City gives initial nod to Selvitz area annexation and rezoning | St. Lucie County

FORT PIERCE — The Fort Pierce City Commission unanimously approved on first reading June 15 the voluntary annexation of a 10.5-acre property near the intersection of Glades Cut Off and Selvitz roads, along with assigning the site a Heavy Industrial future land-use designation and compatible zoning.

Assistant Planning Director Chris Suneson presented the requests in the absence of Planning Director Kevin Freeman.

The property, owned by HEC Selvitz LLC, consists of two parcels totaling 10.53 acres southwest of the intersection. The land is currently designated industrial and zoned heavy industrial by St. Lucie County.

Suneson said the annexation met state requirements for contiguity, compactness and enclave prevention.

“The parcel is contiguous to the municipal boundary of the city limits and is completely enclosed,” he said. “This is an infill-type annexation that would close up an enclave that currently exists.”

He added that the city’s Planning Board recommended approval in May and that city land-use and zoning designations would remain consistent with those already assigned by the county.

Applicant representative Dennis Murphy, a land planner, described the request as a straightforward annexation.

“We’re doing a voluntary annexation to basically fill in a gap that was left over, I believe, from utility annexations in the area,” Murphy said. “Our clients are interested in becoming members of the City of Fort Pierce.”

During commission discussion, Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky raised broader concerns about the financial impact of future annexations. He distributed documents to fellow commissioners and said he would like to see more detailed fiscal analyses accompany annexation requests.

“I think it’s important we do a financial review as to the cost to the city,” Dzadovsky said, citing uncertainty surrounding a proposed state referendum that could reduce local property tax revenues by increasing the homestead exemption.

“Just getting tax revenue on the books doesn’t always mean we’re able to cover the cost of the services,” he said.

Mayor Linda Hudson responded that the city already has an annexation strategy in place.

Commissioner Arnold Gaines agreed that Dzadovsky’s concerns warranted discussion but asked that supporting materials be provided before commission meetings.

“If you get it to us earlier, I think you’ll get the dialogue you are desiring,” Gaines said.

Dzadovsky agreed to do so.

The commission then unanimously approved the annexation.

Suneson next presented the future land-use amendment and rezoning requests. He noted the property sits within an established industrial corridor along Selvitz Road and that the city’s heavy industrial designation would actually permit slightly less development intensity than the county’s current designation.

Dzadovsky questioned whether environmental issues could be addressed later because the applicant has discussed plans for an asphalt plant on the site.

“Without a site plan, it’s hard to ask questions about environmental concerns, drainage, water usage and things like that,” he said.

Suneson said those issues would be evaluated during the site-plan review process.

“We really get into the details at site plan,” he said. “Those are reviewed by technical staff for drainage, environmental concerns, tree preservation and mitigation.”

Murphy echoed that response, describing the land-use and zoning changes as an “apple-to-apple” transition from county to city regulations.

“This area has historically been zoned and land-planned for heavy industrial uses,” he said. “When we bring forward our specific development plans, we can address your concerns about stormwater and any other issue you may have.”

The commission then unanimously approved both the future land-use amendment and rezoning request.

One resident, South Indian River Drive resident Svetlana Lena, spoke during the rezoning hearing. She asked whether products manufactured at the site would primarily benefit Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County or be shipped elsewhere.

“I want the City of Fort Pierce to benefit,” Lena said.

Following the vote, Gaines noted that residents unfamiliar with the city’s development review process may not realize many project-specific questions are addressed later.

“When they bring back their site plan, all those questions will be answered,” he said.