Planning board approves annexation, land‑use and zoning changes for 10.5‑acre Salvitz site

The Fort Pierce Planning Board on Monday unanimously recommended that the city commission approve a voluntary annexation, a future land‑use map amendment and a concurrent zoning atlas map change for a 10.5‑acre parcel off Salvitz between Salvitz and Glades Cutoff Road.

Kevin Freeman, the city’s planning director, told the board the two parcels are contiguous to the municipal boundary, meet Florida statutory standards for contiguity and compactness, and sit in an established industrial corridor. Freeman said staff recommended approval and that the changes would align city entitlements with existing county industrial designations.

The measure matters because the applicant intends an industrial use: Freeman said the applicant described the proposed operation as “an asphalt production facility, and that aligns with the established industrial character of the area.” Freeman also told the board that the county’s industrial future‑land‑use category carries a floor‑area ratio (FAR) of 3.0—roughly a theoretical 1,300,000 square feet—while the city’s standards reduce that theoretical potential by about 460,000 square feet, a difference Freeman said would lower maximum intensity compared with county entitlements.

Dennis Murphy, speaking for the applicant, said the request is voluntary and that the property owner sought annexation so the project can connect to city water and sewer rather than await a larger group annexation. “We’re gonna be in the city one way or the other,” Murphy said, adding that his clients preferred to work with one permitting authority and avoid later cleanup of an isolated outparcel.

Murphy also alerted the board to a separate concern: he presented an email he described as “an AI generated extortion letter” demanding roughly $5,000 and instructing payment by wire to the city. Murphy urged staff to consider a public advisory reminding applicants that legitimate city application payments follow established channels; staff accepted the email as an informational item for the clerk’s office.

After staff and applicant remarks and no public comment, the board approved three motions: to accept the annexation recommendation (motion by Miss Carter, second by Miss Clemens), to recommend the future land‑use map amendment (motion by Miss Storey, second by Miss Carter) and to recommend the zoning atlas map amendment (motion by Miss Clemens, second by Miss Carter). Roll calls recorded unanimous "Yes" votes from Miss Carter, Mister Edwards, Miss Clemens, Miss Storey, Mister Johnson and Chair Bridal on each item.

All three recommendations will be forwarded to the Fort Pierce City Commission for final action; staff said the site’s detailed impacts, including dust, noise and buffering, will be reviewed and mitigated at the site‑plan stage.

Authorities cited in the board’s review included Florida Statutes section 163.3177 for plan amendment procedures. The board did not receive public opposition during the hearing and no formal conditions beyond the usual site‑plan requirements were recorded. The city clerk will forward the board’s recommendations and the application packet to the city commission for consideration at a future meeting.