PORT ST. LUCIE – City Council members found themselves defending their actions to frustrated Tradition-area residents July 27, prompting them to table a quasi-judicial rezoning request from the developer of the Riverland/Kennedy Development of Regional Impact. The delay will give the developer’s representatives time to meet with area homeowners and address their concerns.
Planner Francis Forman introduced the controversial agenda item that evening to a packed Chambers.
“The item before you is the Riverland-West Sports & Recreation Master Planned Unit Development rezoning,” he said. “The applicant is Azlina Goldstein with Riverland/Kennedy II LLC. This site is located south of Southwest Discovery Way and east of Southwest Sundance Vista Boulevard. The request is to rezone approximately 33.23 acres from St. Lucie County Agricultural to Riverland-West Sports & Recreation MPUD.”
Forman proceeded to provide more details on the GL Homes request to develop the site in a manner that many Riverland homeowners claim is different than what was planned when they purchased their properties years ago.
“This site is designated Neighborhood Village Commercial, which allows a mixture of residential and non-residential uses such as commercial and offices, personal and household services, institutional, public facilities, parks, playgrounds and similar services,” he explained. “Any Neighborhood Village Commercial area must contain at least two of those uses. Currently the Riverland-West Sports & Recreation MPUD is proposing to provide about 135,000 square feet of indoor recreation with some commercial as well as some outdoor RV/boat storage areas.”
Because the city had received numerous emails from nearby residents in opposition, Vice-Mayor Jolien Caraballo immediately asked City Attorney Richard Berrios to describe the formalities of the quasi-judicial process.
“This is a rezoning, which is limited to what Mr. Forman presented,” Berrios said. “Not part of it are things like landscaping, indoor and outdoor features and specifics of what it will ultimately be. Those things are better suited for the site-plan process. As far as the process here, the legislators take off their legislative hats and put on their judge robes, and it’s limited to taking sworn testimony and the facts presented and applying them to a specific problem.”
Councilman Anthony Bonna, however, believed more information was needed for the area residents.
“Can you go into more detail about what evidence is allowed to be weighed [and] is a rezoning discretionary?” he asked.
While Berrios admitted the Council’s hands were tied as far as any pre-existing DRI entitlements, he deferred Councilman Bonna’s question to Planning & Zoning Director Mary Savage-Dunham. The latter emphasized the legal framework of controlling agreements and city codes.
A pre-existing Development of Regional Impact (DRI) is a large-scale project approved under older Florida growth laws that retains vested development rights despite later changes to local plans or the elimination of the state’s formal DRI program.
“The DRI document talks about what’s going to be built there,” Savage-Dunam said. “We also have the comprehensive plan. As staff testified, this rezoning was found to be consistent with the comprehensive plan, [which] follows the DRI. Those are the road maps that guide development in that section of the city. So, you would be looking at the totality of what the applicant submitted showing their intended uses there and how that aligns with the comp plan and the DRI.”
Vice-Mayor Caraballo then chimed back in with her own perspective.
“If you’re confused, I understand,” she said. “It’s not our process – it’s the way it’s legally required by the state. It’s definitely not the simplest thing for anybody to understand.”
After the applicant’s contracted Land Use Attorney Goldstein provided her own presentation, 10 nearby homeowners aired their complaints, beginning with Southwest River Rock Road resident Jim Riordan.
“My property is located at the southern end of the proposed Riverland-West Sports & Recreation Center,” he said. “I spoke at the July 7 Planning Board meeting, and the chairman encouraged me to meet with Ms. Goldstein, which I did. At that time, I gave her our primary concerns with the project. On Friday, she did contact me, but none of those concerns were addressed. What she did say was exactly what she said right now: This is not the time – the time is later – but we feel this is the time before we move forward.”
Riordan pointed out that GL Homes had “1,300 other acres where they could build this complex.”
“GL has already sold parcels in the new section advertising the fitness center,” he continued. “So, I guess it’s a done deal based on this picture and what they’re advertising. We purchased our property, as well as every citizen here, from The Grove with the understanding that this parcel will be a city park. Now they’re basically trying to make this something different.”
Both Harriet Gallas and her husband Lawrence agreed.
“We chose to move here for quality of life,” the former said. “When we bought our house, we were told there was going to be a park over the berm next to us. They’re 1786167007 talking 72 pickleball courts, bocci courts, tennis courts, a dog park and RV park, and that’s going to destroy my quality of life. Noise pollution’s a real thing: It causes stress, and pickleball is loud, stabbing and sharp. I respectfully beg you to not pass this rezoning.”
The other residents echoed similar fears, resulting in more staff explanations and Council debate until Mayor Shannon Martin asked Goldstein a pivotal question.
“Has their been a public meeting with the neighbors with regard to this issue?” she asked.
“No, it’s just with Mr. Riordan regarding the issue of the buffer,” Goldstein responded.
That response gave Mayor Martin the impetus she needed.
“Being that there are so many concerns from the residents, is GL willing to have a meeting with the residents in order to address the issues?” she prodded.
Goldstein, however, resisted the delay at first.
“This is a straight-forward rezoning,” she insisted. “We don’t have all those details yet for the site plan because that’s not this process. When we’re ready to get there and we have those details, we’d be more than happy to meet with everybody to discuss what’s planned.”
That response brought a loud uproar of protest from the audience and a plea from the vice-mayor.
“I would really appreciate very much if you’d be willing to just table this,” Caraballo said. “I’m sorry to slow it down, but even this part of the process I don’t think they comprehend.”
The City Council then voted unanimously to table the request until the Aug. 24 meeting.