Planning board backs West Orange final plan for phased townhome community

The Fort Pierce Planning Board voted Sept. 17 to recommend approval of the West Orange final planned development, the next-step site plan implementing a 2023 master PD (ordinance 23-013).

Planning staff explained the request covers roughly 56.62 acres of the larger 84.8-acre master plan and implements Phases 1 and 2 (about 450 townhome units total; staff described Phase 1 as roughly 29.47 acres with 256 townhomes and Phase 2 as roughly 22.69 acres with 194 townhomes). Staff noted 26 recommended conditions addressing conformance with the master plan, FDOT access approvals and a requirement for a wetlands jurisdictional determination and SFWMD compliance. Applicant Todd Maury (Redtail) said Ryan Homes is expected to develop the townhome community and walked the board through internal roadways, a gated entrance, bus-turnaround provisions and stormwater ponds. Board members questioned amenity timing, pocket-park acreage, unity-of-title and roadway widths; the applicant and staff said the development agreement and external permits would resolve many details.

On the motion to accept the staff recommendations with conditions, the board approved the recommendation on unanimous roll-call vote; the decision forwards the PD to the City Commission with staff conditions.