Sandpiper Bay plans advance with unanimous approvals | St. Lucie County

PORT ST. LUCIE — Both the Planning & Zoning Board and City Council here unanimously approved land use and concept plan changes to the Sandpiper Bay Planned Unit Development in January, clearing the way for RPS Academies to begin new construction and remodeling on property it shares with the voco Sandpiper Resort.

City Planner Bethany Grubbs introduced the Sandpiper Bay Resort request for a small-scale comprehensive plan map amendment during the Jan. 20 Planning & Zoning Board meeting. The request involves modifying three portions of the property totaling 28.6 acres from limited commercial, residential low and open-space recreation to commercial general institutional (CGI) land use.

“The applicants are KEITH and MPLD Consulting and the property owner is Altitude Prop Co., LLC,” Grubbs said. “The property is generally located north of the North Fork of the St. Lucie River between the western terminus of Pine Valley Street and the eastern terminus of Morningside Boulevard.”

Grubbs explained that a 0.4-acre residential low designation and a 6.4-acre open-space recreation area needed to be changed, along with 21.8 acres of limited commercial land where the resort currently sits.

“The amendment is to consolidate the resort academy and existing marina under a single appropriate land use designation,” she said, adding that while the change would increase water and sewer capacity needs, it would not generate additional traffic.

Planning & Zoning Board Chairman Jim Norton asked whether any residential development was proposed.

“No,” Grubbs replied. “There’s no density allowance under the current or proposed designations.”

“We’re making the use more consistent with the comprehensive plan?” Norton asked.

“Yes,” she said. “We’re actually eliminating a residential land use that should have been changed at the time of incorporation into their property.”

MPLD President Rebecca Miller, representing the applicant, described the request as largely administrative.

“In 1985, limited commercial was formed as a relevant land use designation,” Miller said. “It is no longer a designation in the city code, and we’ve been asked to make this site one comprehensive use. It will now be commercial general institutional.”

Miller also presented the concept plan updates, which include 21 new tennis courts, a new parking area off Morningside Boulevard and a competition lap pool replacing some existing courts. Additional plans call for covered tennis courts, four pickleball courts, sand volleyball courts and a recreation building with shade areas, bathrooms, lightning refuge and equipment storage.

A new three-story student union building is proposed east of the existing academy building, replacing older mixed-use structures.

“On the main floor is a gymnasium,” Miller said. “RPS Academy is an uber-athlete school training students in golf, tennis, volleyball and soccer. We want to introduce a state-of-the-art facility so our kids can train on the most efficient and internationally competitive courts.”

Norton confirmed Miller had met twice with neighborhood residents and spoken with representatives from at least five nearby homeowners associations before opening public comment.

Resident Tracy Kutzler raised concerns about stormwater runoff.

“They keep saying they’re not adding, but they’re putting in parking and tennis courts,” she said. “Where’s the water going to go? I already get flooded on Westmoreland.”

Several RPS Academy students spoke in support of the project, beginning with Canadian student Georgio Centeno.

“Coming to RPS has been one of the greatest experiences of my life,” he said. “It’s helped me grow not just as an athlete, but as a person.”

RPS founder Gabriel Jaramillo said the improvements would expand opportunities for students.

“We’ve been here 15 years and very few people know we’re there,” he said. “We run a tight, boutique operation. Our students represent us, but they also represent Port St. Lucie.”

Miller responded to drainage concerns, noting the project includes a full civil engineering plan.

“We offer the most pervious area within the Sandpiper PUD,” she said. “Keeping this as recreational use is far better than turning it into neighborhoods.”

The Planning & Zoning Board unanimously approved both the land use amendment and concept plan changes.

Six days later, Grubbs presented both items to the City Council, emphasizing that the land use change does not alter existing development entitlements.

“The property is entitled to 335 resort units, 150 student capacity and a 100-slip marina,” she said Jan. 27.

After hearing similar presentations, public comments and council questions, the City Council unanimously approved both requests on first reading. Second readings are scheduled for the Feb. 9 City Council meeting.