- The St. Lucie County Commission voted 4-0 on April 21 to delay a decision on the Indrio Groves rezoning request for the third time.
- Lennar Homes is seeking to rezone 1,027 acres near Midway Road and I-95 to build 3,081 homes.
- The item is now scheduled to return before the commission on July 7.
The St. Lucie County Commission has postponed a vote on Lennar Homes’ request to rezone a 1,027-acre property near the northeast corner of Midway Road and Interstate 95 for the third time. Commissioners voted unanimously to continue the Indrio Groves application until July 7, citing last-minute concerns raised by District 1 Commissioner James Clasby.
Project Details and Recent Changes
The proposed development, located east of the Spanish Lakes Fairways retirement community near Koblegard Road, would include 3,081 dwelling units on land currently zoned Agricultural-1. Lennar Homes is requesting a rezoning to planned unit development, which would allow up to three units per acre instead of the current one unit per acre.
Senior Planner Irene Szedlmayer outlined several updates made to the plan since it was first presented on March 17. The revised proposal includes a 13.6-acre family and children’s farm on Koblegard Road, larger lot sizes ranging from 40 to 65 feet wide, increased side and rear setbacks, and a workforce housing commitment raised from 9 to 10 percent. The project also sets aside 426.6 acres for open space, 24.44 acres for a future K-8 school site, and 9.2 acres for commercial uses.
Landscape Architect Troy Holloway described the plan as a mixed-use community with 295 workforce housing units, a 35-acre amenity campus, dog parks, golf, tennis, pickleball, and a pedestrian trail system. Land-use Attorney Bob Raynes told the board the project complies with the county’s comprehensive plan and land development code.
Commissioner Clasby Raises New Objections
The third delay came after Clasby distributed a 12-page handout during the April 21 meeting outlining project-specific complaints and questions about land development regulations. He focused on whether the property’s current Agricultural-1 zoning is compatible with its Towns, Villages & Countryside future land use designation and whether the rezoning is necessary for development to occur.
Planning Manager Kori Benton acknowledged that some development potential already exists under the current zoning. Clasby also cited traffic concerns, pointing to congestion on Johnston Road, 27th Street, and Kings Highway as issues area residents have raised.
Raynes pushed back, saying Lennar had addressed all of Clasby’s prior concerns and that new objections surfaced late in the meeting. Chairwoman Jamie Fowler agreed a continuance was appropriate given the scope of the new questions. Vice-Chairman Larry Leet warned the board to consider potential legal costs if the rezoning is denied without proper justification, noting that staff had recommended approval.
Residents Voice Concerns Near Fort Pierce
Several area residents spoke against the project at the meeting. Diana Harrison, a Koblegard Road resident, raised concerns about traffic capacity and emergency access in the event of a disaster, saying nearby roads are already heavily congested. Another resident, Justin Harrison, objected to the repeated absence of District 5 Commissioner Cathy Townsend, who has recused herself from all three hearings due to a conflict of interest.
The Indrio Groves rezoning request has been under review since mid-March. The item is scheduled to come back before the St. Lucie County Commission on July 7. Residents near Fort Pierce and across St. Lucie County are encouraged to follow commission updates as the project moves toward a potential vote.
