HOBE SOUND, Fla (CBS12) — A long vacant piece of land in Hobe Sound is one step closer to being cleaned up after Martin County commissioners approved a major designation this week—one that could pave the way for redevelopment but is raising serious health concerns among nearby residents.
The 19acre property, located off Gomez Avenue near the Intracoastal Waterway, golf courses, and several parks, was once home to a carnation farm. Today, it sits overgrown and unused. But what remains in the soil is what has neighbors worried.
Oasis Development LLC is proposing a 38home residential community on the site, along with the promise of fulltime jobs. Before any construction can begin, however, the land must undergo statesupervised cleanup due to chemical contamination left behind from the former nursery’s pesticide use.
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On Tuesday night, county commissioners voted 4–1 to designate the property as a brownfield, a classification for contaminated or underused land that qualifies for state cleanup programs and financial incentives.
“I want to have it cleaned. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to clean it up,” resident Kris Metzger said during public comment.
But for others living nearby, the vote brought little comfort. Ted Jonczak, who lives in the Treasure Cove community directly behind the site, says he’s long been concerned about what’s in the ground.
“I’ve had serious health issues, cancerrelated, and I’ve lived here a long time,” Jonczak told the CBS12 News ITeam. “You’ve got known carcinogens that were identified Can I attribute that to anything regarding my health? No, I can’t. But has it crossed my mind? Absolutely.”
The 19‑acre former carnation farm at 9450 SE Gomez Avenue in Hobe Sound sits overgrown and vacant as county officials move forward with a brownfield designation and plans for state‑supervised cleanup. (WPEC)
According to county documents reviewed by the ITeam, soil and groundwater testing found elevated levels of chemicals linked to longterm health risks, including arsenic and dieldrin. Senior county planner Jenna Knobbe confirmed those findings were submitted as part of the developer’s application.
State officials say the contamination exceeds Florida cleanup standards, triggering the brownfield designation process. Since the program began in the mid1990s, more than 600 brownfield sites have been identified across the state.
“That’s the intention with this whole process, is to get the property remediated,” Knobbe said.
Renderings submitted by the developer show homes would only be built after cleanup is complete. Attorney Michael Sznapstajler, representing the developer, said Florida law outlines a strict, enforceable cleanup process.
“There is a very specific interactive process in the Florida Administrative Code that has penalties, requirements, and obligations that say these are the steps you have to take to complete the cleanup,” he said.
Oasis of Hobe Sound: Developer renderings show a future neighborhood planned for 9450 SE Gomez Avenue, a contaminated former nursery now designated for cleanup. (Cobb Cole )
A new state law that took effect in July 2025 allows cleanup to occur in phases. County staff confirmed the developer met all legal requirements leading up to Tuesday’s vote.
Commissioner Eileen Vargas cast the lone vote against the designation, citing concerns about health risks and oversight.
State environmental officials will now oversee the remediation process.
No timeline has been set for when cleanup—or any potential home construction—will begin.