- Fort Pierce Planning Board held an informational review of a massive proposed redevelopment at Causeway Cove Marina on Seaway Drive.
- The project includes 913 residential units, two hotels, retail space, and five buildings up to 17 stories tall.
- Florida’s Live Local Act limits the city’s ability to block or modify the development if state requirements are met.
A proposed mixed-use development at Causeway Cove Marina on Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce is moving through an administrative process under Florida’s Live Local Act. This state law restricts how much local governments can intervene. The Fort Pierce Planning Board held an informational meeting Monday to review the project but took no vote and allowed no public comment.
What the Causeway Cove Redevelopment Would Include
Developer G Flash GP Inc. is proposing a sweeping transformation of the waterfront area surrounding Causeway Cove Marina. According to city records, the project would add 913 residential units, two hotels totaling 407 rooms, more than 72,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, 218 marina slips, and five buildings ranging from 11 to 17 stories tall.
To qualify under the Live Local Act, at least 40 percent of the apartments, roughly 366 units, must remain affordable housing for a minimum of 30 years. City officials confirmed the project meets the statutory requirements under state law.
If the project stays on schedule, construction would happen in phases over the next decade. The developer hopes to begin marina and site work before the end of 2026, with final construction expected in 2035.
How State Law Shapes the City’s Role
City officials spent much of Monday’s meeting explaining what the Live Local Act does and does not allow local government to do. Fort Pierce City Attorney Sara Hedges told board members the process is fundamentally different from a standard public hearing.
‘What we normally see in a public hearing where there’s a discussion, if something is liked, not liked, if there are ways to improve it or not improve it, concerns, that is not what happens under the Live Local Act,’ Hedges said.
The Live Local Act allows qualifying affordable housing developments to bypass a local vote and move through an administrative approval process instead. City officials said the law was created by the state legislature in Tallahassee, not by local elected leaders.
Board Members Raise Traffic and Scale Concerns
Traffic was a central concern during the review. City staff said multiple agencies and consultants studied how the development could affect nearby roads, resulting in required improvements at U.S. 1 and Seaway Drive.
Several board members questioned whether the Live Local Act was designed for a development of this scale. Planning Board member Christopher Widing said he does not believe the law was intended for a project like this. He encouraged residents frustrated with the process to contact their state representatives directly.
The board closed discussion on the item without a vote. For more local news in the area, visit our Fort Pierce news page. Residents can also explore St. Lucie County updates for broader regional developments.
