Fort Pierce residents, planning board express concerns over South Hutchinson Island development

The Fort Pierce Planning Board Monday approved the next step for a massive development on South Hutchinson Island.But the approval came with a lot of resistance from both board members and the public.The project is called Causeway Cove, and it’s slated to go into an area locals describe as beautiful and peaceful. The planned project would change all that.”It is very frustrating, because we feel like there’s nothing we can do about it,” said Karen Vignone, a summer resident of Fort Pierce.”It’s such a beautiful place around here. And you just come over, and we just think about, ‘Oh my God, this is going to be just gone,'” said Butch Butler, another summer resident of Fort Pierce. The Causeway Cove development is enormous: five buildings, more than 900 condos and more than 400 hotel rooms.It also includes a marina with more than 200 slips.The buildings themselves are also very tall, ranging from 127 to 192 feet tall.City regulations limit building heights on South Hutchinson Island to 45 feet.However, the Planning Board told the crowd that local regulations are not relevant in this case. “We’re here to listen. And at this point, that’s all we can do,” said Anton Kreisl, the board chairman. That’s because of a state law called the Live Local Act, which allows developments with sufficient affordable housing to bypass local regulations.The Causeway Cove project meets that requirement. “I do not want to be putting our staff, our city, this board in a position of violating any state statutes,” Kreisl said. Residents expressed their dismay over the potential impact of the development. “I think it’s horrible,” Butler said. “It’s ridiculous,” said Michael Doughty, a Fort Pierce resident. “I hate it,” Vignone said. Locals are also worried about increased traffic and the loss of what they see as the heart and soul of Florida. “I know you’re going to have development. As long as that big orange ball is in the sky, people are going to keep coming to Florida. But for God’s sake, let’s think about what we’re doing,” Doughty said. If the project moves forward as planned, the first building is expected to be completed by 2030.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here. Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News

FORT PIERCE, Fla. —

The Fort Pierce Planning Board Monday approved the next step for a massive development on South Hutchinson Island.

But the approval came with a lot of resistance from both board members and the public.

The project is called Causeway Cove, and it’s slated to go into an area locals describe as beautiful and peaceful.

The planned project would change all that.

“It is very frustrating, because we feel like there’s nothing we can do about it,” said Karen Vignone, a summer resident of Fort Pierce.

“It’s such a beautiful place around here. And you just come over, and we just think about, ‘Oh my God, this is going to be just gone,'” said Butch Butler, another summer resident of Fort Pierce.

The Causeway Cove development is enormous: five buildings, more than 900 condos and more than 400 hotel rooms.

It also includes a marina with more than 200 slips.

The buildings themselves are also very tall, ranging from 127 to 192 feet tall.

City regulations limit building heights on South Hutchinson Island to 45 feet.

However, the Planning Board told the crowd that local regulations are not relevant in this case.

“We’re here to listen. And at this point, that’s all we can do,” said Anton Kreisl, the board chairman.

That’s because of a state law called the Live Local Act, which allows developments with sufficient affordable housing to bypass local regulations.

The Causeway Cove project meets that requirement.

“I do not want to be putting our staff, our city, this board in a position of violating any state statutes,” Kreisl said.

Residents expressed their dismay over the potential impact of the development.

“I think it’s horrible,” Butler said.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Michael Doughty, a Fort Pierce resident.

“I hate it,” Vignone said.

Locals are also worried about increased traffic and the loss of what they see as the heart and soul of Florida.

“I know you’re going to have development. As long as that big orange ball is in the sky, people are going to keep coming to Florida. But for God’s sake, let’s think about what we’re doing,” Doughty said.

If the project moves forward as planned, the first building is expected to be completed by 2030.

Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25

Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.

Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News