Good Morning, Sunland
It's Friday! and thank you all for being here. It's been a busy, busy, busy news week. I remember when I first started Sunland, people would tell me there's not enough going on to be writing five days a week, and I knew it then, but I definitely know it now that there's so much happening, especially if you want to get at it and cover home the way it deserves. That's what I aim to do, and I appreciate y'all.
📺 FYI: I did a video breakdown on the new SNAP food restrictions in Florida that I never put in the newsletter. Watch it here.
Did you know: The county has an interactive development map. Look at it here. You can see all the proposed and approved developments with this map here. If you hover over, the highlight is on, you can get more details about projects. It's pretty cool!
In today's newsletter:
🏡 Indrio Groves development headed to a fourth hearing in July
♻️ Indian River County eyes own recycling plant as costs jump
🚫 Okeechobee County removes data center plan after public input
🏭 Indiantown Council advances FPL rezoning despite data center fears
⚾ St. Lucie Mets game tonight at 6:10 PM with Kids Run the Bases
📅 ICYMI: Yesterday's events newsletter - 30 ish Events!
🌧️ Weather Update: Cloudy with a few showers.
☀️ Day: High of 80°F | Cloudy with a few showers. 30% chance of rain.
🌙 Night: Low of 62°F | Some clouds. Winds SSE at 5-10 mph. 11% chance of rain.
🌅 Sunrise: 6:48 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 7:51 PM
🌙 Moonrise: 1:32 PM | 🌚 Moonset: 2:35 AM
🎶 Sounds like: "The Light" — Common
Ja'Min Devon
Founder & Publisher, Sunland News
🟠 Main Squeeze: The second largest development project in St. Lucie County history is headed to a fourth hearing
Lennar Homes has owned 1,027 acres in the far north end of St. Lucie County since 2004 near Koblegard Road just west of I-95 and has spent two decades working toward approval to build a 3,081 home community called Indrio Groves that county estimates say could house more than 7,700 people.
What they are proposing
🏡 3,081 total homes including single family houses, townhomes, and 328 apartments.
🌳 426 acres of open space including lakes, trails, parks, and a 35 acre amenity campus with a community farm and amphitheater.
🏫 24 acres dedicated to St. Lucie Public Schools for a future K through 8 school.
🏗️ 308 workforce housing units committed for 20 years.
🛣️ Multiple road improvements including roundabouts and 1.5 miles of Koblegard Road construction paid for by the developer.
Where things stand
Lennar came back to the April 21st hearing with bigger lots, larger setbacks, and increased workforce housing after the board pushed back in March. Then Commissioner James Clasby arrived with a 12 page handout and spent 30 minutes reading the county's own staff report into the legal record, getting planning staff to confirm on record that the project is three times more dense than surrounding properties, that hospital travel times from the site run up to 55 minutes, and that there is no committed timeline for a nearby fire station.
The county attorney recommended a continuance so the developer could respond. The board agreed and pushed the hearing to July 7th.
Commissioner Erin Lowry put it plainly at the April 21st meeting. "We want this to continue to be rural St. Lucie County and not look like a project coming out of Port St. Lucie."
Across three hearings on what would be the second largest development in county history, public comment has been nearly empty. Commissioner Cathy Townsend has recused herself from both votes citing a close personal relationship with one of the attorneys on the project, leaving four commissioners to vote. A two to two split would not result in a denial. It would simply mean no action is taken.
🏫 Press Round: Data Up and Data Down
♻️ Indian River County Eyes Own Recycling Plant as Costs Jump
Indian River County is exploring building its own recycling facility after St. Lucie County requested a $45 per ton processing fee that would cost about $1 million annually. Commissioners directed staff to conduct a feasibility study for a local recycling processing facility as population growth drives increased demand.
👉 Read more (WQCS)
🚫 Okeechobee County Removes Data Center Plan After Public Input
Okeechobee County commissioners voted Thursday to remove Special Technology Opportunity Centers from the county's comprehensive plan after residents raised concerns about what the proposal might mean for the county's rural character. County officials thanked residents for attending and noted public participation is critical.
👉 Read more (Sunland News)
🏭 Indiantown Council Advances FPL Rezoning Despite Data Center Fears
Indiantown Village Council voted unanimously April 23 to move forward with rezoning 5,700 acres of FPL land that could allow a data center, with final approval scheduled April 30. Residents protested before the meeting with signs reading "No data centers" while FPL admitted a data center could be built on the property.
👉 Read more (AOL/TCPalm)
💧 Friday Poll: Should you be able to see who's giving public comment at government meetings?
Context: Commissioner raised concerns this week that people were blocked from being seen during public comment at a St. Lucie County meeting. No vote was taken on the decision to block community members from view. Commissioner Clasby defended First Amendment rights, questioned whether decorum rules extend into public hearings.
What do you think?
⚾ Met’s Update: Our St. Lucie Mets took a pretty terrible loss yesterday.
Final score: Mets, 3 — Cardinals, 11 Our pitching just wasn't there at all. However, we have three more games against the Cardinals to redeem ourselves.
Highlights: Elian Peña and JT Benson both racked up 2 hits. Along with Sam Biller, they're all having a wonderful season at the plate so far, hitting upwards of .300! Thank you for your efforts, guys! Keep fighting!
Game starts at 6:10pm tonight 🕕 Go see the team at 31 Piazza Drive, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986!
Tonight's promos 🗒️
🎖️ Ticket Offer: Vets at the Mets All veterans and active duty military members receive free admission.
🥈 Ticket Offer: Platinum Silver Sluggers Platinum Silver Sluggers members receive admission and free soda or water.
👟 Day of Game Highlights: Kids Run the Bases Kids 14-and-under can run the bases after the game!
— darius garrido
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