PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla (CBS12) — For the past two years, the CBS12 News I-Team has been tracking the rapid development boom reshaping St. Lucie County.

Now, residents in a quiet pocket of Port St. Lucie say the construction is threatening their way of life. The area in question is St. Lucie Gardens, located east of I-95 with quick access to U.S. 1 and just minutes from the beach.

Despite its rural charm, the neighborhood is now surrounded by heavy machinery and construction sites.

Longtime Residents Speak Out

Susan Kane, who has lived in St. Lucie Gardens for decades, says the transformation is heartbreaking.

“I grew up here riding horses all through the woods I never thought in a million years this would happen to us,” Kane told CBS12 News.

She says the Silver Oaks development, a 150-acre project across the street, has caused flooding and made nearby roads nearly impassable.

“The elevation of the property is flooding us, the noise, the disrespect we’ve gotten from them,” she added.

Neighbor Carmen Cappezzo raised concerns about emergency access, saying ambulances may struggle to reach homes in time.

Resident Linda Dawson believes county leaders are aware of the damage but haven’t done enough to prevent it.

“This is proving that it can’t be done without better engineering designs, drainage, and traffic planning,” Dawson said.

County Response and New Projects

St. Lucie County Commissioner Jamie Lee Fowler says many of the developments were approved years ago and are protected under state law.

“Development can stay alive for about 20 years with proper extensions,” Fowler explained.

One new project, formerly known as Walton Ranch, plans to build larger-lot single-family homes more in line with the area’s rural character.

Another, Grand Oaks South, will bring 90 single-story cottage-style triplexes to an 18-acre site at Tilton Road and Silver Oak Drive. Because it’s a by-right project, it doesn’t require county commission approval.

“The back half is zoned AR-1, one home per acre. The front half is RM-5, which allows up to five units per acre,” Fowler said.

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What’s Next

Residents say the plans on paper don’t reflect what they’re losing—the trails, the open fields, and the quiet.

“My horses can’t go out in the field now. It’s still mucky and wet,” Kane said. “My drainage ditch is full.”

Commissioner Fowler says she plans to require infrastructure and drainage improvements before any new model homes go up—a change she hopes will prevent the flooding and frustration residents have already endured.