Huge development at Fort Pierce Inlet to go through normal city approval process for height
FORT PIERCE — A proposed multi-hundred-million-dollar development on the Fort Pierce Inlet likely would become the tallest structure in the area, leading to resident concerns and questions over height limitations.
Despite a new state law that allows for some projects to circumvent local government, the project seems slated to go through the normal city approval process, according to the developer and city officials.
Though formal plans have yet to be submitted to the city, renderings of the project, released at a community meeting last month, appear to show a hotel and parking garage as high as eight stories with a rooftop bar.
Project in the works for years
"Boardwalk on the Inlet" would be built between Manatee Island Bar and Grill and Square Grouper Tiki Bar on property, currently a parking lot, owned by local car dealer and real estate developer Sandy Woods. Woods has been leasing the land to the city for parking since he bought it about three years ago, but for much of that time he has been planning something bigger.
Woods envisions a multiuse development with two hotels, more than 100 condominiums, a nearly 19,000-square-foot event center, multiple restaurants and bars, all of which would secure hundreds of jobs and be easily accessible from a hypothetical Brightline train station and commercial airport.
It's part of what he sees as an impending explosion in the Fort Pierce economy, that could grow the city's tax base and increase amenities that would give companies such as Brightline a reason to have a presence.
"We need to create a tax base for Fort Pierce," Woods said in an interview Thursday. "This project, I think, is going to be the catalyst."
Those dreams may rest on the City Commission and the Planning and Zoning Department, whose approval would be needed for the building's height and other aspects of the project. City officials have said they have no information to on what that process would look like, as they have received no application.
"The City Commission would consider any application using the factors identified in the code, which are aimed at protecting the public health, safety and general welfare of the city," city Planning Director Kev Freeman said in an email.
Formal application coming soon, developer says
Woods has some idea, though. He said his group plans to submit an application in the coming weeks. Then, there will be a preconstruction meeting, he said, followed by two public hearings. Generally speaking, the Planning and Zoning Department will recommend a project for approval, denial or for approval with conditions. But the ultimate say is up to the City Commission.
"They're crossing every T and dotting every I, which I applaud them for," Woods said.
In the end, Woods expects everything to take about 2½ years, including the approval process and construction.
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At the community meeting last month, Woods referred to a new state law that could have taken the power out of the city's hands, Senate Bill 102. That law, known as the "Live Local Act," allows local restrictions to be circumvented if a development includes at least 40% affordable housing.
Woods said he only was encouraging people to do their research, not signaling that his development would qualify.
"I said, 'Get the bill out and read it for yourself.' I didn't say that this is going to be affordable housing. I didn't say any of that. I just said, 'Read the bill," Woods said.
In the end the project will go through the normal city approval process, Woods said, and will not include the kinds of affordable housing required by the law.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Does new state law allow Fort Pierce development without city approval?
