The meeting’s most significant agenda item concerned the revised master final site plan for Parrot Circle Storage, a project that had been in the works for several years. Initially approved in 2012 as a recreational vehicle park, the 11.1-acre parcel is now set to house a 59,932 square-foot, two-story self-storage facility. The site is located on Southeast Parrot Circle, near Charlie’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill in Stuart. According to the growth management department’s presentation, the facility will cover about 4.5 acres of the property, leaving approximately 77% of the land, primarily wetlands and buffer areas, preserved under an existing management plan.

The project, led by HJA Design Studio LLC on behalf of Land America 225 LLC, received unanimous approval from the board. The design includes architectural elements such as elevated parapets and decorative lights, complying with commercial design standards. The facility will provide parking for tenants and 20 designated RV parking spaces behind gated access, with a building height of 30 feet and 6 inches. While the board expressed no objections, questions were raised about specific aspects like elevator inclusion and the exact number of RV parking spaces.

The board’s approval underscored the strategic use of the vacant parcel to meet community storage needs while maintaining environmental resources. Despite the project’s approval, the discussion illuminated ongoing concerns about development impacts, even when they are deemed compliant with existing regulations and the comprehensive growth management plan.

Following this, the board turned its attention to a rezoning application from Driven Brands, Inc., which sought to change the zoning of a 2.97-acre undeveloped property from a Planned Unit Development (PUD) to a general commercial district. This site, located at the southwest corner of South Canor Highway and Southwest Salerno Road, had seen no development since the PUD zoning agreement expired. The board approved the rezoning, aligning it with the property’s future land use designation.

Public comments revealed community apprehension regarding the potential for increased traffic and accidents. Residents like Cecilia Cleveland and Randy Cleveland expressed concerns about road access and the ecological impact on local wildlife. Randy Cleveland advocated for a substantial noise barrier to mitigate the effects of future construction and operations on his property. The board acknowledged these concerns but clarified that the current discussion focused solely on zoning changes. Specific development plans, including traffic impacts and noise mitigation, would be addressed in future reviews.

A board member remarked on the limitations of their role, emphasizing that property owners have the right to develop their land. They noted that if the county wished to preserve the area as a park, it should have purchased the property.

The board’s decisions reflect a broader trend of balancing growth with environmental and community interests, an ongoing challenge in regions experiencing rapid development.