need for an increase from 30 feet to 35 feet, the applicant stated that the standard height for a basketball hoop is 10 feet. Furthermore, a clearance of 24 to 25 feet meets the standards for basketball courts and gymnasiums, ensuring a safe, functional, and regulation-compliant basketball environment.
So, it seems there are no compelling reasons to increase the height limitations. Certainly, the increase creates a legal precedent.
Capps, Ciampi, Hetherington, and Vargas voted to approve. Heard opposed.
PHQJ-1 was a public hearing requesting approval for the twenty-second amendment to the Jupiter Hills Planned Unit Development (PUD) agreement.
The proposed amendment consists of a one story, 32 bed building on an approximately 4.59 acre site to provide dormitory-style employee housing.
It is unclear whether the existing PUD allows dormitory employee housing on the site. The PUD was not provided. The underlying future land use designation for the 4.59 acre site is estate density residential which only allows 2 units per acre.
Nowhere in the documents does the employee dormitory limit the number of allowable beds. But, the parking lot contains 49 parking spaces. The only limitation in the written amendment is that employees living in the dormitory building must be 18 years or older.
Employee dormitory facilities are a reasonable, even desirable amenity to attract quality employees to a facility. We should agree to make every effort to insure that they are high quality, not overburdened in substandard housing.
Capps objected because the habitat on the site is the rare scrub habitat. Once destroyed, it cannot be recreated.
Ciampi, Hetherington and Vargas approved. Capps and Heard opposed.
PHQJ-3 was a public hearing to consider a request to designate a brownfield at 9670 SW Marine Way. The parcel has a future land use designation of Commercial Waterfront and Zoning district of Waterfront General Commercial.
A final site plan for the property was approved by the Growth Management Department on June 1, 2023. The uses permitted on the site plan include 12,000 square foot warehouse, a 7,8000 square foot office building, a 10,200 square foot office building, a 10,200 square foot boat ramp, a 49,000 square foot storm water detention basin, a 17,000 square foot gravel parking area, and 58,000 square foot of green space.
The site is contaminated by years of farming with nutrient additives no longer allowed in Florida. In order to remediate contaminated sites, the Florida DEP established a Brownfields Program. The FDEP offers financial incentives to voluntarily rehabilitate these degraded parcels.
In order to qualify for the Brownfields Program, an applicant must meet 5 criteria:
1. A person who owns or controls a potential brownfield site is requesting the designation and has agreed to rehabilitate and redevelop the brownfield site.
2. The rehabilitation and redevelopment of the proposed brownfield site will result in economic productivity of the area, along with the creation of at least 5 new permanent jobs at the brownfield site that are full-time equivalent positions not associated with the implementation of the brownfield site rehabilitation agreement and that are not associated with redevelopment project demolition or construction activities pursuant to the redevelopment of the proposed brownfield site or area. However, the job creation requirement does not apply to the rehabilitation and redevelopment of a
brownfield site that will provide affordable housing as defined in s. 420.0004 or the creation of recreational areas, conservation areas, or parks.
3. The redevelopment of the proposed brownfield site is consistent with the local comprehensive plan and is a permittable use under the applicable local land development regulations.
4. Notice of the proposed rehabilitation of the brownfield area has been provided to neighbors and nearby residents of the proposed area to be designated pursuant to paragraph (1)(c), and the person proposing the area for designation has afforded to those receiving notice the opportunity for comments and suggestions about rehabilitation. Notice pursuant to this subparagraph must be posted in the affected area.
5. The person proposing the area for designation has provided reasonable assurance that he or she has sufficient financial resources to implement and complete the rehabilitation agreement and redevelopment of the brownfield site.
The applicant, Ferreira Construction, has met the 5 criteria.
Ciampi, Capps, Heard and Vargas approved. Hetherington abstained because she has a voting conflict of interest. She is an employee of Ferreira Construction.
DEPT-3 was a request by Heard to discuss a text amendment to the Comprehensive Growth Management Plan (Comp Plan) revising the industrial future land use designation.
The Comp Plan has always had strong policies regarding planned extensions and limitations and provisions/priorities for expanding urban services, like water and sewer. Urban services like water, sewer, fire rescue, police protection, roads and schools are very expensive to provide in a compact geographic area. If we allow these urban services anywhere in the county, they become prohibitively expensive. And, unpredictable. That is why until recently the Comp Plan prohibited the extension of water and sewer outside of the Primary Urban Services District.
For reasons I do not understand, the Comp Plan allows industrial future land use "islands" to be designated free standing urban services districts, far from our urban core. This is troublesome in part because industrial uses can be great consumers of urban services, and they place inordinate demands on funding and resources. And, with the majority Board approval of the rural lifestyle future land use, proximity to a free standing urban service district can be used as a gateway to a new rural lifestyle urban development.
There are currently 4 approved industrial free standing urban services districts in Martin County.
The Board unanimously voted to give staff direction to not allow any new industrial free standing urban services districts and to allow the existing 4 to expand only by no more than 10%.
DEPT-5 was a request for approval of a contract with Hudson Protective Enterprises to patrol county conservation lands.
An ongoing challenge of the Martin County Environmental Resource Division is protecting Environmentally Sensitive Lands from illegal activities that degrade the conservation values of those areas. This includes destruction of wetland areas from off-road vehicles, the construction of illegal and/or unpermitted structures in natural areas, poaching, picking saw palmetto berries, etc. Not only are these activities degrading County lands, but they represent a liability risk. The current level of law enforcement protection provided by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office is not sufficient to meet the needs of protecting these lands that are spread throughout the County. Martin County staff has been consulting with a private company, Hudson Protective Enterprises, which is staffed with off-duty FFWCC law enforcement officers. It is important to note that as soon as an enforcement action occurs the officers will no longer be serving as employees of Hudson Protective Enterprises but will immediately become “active” duty FFWCC officers.
The Board voted unanimously to approve.
DEPT-6 was a request to initiate conflict resolution proceedings between Martin County and the City of Stuart regarding the City's noncompliance with the 2023 interlocal agreement and its Comprehensive Plan over a Brightline station here.
Capps, Ciampi, Hetherington and Heard voted to initiate conflict resolution proceedings. Vargas opposed. |
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| BOARD SUMMARY FROM 2/11/2025 |
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PH-1 was a public hearing to consider adoption of a Comprehensive Plan Amendment 23-02, Hobe Sound Storage, amending the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) of the Martin County Comprehensive Plan.
This was a request to the FLUM on a 4 acre parcel in the east side of US-1 between south of SE Heritage Boulevard and north of SE Poincianna Lane. The request proposed to change the future land use from medium density residential to general commercial.
To the north of the site is the Bethel Lutheran Church and Daycare Center. To the south is Martin County's East Fork Creek storm water treatment area which is in public conservation. To the east is the Heritage Ridge residential development. And to the west is the Oaks residential development.
Many residents who utilize the Bethel Lutheran Daycare Center contacted Board members in opposition to the Storage proposal. Many residents from Heritage Ridge and The Oaks contacted board members to voice their concerns over inadequate flood protection in the area if the storage facility was constructed. Still others opposed the proliferation of new storage facilities in the area and creeping urban sprawl. |
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Commissioners voted unanimously to deny the change from medium density residential to general commercial.
Because this was the first step in the Hobe Sound Storage application and it failed, the hearings for a zoning district change and site plan consideration were cancelled. The project will not advance.
DPQJ-1 was a request for approval of an amendment to the Seven J's North industrial park planned unit development (PUD) and a revised master final site plan.
The proposed amendment was to increase the existing lake depth from 20 feet to 40 feet. The site is east of the Martin County landfill at the north teminus of SE Poma Drive, 1.5 miles north of SW Martin Highway in Palm City.
The Seven J's Industrial Park has an industrial future land use and consists of 37 permit ready parcels on approximately 60 acres of the 167 acre site.
Mining depths are very important in Florida because of our high water tables and for naviagtion of water between wetlands and uplands. Therefore, mining depths are strictly regulated.
Article 4 Site Development Standards Division 8 controls excavation, Filling and Mining in our Land Development Regulations. Any owner must comply with all County Excavation and Fill regulations.
Section 4.347.A.6 Excavation standards states that the maximum excavation depth is 20 feet. Therefore, 40 feet of excavation is prohibited.
Furthermore, the development order conditions that in addition to complying with all excavation and fill regulations, the owner is not authorized to haul fill off the site. Hauling of fill from the site is prohibited.
However, a quarterly hauling report and the associated hauling fee shall be submitted to the County. The first hauling report is due within 3 months of the pre-construction meeting.
The amended PUD states that the PUD shall comply with the requirements of Article 4, Division 8, Excavation, Filling and Mining except the depth of Lake 2 which shall be 40 feet.
This is in conflict with Section 4.347.A6 which limits maximum depth to 20 feet.
Capps, Ciampi, Hetherington and Vargas approved. Heard opposed.
DEPT-3 Discuss Priorities of the Board of County Commissioners
2025 Proposed Priorities
District 1 - Commissioner Eileen Vargas
1. Develop a plan to renovate, surplus, or lease the County Building on Ricou Terrace, in Jensen Beach, for a County benefit.
2. Advocate for state and federal funding that funds the preservation of the Florida Wildlife Corridor and any program that identifies and protects Martin County’s western lands for habitat, water quality, sustainable agriculture, and public
recreation.
3. Advocate for federal funding for construction of the St Lucie Inlet Operation and Maintenance, South Jetty Construction, and Hutchinson Island Shore Protection Project.
4. Support State and Federal funding for Water Quality Improvement Grants, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and State Revolving Loan Programs.
5. Support increased funding for CERP and expedited construction of projects that benefit the St. Lucie River and Estuary.
District 2 – Commissioner Stacey Hetherington
1. Secure additional funding and complete Golden Gate El Camino Trail including increased Art In Public Places within the District: CRA and Parks.
2. St. Lucie Boulevard Pedestrian Safety Enhancements: a) St. Lucie Boulevard/Jefferson Street intersection stop sign, crosswalk improvements/traffic calming measures (excluding speed tables), and b) complete crosswalk
realignment at Sandsprit Park.
3. Continue to prioritize Septic-to-Sewer countywide for water quality, complete the Coral Gardens drainage project, secure SRF funds for Coral Gardens S2S, and move the project to bid and construction phase.
4. Expand workforce housing opportunities and advocate for environmentally sensitive land conservation, leveraging voter-approved land acquisition funds.
5. Reduce or maintain current tax rates and reduce or maintain user fees for recreation facilities.
District 3 – Commissioner J. Blake Capps
1. Improving water quality by purchasing conservation lands and converting from septic to sewer.
2. Dixie Highway streetscape project in Hobe Sound.
3. New fire rescue building at Hobe Sound Beach.
4. 714/710 road re-alignment in Indiantown.
5. New bridge on County Line Road.
District 4 - Commissioner Sarah Heard
1. Stop overdevelopment in Martin County.
2. Acquisition of natural lands component for completion of Indian River Lagoon South.
3. Port Salerno Community Redevelopment Area.
4. Cease gunfire and illegal activity in Pal Mar.
5. Identify spoil sites for placement of 9 million cubic yards of muck dredged from the
St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon as authorized in IRL South. Advance dredging contracts.
District 5 - Commissioner Edward V. Ciampi
1. Correct broadband connection issues.
2. Begin construction of projects to correct Palm City Farms Drainage/Flooding issues.
3. Construct and open a dog park in Palm City.
4. Begin construction on the “Septic to Sewer” conversion project.
DEPT-4 was a request to consider installation of stop signs on SE Jefferson Street at its intersection with SE Evergreen Avenue in Golden Gate.
SE Jefferson Street is a major collector, which connects SE Dixie Highway to SE St. Lucie Boulevard and Sandsprit Park, so there are many motorists towing boat trailers along the corridor. Residents of Golden Gate have complained of excessive speeding along the corridor. Many conventional traffic calming features such as speed tables would increase irritable noises for the residents because of the considerable number of boat trailers traveling on the corridor.
The County has adopted the Federal Highway Administration's Manual in Uniform Traffic Control Devices. This provides warrants for engineers to use to determine where stop signs should be installed. These warrants are based on crash experience, sight distance, transition to signal control, and other factors. None of these warrants have been met at this intersection.
Engineering staff could not support the installation of stop signs at this intersection because they are not warranted. But, if the Board disagrees, it can override the denial and approve the installation of stop signs.
The Board voted unanimously to approve the stop signs.
DEPT-5 was consideration of approval of a resolution establishing the Environmental Lands Oversight Committee.
Ordinance No. 1221 authorized a referendum on the November 5, 2024 ballot on whether to levy a one-half cent government infrastructure sales tax for ten years to acquire environmentally significant lands or perpetual interests in such land via conservation easements within four designated areas in Martin County. The referendum passed. The anticipated revenue from this tax is approximately $190million dollars.
Section 6(1)j requires the County establish the ELOC to consist of nine Martin County registered voters from each of the specifically defined categories. Section 2 of the proposed resolution implements this requirement by specifying the organizations which will provide representatives for each category as follows:
a. Four (4) members shall be appointed from the following dedicated environmental organizations with mission focused on education, research, preserving, restoring, acquiring and protecting the public’s local water quality, the natural environment and to enhance and restore local ecosystems:
(1) Martin County Forever
(2) The Everglades Foundation
(3) Rivers Coalition
(4) Audubon of Martin County
b. Three (3) members shall be appointed with one member representing from each of the following:
(1) An organization with a mission focused on fiscal oversight of government budgets and spending: Martin County Taxpayers Association
(2) An organization with a mission focused on the real estate industry: Martin County Realtors Association
(3) An organization with a mission focused on responsible business growth and economic development: Economic Council of Martin County.
c. Two (2) members shall be appointed from the following organizations with a mission focused on educating, promoting and protecting the interests of agricultural farmers and ranchers:
(1) Martin County Farm Bureau Inc.
(2) University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture Science Extension Martin County’s 4H Youth Development Program
The resolution also provides for quarterly meetings, terms of the members and requires Sunshine
and Public Records law compliance.
The Board voted unanimously to approve. |
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| Join us on Thursday, February 27, from 4:30–6:30 p.m. at the Blake Library for the first annual CARES Open House, where you can interact with staff to learn more about your County government. Bring your family to this free event featuring Touch a Truck, Food Trucks, Teen Game Night and much more! |
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Board meetings are held in the commission chambers at 2401 SE Monterey Rd, Stuart, FL 34996
February 25, 2025
March 11, 2025
March 25, 2025
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Martin County YouTube Chanel: YouTube Channel Click Here |
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| This document may be reproduced upon request in an alternative format by contacting the County ADA Coordinator (772) 320-3131, the County Administration Office (772) 288-5400, Florida Relay 711, or by completing our accessibility feedback form at www.martin.fl.us/accessibility-feedback. |
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