Palm Bay homeowners concerned over landscaping facility that city says meets requirements
PALM BAY, Fla. —
Some families in Palm Bay are concerned about a landscaping facility being built near their backyards.
The project got the thumbs up from the Palm Bay City Council and has been moving through the permitting process.
Glenda Stephenson was born and raised in Brevard County. She’s lived in Palm Bay for 40 years. She hopes to pass her property down to her children and grandchildren, but she worries about the future.
“I sit up at night. I really do,” Stephenson said.
Last year, the 15.4 acres behind her home, south of Foundation Park Boulevard, were rezoned by the city council from residential to light industrial.
Councilman Chandler Langevin was the only “no” vote.
“For us to go in and change the zoning to have a major industrial operation come behind them, I just thought that really that was unfair,” Langevin said.
Public records show the company, Foundation Park Future Investments LLC, is planning to build a landscape and tree recycling facility. The owners also operate All Pro Land Clearing in Palm Bay.
Stephenson said she worries about having mounds of mulch near her home.
“Due to the dust, the smell, the possible rodents and insects — the most important thing is all of the houses here are on wells,” Stephenson said.
WESH 2 spoke with one of the company’s owners, who said the permits speak for themselves. She said they’ve been approved every step of the way and the company plans to follow all FDEP regulations and rules.
“What I would like to see is that we’re really taking the concerns of the residents seriously,” Langevin said.
We reached out to the City of Palm Bay about this. A spokesperson sent us information about the project, construction, and the timeline of approval.
The project has been approved and the final printed sets are currently awaiting final review and approval stamps, according to the city’s office of growth management. Once plans are final, the applicant will apply for a Site Work Permit, and all required internal, external and environmental permitting will be reviewed before issuing permission to begin work, according to the city.
The property was rezoned in April of last year. At the same time, a Conditional Use was also approved for the operation of the recycling facility. This application was reviewed and found to be in compliance with all of the requirements of Sections 174.048 and 172.024(F) of the Code of Ordinances, according to the city.
Some of the conditions include:
No burning of materials is permitted No pressure-treated wood debris may be processed Required street sweeping of Foundation Park Boulevard Tree and landscape recycling operations restricted to 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
A spokesperson with the city said there are also extensive permit requirements from FDEP.