ST. LUCIE COUNTY — The plan to build an apartment complex surrounding the former home of Crayola crayon inventor Edwin Binney took another major step forward Tuesday morning.
The County Commission — which had previously reversed course in May by voting yes to rezone the property after voting no on the rezoning in March — unanimously approved a final site plan for the 229-unit u-shaped development that surrounds the Binney Estate on three sides.
While Commission Chair Cathy Townsend and Commissioner Larry Leet had voted no in May on the rezoning, which included a preliminary site plan, they voted yes on the final site plan Tuesday. Commissioner Jamie Fowler — who changed her vote from no to yes between the March and May meetings — also voted yes, along with Commissioners Chris Dzadovsky and Linda Bartz, who were the only two to vote yes in March.
Once a property is zoned properly for a certain development, it can be more difficult to vote against the site plan. Despite her earlier opposition to the rezoning, Townsend thanked the developer for working with the commission and the community and making numerous concessions.
“It’s public knowledge that I do not support this, but I have to say, … it’s been a great partnership having y’all come into the county,” Townsend said.
Some of those concessions included setting aside 23 units, or just over 10% of the complex, for workforce affordable housing. Of those 23, 12 would be set aside for those making up to 120% of the area median income, while 11 would be for those making 100% of it.
The developer also agreed, earlier in the process, to lessen the overall number of units and decrease buildings planned for three stories down to two.
Another condition of site plan approval Tuesday was a number of traffic improvements, including the installation of a blinking traffic light and the completion of Taylor Dairy Road from Indrio Road to the property’s southern boundary. Those improvements are to be paid for by the developer.
More: St. Lucie County reverses decision, rezones land for apartments surrounding Binney Estate
More: Opinion: Milton damage to Crayon creator’s Fort Pierce home adds injury to recent insult
While at previous meetings there had been a number of residents, including Binney Estate owners Dennis Jurkiewicz and Janie Baugh, who spoke against the development, Tuesday’s meeting saw no members of the public rise to speak.
Meanwhile, the Binney Estate suffered significant damage during Hurricane Milton and the tornadoes it brought last week, according to Baugh, including shattered windows, awning and roof damage and the complete destruction of a number of the property’s large oak trees.
Wicker Perlis is TCPalm’s Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Indrio Woods apartments surrounding Binney Estate move forward again
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