FORT PIERCE — The controversial Causeway Cove development on South Hutchinson Island is moving forward after Fort Pierce city officials defended the project's approval process during a recent City Commission meeting.
The development is planned to include multiple hotels, condominiums, restaurants and other uses. Some of its buildings are planned to rise more than 17 stories.
The project is using Florida's Live Local Act to bypass the city's normal approval process, a provision allowed when a development meets certain state requirements.
During last week's meeting, state Rep. Dana Trabulsy argued that a scrivener's error by city staff could invalidate the developer's ability to use the Live Local Act.
On Aug. 10, Fort Pierce Planning Director Kevin Freeman disputed that characterization and explained how the issue affected the project's review.
"It's not a scrivener's error, it's a mapping error, and actually did not affect the review. We did look at A2," he said. "Even though it's name is an aquatic zone — people would normally associate that with no building or other uses — that zoning district does include commercial uses and also industrial uses, which both would qualify under Live Local."
Freeman also said the project has met requirements involving transportation and other outside agencies, including the Florida Department of Transportation, while noting that additional access approvals and other conditions remain part of the development.
"Traffic impact analysis demonstrates that the project satisfies the transportation concurrency requirements, with implementation of the identified mitigation measures and access approvals. The project shall apply with applicable fire district standards when it comes in for construction plan review and permitting. The project is consistent with the city's comprehensive plan and otherwise applicable land development code requirements as conditioned by the 31 conditions of approval, which are attached to the development order," he said.
The developer has also agreed to several measures intended to address transportation and connectivity associated with the project.
"The applicant has committed in the conditions to provide a water taxi connection between the site and downtown Fort Pierce, to initiate a transit stop, to expand public transit connectivity, to implement a shuttle service between the property and the beach further up Seaway Drive. Part of that commitment is to use the workforce housing to reduce the employee commute traffic for the operations on that property," he said.
Despite those conditions, the project's scale has drawn opposition from the board.
Commissioner Michael Broderick lamented the development, while acknowledging the limited authority the city now has to change it.
"It is simply incompatible with anything in the city, anything on South Beach. This changes the nature of South Hutchinson Island permanently, and we have no control to do anything to stop it," he said. "They followed the procedures, they got their state approvals, you know, they did the right thing, and I applaud them for being thorough and getting it done, but it certainly is not compatible with the city of Fort Pierce."
Commissioner Curtis Johnson expressed concern that further efforts by the city to challenge the development could expose Fort Pierce to significant legal costs.
"This is a state statute that even says if you begin to look at actual encroachment upon this type of development, you're putting yourself at jeopardy, we're putting the city at jeopardy for something that could be millions of dollars racked up when it comes to legal defense, and I just do not see that," he said.
The Live Local Act was created as a way to encourage the construction of affordable housing throughout Florida. Under the Causeway Cove plan, 40% of the housing units will be classified as affordable.
Fort Pierce officials have previously said the rents for those units would still be above the city's average rent.