Planning commission approves new Fire Station 15 in Vero Lake Estates with fence condition

The Indian River County Planning & Zoning Commission approved a major site plan and administrative permit for a new Fire Station 15 in Vero Lake Estates, voting unanimously to require a safety fence around the project’s retention pond.

Brandon (county staff) presented the proposal as a county project that would become “the new permanent home for Fire Station 15,” showing an aerial and describing a proposed 4‑bay truck building with administrative offices, equipment and fitness rooms and a total footprint of about 9,983 square feet. He told commissioners the site plan includes two vehicle connections to 87th Street, traffic‑signal preemption at 87th and 90th Avenues, a 25‑foot landscape buffer and a 0.75‑acre native upland preservation area to the north. He also confirmed the proposal complies with the special‑use criteria in section 971.14 for emergency services in the RS‑3 zoning district.

Commissioners and residents focused questions on pedestrian access and emergency access. Staff and project engineers said 87th Street will receive a sidewalk that will run the parcel boundary but that 91st Avenue is unpaved and is not currently subject to the county sidewalk requirement for paved frontages; staff said the sidewalk is expected to connect when DOT completes a future widening of State Road 510 and associated sidewalk work in roughly two to three years. On traffic, the project will include signal preemption to help emergency vehicles travel through the 87th/90th intersection, though several commissioners noted left‑turns from a loaded intersection could remain a challenge during school events.

Several speakers raised child‑safety concerns about the site’s stormwater retention area. Project staff and the engineer said the pond must be a wet pond because of the local water table and described a design depth of about 8 feet; the engineer reported the team secured a St. Johns River permit and said the northern surface‑water area identified on the plan would not be disturbed. Commissioner comments recalled a past drowning in a neighborhood retention pond and urged a fence; the chief (speaking for the applicant) said during the design phase he would “assure it fences around it before this thing is finished.”

After discussion, Commissioner (speaker 7) moved to approve the major site plan and administrative permit for Fire Station 15 with a requirement that a fence be provided around the retention pond for safety; Commissioner (speaker 8) seconded for discussion. The commission voted in favor and the chair announced the motion passed unanimously. The staff report lists conditions including a 35‑foot right‑of‑way dedication for 91st Avenue and the required landscape buffers and improvements.

The commission opened a public hearing on the item, received no public testimony, returned to commissioners for final discussion and approved the project with the fencing condition. Planning staff said the commission will next meet again on March 24.