Tom Campenni
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IN THIS EDITION OF THE NEWSLETTER
Here we are heading into election season.
Toward the end of June, I will be inviting all declared candidates to contribute a piece to explain who they are and why they are running for office. That way the voters will have a better idea of their positions on various issues.
Don’t forget to make sure you, your family, your neighbors, and your friends are signed up to receive their own copy of Friends & Neighbors. It is free and is the go-to source for what is happening in our county. Realtors should be making sure new residents to the area are on our subscriber list. As well as HOA boards having their owners’ emails on our list. And if you get a new email address, please don’t forget to make sure to have that email entered into our system.
If you disagree on something you have seen, you can send an email to Tom, and we will publish it in almost all cases. You can even write one telling us that you like what you see. We want them all.
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In this edition, we continue exploring the problems Trailside residents are having with their neighbors in Pal-Mar. I took a tour out there and write, about what my impressions were. The HOA president also has written a piece about their ongoing struggles and the lack of response from the county and, more importantly, the sheriff’s department. Look for both under the Martin County tab.
We continue to write about how the county has not been transparent regarding the rural lifestyle amendment. At the same time, we have introduced Discovery’s unabridged explanation about why they proposed the amendment and why it is good for Martin County. We have included the Guardians’ position which appears tacit approval to be just for and closely around the Discovery piece. Which looks to me to be an exception to the plan and the amendment should not be applicable for the entire county. Which was the process I favored all along. There are always two sides to a story and in this case maybe three, we are lucky to have both Hurley and the Guardians explaining their position. I placed the three pieces under Martin County. Look for them there.
Joan Goodrich from the BDB is here with her monthly column as well at Dr. Michele Libman with the latest on COVID, and Tiffany Kincaid keeping us up to date regarding “Keep Martin Beautiful.” Captain Paul’s fishing column, Missi Campbell’s Palm City Chamber, Rob Ranieri from House of Hope, and the Taxpayers on this year’s CIP. We are also introducing local realtor, John Gonzalez, and his column on real estate. We have our lineup of VanRiper, Pine, and Hafner with their opinions.
Besides our government notices, there is the latest from government meetings, letters from readers, Final Thoughts, articles from publications, and my own writings.
Happy Easter! Chag Pesach! (Happy Passover)
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EASTER
Happy Easter!
It is the holiest day in the Christian calendar. The Jewish holiday of Passover is usually very close. This year Easter and the 2nd day of Passover fall on the same day.
One should remember that Jesus was in Jerusalem to celebrate that Jewish feast. As He entered Jerusalem on what has become known as Palm Sunday, Jesus was being celebrated. By the following Friday, Jesus had been crucified, died, and was buried. Those are the words Christians recite when they say the “Apostles’ Creed.”
On that first Palm Sunday, Jesus was being hailed as possibly the Messiah as he rode a donkey and had palm fronds laid on his path in the road. Since He was aware of His coming Passion in a few days, it could have only been a bittersweet moment. How many of us have experienced great exhilaration followed by an inevitable fall?
Jesus always knew the fate at the end that He had to endure while being a man. It was no surprise as He suffered on the cross. His humanity made Him cry out in pain and at times doubt the mission, but His divinity always understood the outcome.
On the other hand, we usually suffer a fall because of our flawed human nature. And experience has taught us that the trajectory from high to low can happen to us very quickly. Are we just as prepared to accept the inevitable, learn from that lesson, and continue?
While anything we have thrown at us, whether self-made or not, cannot compare to what Jesus suffered on that first Holy Week. Jesus went to the bowels of hell, to the spires of Heaven, and showed us that He was not just a mortal such as we. While we can try and emulate, we can never duplicate His Passion. At the same time, our trial will never be as grave.
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PALM CITY CHAMBER
Last week, I wrote how the Palm City Chamber of Commerce had cut a sweetheart lease with the county similar to the Jensen Beach Chamber. I was wrong about the Palm City Chamber.
Unlike the Jensen Beach arrangement, where the county turned over the entire community center to the Chamber, the Palm City Chamber has received a 324 square foot office at the community center in Charlie Leighton Park. The office is a fraction of the entire building.
Parks & Recreation will be running programing for the rest of the building. The Chamber will be allowed to have functions in other areas of the building if it isn’t already programmed. Commissioner Ciampi, who was instrumental in forging the deal, gave me a tour of the partially renovated facility.
Missy Campbell, the chamber director, will fill you in on the details in her column below. While I am not 100% sold on the idea of public property being used for a private use, in this case it may be a good relationship. A few years ago, touting PPP (Private/Public Partnership) was all the rage. This may be an example of a good one.
It is almost impossible not to like Ed Ciampi. He has always been forthcoming and respectful…even when we disagree. I really believe he cares about the county and especially Palm City.
So, this week I will eat a little crow and give “Chef Ed” three stars.
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NOT SO FAST
I know some will say that the City of Stuart was the loser in the Costco challenge.
City of Stuart
It wasn’t the city that lost but rather the residents of Martin County and especially those who reside within the city. Realistically, the nearly 50-acre site is not going to remain the waste dump it had been. Remember the developer has found abandoned cars, trucks, machinery, and junk strewn throughout. Most of the so-called wetlands were unpermitted irrigation ponds illegally dug by the farmers that once felt free to grow crops and leave leaking crank cases behind.
There will be a commission quasi-judicial hearing at some point to give the property a future land use. The city this time will just have the hearing be about that. At a time soon thereafter, the owner of the property will come in with a plan to develop the site. The developer could build over a million square feet of commercial space or more than 1500 apartments.
The wetlands a/k/a illegal irrigation ponds may be what passes for nature here instead of a meandering lake creating a walking path for city residents. The thru road that was included in the Costco plan may go away so that the very thing created to alleviate having only one entrance and exit will no longer be feasible. Is that an improvement…. I doubt it.
Maybe Stuart will get lucky like Palm City and turn its Costco site into a gas station, Tractor Supply, and cheap hotel. Another Martin County planning success. Zealots with all their zeal accomplishing what?
The city commission was able to extract many concessions from the applicant…during the last development process. They may not have the same ability in the next go round. It was a flawed decision, but no one will take the time to appeal that ruling and waste another 18 months.
Perhaps the property owner will continue to work with the city? What I don’t believe he will do is waste much time on trying to appease anyone. Nor should he. The heroine of the environment (the petitioner) just created a situation where the environment will not come out the better. Whatever damage happens from here didn’t need to occur.
You can find the administrative judge’s ruling here
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OTHER OPINIONS
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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD BENT
By Joan Goodrich
CEO BDBMC
Joan Goodrich from BDB
Opportunity knocks a lot in this job market. And the jobseekers (perhaps fittingly for the technological times in which we live) appear to be responding through a metaphorical Ring, screening from near and afar and being hired in non-traditional ways.
So, employers are adjusting, innovating fresh ways to get through. That’s at least one of the takeaways from the recent Business Breakfast we sponsored with the Stuart/Martin County Chamber. Emceed by Dr. Alex Anzalone, president of Indian River State College’s Chastain Campus, addressed the topic, “The Future of Work & Learning Conversation” featuring our esteemed panelists:
- John Snyder, CEO of Employment Solutions Inc.
- John Millay, superintendent of the Martin County School District
- Matthew Graham, director of risk management for Martin County
- Erin Smith, senior client recruiter for Cleveland Clinic Health
Recognizing, as Snyder said, that the days of “posting and praying” for responses to job listings are long over, employers are cultivating robust talent acquisition teams and tactics to identify and attract hires.
Here’s another trend: The conventional workday is also being revisited and reimagined—a consequence of covid and the video office culture it spawned.
Benefits—particularly for jobseekers over 26—as that’s when adult children age-out of their parent’s health plans—are also undergoing updates and upgrades. Sign-on bonuses are increasingly common. And salaries—unsurprisingly—are being carefully studied to ensure substantial increases remain sustainable to the local businesses offering them.
Panelists advised the many small-business owners in attendance they must make talent decisions quickly and remain flexible and creative, citing a recent hiring event with 20 jobs available and managers hiring nine candidates at the event.
When inventorying the intangible aspects inherent to working in Martin County in specific and on the Treasure Coast at large, the potential good news continues. Job seekers report placing greater emphasis than previous generations on work-life balance and therefore value location, recreation opportunities and quality-of-life concerns. Martin County scores extremely high in those categories as a desired destination to live, play and work (perhaps best listed in that order).
Still, the answers don’t come easy. Our panel includes our top perennial employers in the private and public sectors, all of whom have a lot to offer, and all agree innovation and new thinking is required about ever-changing talent needs. Everything from the Great Retirement to the prevalence of relief dollars to the pandemic-inspired reprioritization plays a part in the labor challenge. There’s no single solution or solo entity that will readily solve it.
Fortunately, everyone came away from this collaborative effort grateful to learn that many of Martin County’s top minds are meeting to devise solutions to the issue and key community investments are being made. That’s the sound of a lot of opportunities knocking.
Joan Goodrich’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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VANRIPER’S VIEWS
By Darlene VanRiper
Is Martin County Funding Education for other Counties? Yes. And in more ways than one.
First, it is important to know that all tax dollars collected by the county for our school district are sent first to Tallahassee. From there they are disbursed back to the 67 counties. Martin County is considered a “donor” county meaning that not ALL of our money comes back to us. Instead, it is distributed to other “needing” counties. This is because it has been determined that we in Martin County, take in more than we need.
This is done in accordance with a law from 1973 that the Florida Legislature enacted entitled the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP). It “established the state policy on equalized funding to guarantee to each student in the Florida public education system the availability of programs and services appropriate to his or her educational needs that are substantially equal to those available to any similar student notwithstanding geographic differences and varying local economic factors.”
If you consider the issue at the state level, this may be a just arrangement. However, if you look at it at the county level, it may not look so fair. Especially if your county is a “donor” county. “Lawmakers in 2016 blurred school-district boundaries by allowing parents to enroll children in any public school beginning in 2017-18. School districts must accept most students if the school they want to attend has yet to reach capacity, according to the statute.” And is that system actually working? I have been told by a former school board member that this out of county student issue has been a significant problem since the law was enacted.
What would make that so? For one thing, Martin County schools do not offer the exact same curriculum. For example, Southfork High offers an International Baccalaureate program which most other schools do not. What if your Martin County student wants to attend it, but the school is filled with students from other counties? That’s right. That could happen. Understand that once students are enrolled whether they reside in Martin County or not, they are enrolled until they graduate high school.
Another problem we are no doubt lucky to have, is that Martin County schools have long been considered “better” than other county’s schools. So, if you resided in Palm Beach County and you couldn’t afford to send your student to a private school for a better than county average public education, you might look at neighboring Martin County public schools as a cheaper alternative.
An unintended cost is associated with the ongoing effort to determine which students live in other counties who have lied to gain entrance. Of course, priority is given to Martin County students so if you want your student to attend a school graded higher for quality, and you are unwilling to move to Martin County and you are unscrupulous, you lie about your address.
What about Martin County’s growing population? You have undoubtedly noticed we have several housing developments going up. The school board has not accounted for any students that may soon be residing in those. They could only venture a guess anyway.
The bottom line in my view is obvious. Public schools are not adhering to the statute. They are not providing programming equal in all counties. Otherwise, why wouldn’t you keep your student in a school where they live? So, the undoubtedly well-intentioned law simply is not working. The public school system, mandated or not, is not providing what parents are looking for.
Darlene VanRiper’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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PINE’S PONDERING
By Tom Pine
In the early 1980s the very richest Americans paid at least 74% of their income in taxes and CEO’s took home about 30 times what their workers did.
Within a few years taxes were cut on the richest Americans down to just 28% and CEO’s started making 373 times more than their workers. Today the middle class is dying, and we now have over 10 million working poor in America.
Today April 9, 2022 in the Palm Beach Post, Space X launched three rich businessmen and their astronaut escort to the International Space Station on Friday for more than a week’s stay. NASA joins Russia in hosting guests at the world’s most expensive tourist destination.
Arriving at the space station are an American, a Canadian, and an Israeli who run Investment, real estate, and other companies. They’re paying $55 million dollars apiece for a rocket ride and accommodations, all meals are included.
Back here down on earth working class people are struggling to find a place they can afford to buy or even rent with prices skyrocketing over the last few years.
Not too long ago 30% of your income was considered typical for a mortgage payment or even a monthly rent payment, today 40% and more is becoming the new normal which leaves very little left for the necessities of life, such as food, shelter, clothing, health insurance just to name a few.
So, to me it’s becoming very stressful when the two big spenders on the Martin County Commission jumps full steam ahead with the Rural Lifestyle Plan for the Wealthiest of the Wealthy. Just like their counterparts did when the wealthy in Martin County wanted to extend the runway at our local airport. In Martin County it’s always about the money, the more you’re willing to spend the more the majority of our County Commissioners will support you.
Commissioners Ciampi and Smith have always been attacking our Martin County Growth Management Plan and this time Commissioner Jenkins jumped on board alternating between himself and Commissioner Hetherington in supporting the two big spenders.
Commissioner Jenkins might be looking forward to his children’s future since they now operate Jenkins Landscaping Service in Hobe Sound, not much different than the two big spenders Ciampi and Smith getting a sweetheart deal for a dollar a month rent for office space in a government building for their friends at the Chamber of Commerce.
I did not attend the Dog and Pony show that the Guardians held to discuss the new Rural Lifestyle Plan although I have attended many Dog and Pony shows that the county held and often directed by our now county Administrator during the illegal expansion of runway 12/30 at our local airport.
After talking with several people who attended or watched on zoom it sounds like it was a first-class Dog and Pony Show. The first thing a good Dog and Pony Show needs is a real good distraction, so a former county employee gave a real good one. She told a story about a past County Commissioner that had committed suicide by jumping off the roof of a parking garage on the same date years earlier that they were having this meeting on. The next thing, they broke everybody into small groups. That’s step #2 Divide and Conquer, it’s easier to break you down when you don’t have support. #3, Only answer questions that support your scheme
The Dog and Pony Show went as planned. Not a single important question was answered, that didn’t support the Rural Lifestyle Plan.
If any Martin County residents have any questions about this latest scheme such as, why there are no schools, no fire rescue, no police substations, why are septic tanks being allowed. If you’re not calling or emailing your county commissioner about this scheme we will be losing are beautiful county much faster than you realize, once this scheme is complete the Browardisation of Martin County will be complete.
Truth To Power
Tom Pine’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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HAFNER’S CORNER
By David Hafner
Poultry to the People!
Five years ago, the City of Stuart was close to allowing backyard chickens. The vote was cast, and the measure was approved, but then at the very next meeting the decision was rescinded.
At the April 5, 2022, Martin County Board of County Commissioners meeting Amber D’Angelo brought the topic up during the public comment period. Commissioner Ciampi then asked staff to put this topic on the agenda for a future meeting. So, the topic has legs.
Having chickens is fun and a great way to teach children self-sustainability and responsibility, and chickens have a low-cost entry point. I tell people chickens need three things to survive: food, water, and shelter. Provide these three things and you are on your way to fresh eggs daily.
Chicken ownership isn’t all roses, though. If not given proper care chickens can attract pests and spread disease. Luckily, proper care is simple and through the last two years we have all adopted measures into our everyday lives that will make chicken ownership safe and easy- washing our hands and staying separate. These are big pieces to chicken biosecurity- procedures intended to protect humans or animals against disease or harmful biological agents.
Chickens can carry salmonella, but by simply not touching your face with anything that touched the chickens and by washing your hands after handling your chickens you nearly eliminate the chances of you getting sick.
Quarantining new chickens before they are added to the established flock prevents the spread of any poultry diseases. Flies can also be a problem but adopting a cleaning routine and composting waste you will greatly reduce their presence, and it will give you a great source of nitrogen rich fertilizer that can be used in a backyard garden.
These are very simple steps to safe chicken ownership and with the proper education from Martin County UF/IFAS Extension Office and Martin County Farm Bureau I think we can have responsible chicken owners who take pride in feeding themselves- even if only in part.
Follow Up: In the March 20, 2022, issue of Friends & Neighbors I wrote about IRSC’s new charter high school coming to Indiantown. At that point information about enrolling in classes was not yet available, but it is now. The new school, Indiantown High School, will start with its first classes this fall.
Click this link for more information: here
David Hafner’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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KEEP MARTIN BEAUTIFUL
By Tiffany Kincaid
Executive Director
Earth – it’s our only home.
Since 1970, the world celebrates Earth Day on April 22. It’s an opportunity to foster our appreciation for our planet’s abundant natural resources, become more aware of the many issues that threaten the sustainability of our planet, and consider the ways we can all do our part to be better environmental stewards.
While global environmental issues such as air and water pollution, deforestation, and climate change require major shifts in policy initiatives, there are people and organizations throughout the world making a difference at the local level. For them, and for nonprofit organizations like Keep Martin Beautiful, every day is Earth Day.
On April 28, Keep Martin Beautiful will shine a spotlight on the people and organizations that have taken the initiative to “think globally, act locally.”
More than 40 individuals, nonprofits, civic groups, and government agencies will be honored for their environmental efforts during the past year. We were so impressed with the diversity of activities – from community cleanups and traveling gardens to murals and upcycled clothing – and the many ways people in Martin County express their love for the environment.
We are excited to celebrate them during our Environmental Stewardship Awards ceremony at Sailfish Point County Club. You can view the entire list of nominees here.
If you’d like to join us at the Environmental Stewardship Awards, surrounded by likeminded people who care deeply about our planet and our community, click here to reserve your tickets, or follow us on Facebook as we share the nominees and winners.
There are many small and simple actions you can take on Earth Day, or any day, to “act locally.” Here are just a few ideas: participate in a beach cleanup, pick up roadside litter, plant a tree, give up plastic bags, choose sustainable food sources, conserve water, or donate clothing to those in need through a nonprofit thrift store.
Margaret Mead said it best in this quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
For more info contact us at 772-781-1222 or info@keepmartinbeautiful.org
Tiffany Kinkaid’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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MICHELE’S MEDICAL MOMENT
By Michele Libman M.D.
I don’t know about you but part of me found it very interesting that the folks in Washington D.C. who are in charge of setting the Covid policy for the country ended up being responsible for the latest super spreader Covid event.
Provided Dr. Michele Libman
72 attendees at the infamous Gridiron Dinner in Washington D.C. ended up testing positive for Covid including Senator Susan Collins, Attorney General Merrick Garland and even President Biden’s sister!!
So, what is the latest information about Covid? The latest strain to be circulating is known as the BA.2 variant and makes up about 72% of cases of Covid in the US at the current time. It is felt that the latest subvariants of Omicron evolved over the course of chronic infections in a small group of immune-compromised people.
BA.1 wound up with 60 mutations that are not found in the ancestral SARS-coV-2 virus. BA.2 shares many of those same mutations but also has 28 unique genetic changes of its own, four of them on the spike protein. Unfortunately, Omicron is the first variant to evolve in the context of mounting immunity in the general population. It has the advantage of being able to resist immune defenses against the variants that came before, thereby increasing the number of susceptible people in the population.
One reason BA.2 has gained ground is because it’s about 30% more contagious than the original Omicron. The good news is it doesn’t seem to cause more severe disease than the original Omicron variant. Vaccines appear to be effective in preventing severe disease in both types of Omicron variants and getting a booster shot offers strong protection against severe illness and death.
In addition, those with a booster shot appear to have a shorter duration of illness (4.4 days vs 7.7 for delta infections). Another plus is that even though cases appear to be rising again, hospitalizations have continued to decline.
Now that home tests are so readily available it is impossible to get reliable data on the true number of positive cases so the only metric, we can reliably follow is hospitalizations. Currently there are about 1400 people hospitalized with Covid in the entire country which is a 10% decline from the previous week.
Sadly, I don’t ever think we will be without Covid… we just need to learn to live with it and continue to protect ourselves the best we can. That is especially true for our elders and the immune compromised.
Michele Libman’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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PALM CITY HIGHLIGHTS
By Missi Campbell
Executive Director of the Palm City Chamber
The Palm City Chamber of Commerce is grateful to District 5 Commissioner Ed Ciampi and Martin County for providing us the opportunity to rent office space in the Palm City Center at Charlie Leighton Park. We believe that this lease will benefit the residents of Martin County, especially in Palm City, with the ability that we will have to feature this wonderful rental facility.
The space the Palm City Chamber is leasing is only a very small portion of the facility, approximately 325 square feet of the 3500 square foot building. The office being leased has been designed so that we will be tucked into a small corner that does not detract from the large rectangular shape of the room. It is an office that would likely otherwise go unused all or most of the time.
By allowing us to use this small portion of the building our goal and intention is to promote the facility and property so that the citizens of Martin County know that it is available and lovely. Our lease will not detract from the ability of others to use the facility and in fact part of our obligation under the lease is to promote and encourage the increased use of the facility and property by the public. The renovated building will be and remain open for the public’s use and enjoyment. We hope that Charlie Leighton Park will act as a gateway to Palm City and we are excited about the opportunity to help promote and showcase this wonderful park.
The Palm City Chamber of Commerce is proud to be #YourCommunityChamber. We understand the importance of our local nonprofits to our community members. Therefore, we intend to highlight the new space for them to use for small meetings. When it is time to have events, they will think of renting the Palm City Center at Charlie Leighton Park first.
We hope to work with a variety of local agencies and nonprofits, such as the Florida Wildlife Commission and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary to schedule boater and hunter safety courses. There are also opportunities to promote and use the space in conjunction with the county and other organizations, such as the Small Business Development Center at Indian River State College. The Martin County Parks and Recreation Department will continue to operate the park and its facilities, and we will be there to help support its efforts.
Commissioner Ciampi and the Martin County Board of County Commissioners have many exciting renovations proposed for Charlie Leighton Park. In addition to the renovated building, and that the Palm City Chamber of Commerce will be there, every day to show the space to interested parties as well as hold our smaller events which will showcase the beautiful rental facility as well as the improvements coming to the park.
We believe this is a great opportunity for both the county and the chamber and a great example of a public-private partnership between the county and a not-for-profit. We thank Martin County Board of County Commissioners for this opportunity and, though we are only leasing a small office in a much larger facility, our efforts and involvement will in large part promote the county and this wonderful facility we have at Charlie Leighton Park.
Missi Campbell’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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CIP BUDGETS
At the last BOCC meeting, the commissioners looked at and approved the capital improvement lists for the upcoming budget year.
While they did ask some questions, in general it seemed like blanket approvals without any critical thinking. In the past few cycles, MCTA has given the commissioners a pass on this. We assumed that the staff gave extensive behind-the-scenes briefings which would eliminate asking tough questions from the dais.
After last year’s approval and then at the last minute, the BOCC went into a panic and cut the CIP so as not to raise taxes. MCTA is more critical of this approach to approving the CIP without extensive public discussion. At one time, there was much more detail and discussion in public meetings surrounding where the capital improvement budget is proposing to spend taxpayer funds. Is the project necessary and if so, how will it be funded?
There are two sacred cows that never seem to be reviewed with a critical eye. Fire/Rescue and the Sherrif Departments’ requests are given only a cursory look and then approved. MCTA is not taking a position that the capital improvement budgets for these two departments are not needed. Only that the level of scrutiny by the staff and commission is far below what the taxpayers deserve.
We also understand that the sheriff’s budget is a mere formality since the state has taken almost all oversight from local officials regarding law enforcement’s budget. That makes it even more important that every line is publicly analyzed so that the taxpayer can determine whether the expenditures are needed. The only recourse that taxpayers have is to vote in a more fiscally responsible party as sheriff in the next election if we disagree with the expenditures.
To a lesser extent, the budget for fire/rescue should also be analyzed publicly. The commissioners need to do a cost budget analysis to determine that these expenditures will bring us enough bang for the buck. Not every bell and whistle should be approved because it is wanted. It should be that the commission determines how much risk is there and is it acceptable.
What the commissioners should avoid is approving expenditures and then recommending cuts at the last minute when it is discovered that taxes would have to be raised. The commissioners should instruct staff to determine income first and then expenses. While it is never known for certain until the final numbers are given by the property appraiser and Tallahassee, solid estimates of those amounts are known for accurate budget purposes.
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HOPE IN OUR COMMUNITY
Rob Ranieri
CEO for House of Hope
Hope in Our Community
Many people who are familiar with House of Hope know us as a county wide resource for food to assist our neighbors facing financial challenges.
Certainly, this is true as we assist thousands of people through our network of food pantries in Golden Gate, Hobe Sound, Indiantown, and Jensen Beach, always at no cost to our clients. But did you know we are also a leader in providing no cost, impact programs through our two Enrichment Centers?
Through our Golden Gate Center for Enrichment (a stand-alone Center housed in the historic Golden Gate Building on Dixie Highway) and our Jensen Beach Center for Enrichment (part of our Jensen Beach Service Center on Jensen Beach Blvd) House of Hope provides free programs and services in health & nutrition, job skills and support, education, the arts, and more.
For years, House of Hope has been conducting surveys, and administering assessments to better understand and identify the obstacles that our clients face and look for commonalities. By operating our own Enrichment Centers, we can offer programs and services to help our clients overcome these obstacles.
The centers are open to House of Hope clients and to anyone in the community that would benefit from these opportunities. All of the programs and services are always at no cost to participants. Programming reaches all ages, from infants to seniors and everyone in-between.
While many of the programs we offer are conducted by House of Hope staff and volunteers, outstanding partners also provide key resources. The Martin County Library, Everglades Area Health Education Center, Martin County Healthy Start, Cleveland Clinic Martin Health, and the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast are just a few of the important partners.
A typical monthly calendar of activities may include diaper distributions, Homework Helpers, Art 4 Kids, Paws to Read, and Let’s Start Learning (an early learning class for 3-4 year olds) for children. Adults may have access to Tai Chi, Zumba, cooking classes, smoking cessation, career coaching, English as a Second Language (basic and intermediate), Art 4 Women and more. There is even a monthly Pet Care Clinic at the Golden Gate Center. Both Centers offer computer labs so that all ages have access to the internet for homework, job searches, research, and other purposes.
House of Hope works to help Martin County residents to overcome hunger and hardship, and our Centers for Enrichment are playing a vital role in helping those we serve to reach their goals. To learn more about these programs, or the many ways that
House of Hope impacts our community, please visit our website at www.hohmartin.org.
Rob Ranieri’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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FISHING TIPS
BY Capt. Paul Sperco
The month of April and the real start of springtime fishing is upon us here on the Treasure Coast.
Days are longer, water temperatures are on the rise, and some species will be heading north, and others will be making their way into our waters. The bluefish and pompano will be setting their sights on the beaches of St Augustine, Jacksonville, Amelia Island, and the Carolinas while the tarpon and snook will be chasing increasing numbers of pilchards and glass minnows along the shores of St Lucie and Martin counties.
The surf fishing focus will switch from pompano to whiting, croaker, snook, tarpon, and big jack crevalle. All of us that have been chasing the pompano schools with our ten-to-thirteen-foot rods will be hanging those setups on the racks in the garage and will be downsizing to light action seven-foot spinning outfits. The target area will be the beach from ten to fifteen yards from shore instead of trying to launch your pompano rigs over 100 yards from the beach break.
This is the time of year to get everyone involved from grandkids to grandparents as the whiting and croaker will be plentiful and relatively easy to locate and catch. A bag of Fishbites and some 2 hook whiting rigs will be all the terminal tackle and bait you will need. The reward for your efforts will be some of the best table fare South Florida has to offer. The white and mild tasting fillets from the whiting and croaker make up the best fish fry you can imagine.
The key to bending a rod for these tasty fish is to pitch your bait into the surf, do not cast it. The biggest mistake anglers make is casting past the first trough and beyond where they swim. Early morning and dusk will be the times for those of you that want to do battle with a big snook or tarpon. Big spoons, large swimbaits, and live pilchards are what you are going to need to hook a tarpon and be happy to get a jump or two from this great gamefish before they spit the hook.
The sight of a 100-pound tarpon shaking his head as it skyrockets into the air is a thrill you will not forget. Go to a heavier rod and reel like an 8-foot medium to heavy rod with a 5000 or 6000 size spinning reel. Florida’s number one sought after saltwater fish, the snook, will be cruising in the first trough looking to ambush the croakers that invade during the late spring.
Keep a heavier setup ready to pitch a live croaker on a 3/0 or 4/0 circle hook along the edge of the beach and hold on. Sunscreen, plenty of water and Gatorade, a cooler with ice if you plan on keeping your whiting and croaker, and umbrella are all items to pack as the air and water temperatures rise. The wind and waves will subside, the surf will calm, and hopefully the weeds that have plagued us the last month or so will disappear so we can all bend a rod and have some fun along our beautiful beaches.
Paul Sperco’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
11
MARTIN COUNTY REAL ESTATE
By John Gonzalez
I was honored when I was asked to submit a column on real estate for Friends & Neighbors of Martin County. I have always wanted to write, and this will give me an opportunity to communicate with you and to provide timely information that may be of benefit to all the readers.
I want to let you know that I was born and raised in Florida. I have a Florida perspective on everything I think and for which I advocate. Since I am writing a real estate column it may be important to establish my “expertise” on the topic. I am the son of a broker (SOB), the grandson of a real estate attorney and the great grandson of one of the original Florida developers. My father’s family, the Gonzalez’s, settled in Pensacola around 1780. I love Florida, real estate, and am an advocate for private property rights. Currently, I am a licensed real estate broker, past President of the local real estate association and run a brokerage firm.
A friend says that “I have never met a development that I did not like.” Technically speaking, this is not true. I will defend a developer’s right to build on their land under the approved codes and land use requirements for their property. New housing is crucial for our community.
Several of my friends are complaining that we are getting too crowded, we are no longer a small town, we are becoming like South Florida … and I could go on. I also hear from the same group, and others, that we need affordable housing for the working residents of our community. I believe we can keep our small-town charm, allow for new housing, and provide affordable alternatives.
How? Work with landowners and developers and other stakeholders to find common ground based on sound economic principles. Allow for profit and philanthropy to merge into a favorable housing product that brings homes, profit, and low-cost housing into the same neighborhood. It is already beginning to happen … let’s embrace it, work with it, and find new ways to accomplish all our goals. A little compromise can go a long way to accomplish great things.
I am confident that our comprehensive growth plan, height limit on housing and abundant parks and open spaces will allow us to grow and thrive. It will allow us to keep a small town feel in an amazing enclave in the center of Florida’s East Coast. I have said for many years, “we are not South Florida, but don’t forget that millions of people love living in that region and with that lifestyle.” We chose a different alternative in our happy seaside town.
I would be remiss if I did not touch on the current state of Martin County real estate market. The truth is that there are not enough homes for the current demand for housing here and throughout the nation. According to many respected economists, we are not in a “bubble”. It is simply supply and demand economics — more people want to live in Florida than at any time in history.
In future columns I will discuss the local real estate market, new projects, who’s who and many other subjects. I look forward to providing good content for the readers.
John Gonzalez’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint
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CONSTITUTIONAL CORNER AND OTHER GOVERNMENT NOTICES
And from our Supervisor of Elections:
From The Clerk of The Court:
From the Property Appraiser
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Our first letter is from Mary K. Nagle:
I do not oppose the concept of the clustering, density increases, and density transfers in Rural Lifestyles Amendment (RLA). However, as written, this amendment has several flaws.
The greatest flaw in the RLA is a loophole that really will eviscerate the Comp Plan.
3 Lakes Golf Club is already proposing to use that loophole in the development application I have attached below.
The loophole is that, when the developer is not asking for an increase in density, the RLA allows an enormous increase in intensity of use without requiring any meaningful benefits.
For example, consider the attached 3 Lakes Golf Club Application. If its 1,218 acres were developed in 20-acre lots as currently allowed, they would be able to fit somewhere between 50 and 55 homes on the property. Or a golf course on part of the property and 20-acre lots on the rest.
Using the RLA, 3 Lakes is asking to build three 18-hole golf courses, each complete with its own club house, including restaurants, bars, shops, pools, spas, and other amenities, one executive golf course, employee housing, and 54 golf cottages … AKA rental units of any size and type they choose. In other words, a destination resort. If they were so inclined, they could additionally ask for up to 60 homes.
Because golf cottages don’t count as residential units and the developer is requesting no more than 60 homes, they are not requesting an increase of density to more than one unit per 20 acres.
Because they aren’t asking for that increase, the RLA does not require them to provide any off-site set aside of land. And the off-site set aside is the single greatest benefit these RLA projects are supposed to deliver. Without it, there is almost no benefit at all.
3 Lakes could conceivably do a similar project by clustering their existing units around a golf course using existing comp plan policies, but that would require an even greater land set aside.
The fix for this loophole could be very easy … simply require the off-site set aside whenever the developer asks for an increased intensity of use … rather than an increase in density … over that which is currently allowed.
The other problems are that the RLA does not protect the off-site set asides well enough and the benefits listed do not provide enough actual new benefit to warrant the change in land use.
This can be fixed by using the same language already in Comp Plan Policies 4.5F.4-6.
Our next letter is from Carl S. Frost:
For clarification, the Hobe Sound Farmers market land use self-described as “agritourism” is a right granted by Florida Statute 570.96 to conduct activities complementary to the underlying agricultural classification. The agritourism activity does not render the right to agricultural classification. On the contrary this agricultural classification “bona fide agriculture” is a pre-requisite for agritourism. Property Appraisers have the jurisdiction over the award of agricultural classification to a parcel. Senate Bill 1186 (session 2022) clarifies the legislative intent regarding the promotion of agritourism and would prohibit a property appraiser from denying or revoking a farm’s agricultural land classification solely due to a bona fide farm conducting agritourism activities. The Property Appraiser must make a judgment on whole parcel and its use.
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Our next letter is from Lizbeth Piel:
There are two meetings coming up, the LPA on April 7 at 7pm and the BCC meeting on April 19
We need to have the public there.
My message I am emailing to the LPA is
Please do not approve amending the Comprehensive Plan to permit development on rural farm land.
Building hundreds of more homes, will stress our public facilities for water, sewage, schools and traffic, and that would necessitate enlarging roads.
We count on you to protect the quality of our lifestyle here in Martin County.
Thank you,
I hope you can convince people to come to these meetings or email or phone the
people running the meetings.
Thank you
And last from faithful Audrey Taggart:
I have been living in Martin County after much investigation (as a Snowbird for years) on the lifestyle, taxes, schools, beaches, traffic patterns, health care, and so forth. As a retired professor of education with 30+ years of working in education as my background, I am astounded at the sharp turn this county is taking. I believe the Superintendent’s actions will merely drive more students away – to religious schools, charter schools, private schools, homeschooling, etc.
I am sure the general public would benefit in knowing the number of students we find in the LBGTQIA+ community.
Perhaps, like many states and district do, Martin Schools could place those who qualify and whose parents request, a special setting could be established so these students will be protected from the slings and arrows of classmates of a more “status quo persuasion.” This is often done with children with other disabilities. After the board was making noises about establishing an LBGTQ honorary month and it was resounding not taken seriously, I felt our schools were safe from “Science Deniers” who maintain there are numerous genders – specifically in the human species, though not any other.
As educators know, there is no way it is possible to protect children from growing up in manageable steps, adding responsibility to each stage until they become young adults capable of assuming the responsibility life requires.
After the Parkland Massacre there were calls for a cop in every classroom. A very astute law professional was quoted in the Stuart News: there is no such thing as 100% safety …. and would you want your children attending a jail-like atmosphere in school?
I urge the board to retake control. I am hoping this was some sort of rogue action taken w/o Board approval, but this policy must be established that the Board is brought into such important decisions, else the County will be the target of lawsuits and taxpayers will pay.
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A MARTIN COUNTY SPECIAL REPORT
LIVING IN TRAILSIDE
Kyla Shay,
Trailside HOA President
DUCK !! …(again?)
IS IT MORE STRAY BULLETS?
RUN…FIRE APPROACHING !!
There are times in your life when you realize there are unintended consequences to what our legislature has done. In protecting private landowner rights regarding gun regulation on their property, our legislature has set up Trailside HOA residents to be shot at. An “unintended” shooting zone. In a populated neighborhood.
Over the past year, we have experienced, often as many as five times a week, high-powered weapons’ target shooting bullets entering our borders: think semi-automatic fire, and even AUTOMATIC fire!
We have politely met with our local Commissioners.
Their response: they cannot do anything because the Florida Legislature stripped their rights to control a dangerous situation.
The area to the south of the Trailside HOA is currently known as “Pal-Mar.” The Pal-Mar lots are now privately owned. The sizes of the lots range from ¼ of an acre to one acre lots. South Florida Water Management and Martin County own a number of the lots. The area is rural, “native” Florida, composed of large undeveloped wetlands, cypress domes, and pine flatwoods remaining in the various Pal-Mar lots.
The land of Pal-Mar was identified in 1991 under the CARL program (“Conservation and Recreational Lands”) as environmentally sensitive land that Florida needed to save.
In the past, the owners of the Pal-Mar lots have respected Trailside residents and their homes which were developed in 1999. The hunting on the land did not bother us in the least. Hunters were aware that we lived within Trailside HOA. We were aware they safely hunted the area. They did not bother us. We did not bother them. We respected their property rights. Bullets did not come our way.
Approximately two years ago, there started to be a change in Pal-Mar lot ownership. This resulted in a defiant change of attitude among lot owners within the Pal-Mar land. Target shooting is now frequent. The bullets are not staying within the lot they are being shot from. There are no backstops to keep the bullets on their individual parcels as prescribed by Florida Statute. As these are wetland areas, dirt cannot be added to the lots to provide a backstop. And ATVs are destroying the wetlands daily.
The persons utilizing Pal-Mar may or may not be lot owners. The lock on Pal Mar’s “Gate One” on Pratt Whitney Road has been “dummy locked” (it appears to be locked, but it is not). So now, anyone can enter. And shoot all they want, in any direction, at any time. And so… they do!
FWC (“Florida Wildlife Commission”) previously responsible for the keys, decided they did not want a battle with challenges as to the number of keys requested for the lots that were sold over the past two years. Meanwhile, we are taking live rounds. Buildings have been shot into. Commercial beehives have been shot. Our border’s canal bank is riddled with bullets. Persons utilizing the adjacent horse bridle paths are threatened, weapons are discharged into the ground or air. The persons at Pal-Mar drive on their easement road adjacent to our bridle path and yell threats of bodily harm at us!
Unless they are caught in the act, there is no way to stop this behavior. Would you choose to take a video of a rifle being pointed, amid threats, at YOUR camera lens?
Further, on March 17, 2021, Trailside experienced a near catastrophic fire on our southwest boundaries. The fire originated in Pal-Mar during a timeframe of a burn ban.
- It was not caused by nature.
- Lightning strikes were not present over the three days prior to or during the fire.
- With strong winds that day, the fires jumped our south canal adjoining Pal-Mar and burned onto four of the Trailside lots. One of the lots had an equipment barn surrounded on three sides by fire. Martin County Fire Rescue and Forestry battled for three days to control the fires, including helicopters dumping water into the blaze.
Two other lots with residences were in the direct path of the fire. One lot had its entire pasture burned. We residents frantically struggled to evacuate livestock and horses to a safe space.
At this point, we have been abandoned by our local, regional, and State of Florida Representatives. We are essentially being told, “Pal-Mar property owners’ rights cannot be infringed upon.”
But our right to a peaceful, safe, bullet-free space is not allowed?
p.s. To all readers, and to the lawmakers and law enforcement:
We recognize and respect the rights established by the Second Amendment:
“…the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
A
RIDE THROUGH TRAILSIDE
I drove south on Pratt-Whitney Road, past Bridge Road to the Trailside community. After going through the coded gate, I drove over a mile to the “homestead” of Kayla Shay who is the president of the homeowner’s association.
Trailside is composed of 20-acre-minimum ranchettes, and some are much larger. Unlike newer developments, the wetlands are situated and maintained on each property owner’s land. This is an equestrian community that has allowed property owners to have cows to take advantage of AG exemptions.
Kayla, who has lived there for 17 years, drove me around in her off-road vehicle. We looped around one of the equestrian trails. Trailside is bordered by preserve land, a large farm, and Pal-Mar. She said about 18 months ago, things began to change with the Pal-Mar neighbors.
Pal-Mar had been a place where land owning families had hunted and camped for generations. As newer people began buying property, it has come to resemble a place of indiscriminate gun fire…some of which Kayla says has come awfully close to hitting her and others.
On St Patrick’s Day 2021, an out-of-control fire came close to burning animals and buildings in Trailside. It was supposedly started to clear land by a Pal-Mar landowner according to Kayla. The result was a heightened tension in the community.
On weekends, the gunfire is non-stop. Now even if it isn’t aimed in Trailside’s direction, horses do become skittish and can throw their riders when scared. The property owners have complained incessantly to the sheriff’s department, but apparently it isn’t a top priority as there has been no increased law enforcement activity. Martin County has also sent letters to property owners in Pal-Mar regarding non-permitted buildings being constructed.
At some point, someone will be shot or be trampled by a horse as they ride on Trailside’s equestrian paths. Isn’t the safety of the citizens of Martin County foremost the responsibility of government? The Sheriff has a budget north of $80 million most of it from Martin County taxpayers. Taxpayers like those of Trailside residents and landowners. Supposedly, it is to be used for their protection.
They deserve more than the old two-step…we hear you and we can’t do anything because as the department claims the state has pre-empted their ability to regulate shooting with firearms. I guess they read that pre-emption to be limiting even when the lives of citizens are threatened.
Then perhaps the state should step in and show local law enforcement what can be done. Law-abiding citizens deserve to be protected from being killed or hurt by the acts of others by their government. I spoke with Representative Snyder, and he assures me that he is checking into the matter on behalf of his constituents.
To read more on Olde Time Florida go here
COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 5, 2022:
Meritage homes is having a rough couple of weeks in Martin County.
At the last Stuart meeting, their Future Land Use change was denied 4-1 for a project located on Commerce Street. In that case every, commissioner but one decided that until other residential projects were built outside the CRA, they were not going to change maps to allow new residential projects.
In this case, Meritage conformed to the wishes of their neighbors on Willoughby and Salerno. They wanted to have the project be fee simple. As of right they could have built 117 condominiums or 117 rental units. Instead, they decided to build 117 town homes that were to be owned by the buyers. So, what went wrong?
Smith and others brought up what went wrong with Meritage’s Jensen Beach project on the old Langford property. Also mentioned was Osprey Preserve in Stuart where they cut down their preserve and buffer. All of this did not help Meritage’s case. Jenkins was leery of the traffic impact on Salerno Road.
Smith also mentioned he did not like the architectural details. However, his architectural judgment should not have any bearing on private development that is otherwise in compliance with all the code requirements. Ciampi made a motion to accept with Jenkins seconding. Then strangely without voting on the Ciampi motion, Heard made a substitute motion to have them come back at the next meeting after trying to iron out the difference. Hetherington seconded.
The substitute motion seemed convoluted. I always thought you had to vote on a motion before moving to another. They really should check that. The Heard motion passed 3-2 with Ciampi and Jenkins in opposition.
Tyson Waters, the attorney for Meritage, and the county’s own legal staff said the project met the criteria for acceptance. Could the county be opening themselves up for a possible lawsuit? We will see in two weeks.
The Guardians are now hiring a consultant to help the county craft the 1/2 cent sales tax initiative to buy environmentally sensitive lands. Initially, I was in favor of the sales tax but with the school board and the newest state exemption on the ballot, I do not believe this is an ideal time to move ahead.
Is the county ceding too much of its authority to the Guardians, a private organization? Make no mistake, the Guardians is just one of many private nonprofits in Martin County. The organization just happens to be better funded than most. Jupiter Island pays a disproportionate share of Martin Taxes. This is where the Guardians are based.
Is Jenkins, in whose district this is located, trying to have them exert too much influence over matters? The county can and should do its own work regarding this. Of course, the state once again has pre-empted local government from even educating about referenda.
Ciampi was the only one to come out and say he did not want to further burden individuals with more taxes at this time. I was surprised that other commissioners did not have this same opinion. The motion passed 4-1 with Ciampi opposing.
RURAL LIFESTYLE:
I listened to the Guardians rural lifestyle presentation given two weeks ago.
The meeting was at the Wolfe Technology Center on the I.R.S.C. Chastain campus. My big question is why? Why is a private nonprofit deciding to shill for the county? Why isn’t the growth management department explaining an amendment to the comprehensive plan to Martin County residents in libraries, the commission chamber, and everywhere else?
It is true that the amendment was not staff driven but brought forth by the Discovery project on Bridge Road in Hobe Sound. I still do not know why the amendment was championed by a private landowner who had a project that would have been approved by now using the exception process. It seemed that is where it was going. The Discovery people should be working with the LDRs and comp plan that is in place rather than looking to change the world.
Extraordinary projects should be the exception and not the rule. The beauty of Discovery is that we all know and recognize that this is a project that should be built. It is a multimillion-dollar home run. Only those that have extraordinary money will own there but with very minimal usage of county services. It is like Jupiter Island as a gated community without becoming a municipality.
It will have to bring its own water and sewer lines and no other project can tack on to those lines. The rural lifestyle will require at least a thousand acres but probably more land to qualify. It is for super rich owners…rural lifestyle is the exception and not the rule. And that is the point! Why are we making it a formal comp plan amendment?
Having this use as of right is not the way it should go. It doesn’t matter whether only a handful of projects could qualify for this use. Taking this amount of acreage and devoting it to the rich may be an excellent idea like Discovery, or it could be a bad idea.
Without more of an explanation of the amendment, many other citizens will not understand it either. Yet as time has gone on, it seems the BOCC, and its staff continue to avoid explaining this use. If contacted, I would have encouraged them to write an op-ed explaining everything. Why such a secret?
Rural lifestyle may be the best thing since sliced bread. It may be that it isn’t needed at all. There are too many questions still unanswered. Let’s just make sure that the residents agree with the county’s newest planning ideas. So, far that has not been done.
***
After this Newsletter was put to bed The Guardians have issued a position paper drastically reducing what this amendment should cover. I have included there paper below. The graphics may not be perfect but I thought the citizens of Martin County should have all the information to make their decision.
Executive Summary of Guardians Position on Proposed Rural Lifestyle Amendment
The Guardians are opposed to the Rural Lifestyle Zoning (RLZ) Amendment as currently proposed.
As described in greater detail in the following Position Statement, the Guardians would support the Amendments, provided:
- The spatial extent of the RLZ is limited to the area shown below (~14,000 acres);
- A minimum of 50% of the new ad valorem taxes generated by RLZ projects will be committed for acquisition of conservation lands;
- A task force is created to study and develop a plan for western lands;
- Consideration is given for planning of corridors;
- A commitment is made for permanent protection of a 1,500’ corridor frontage along the Bridge /Discovery project as open space (excepting existing impermeable surfaces);
- Water quality monitoring is obligatory and modifications are required if discharges are harmful;
- Analysis of site-specific geology/geohydrology and monitoring ensures that chemicals from the golf course and polo fields do not contaminate the surficial aquifer;
- A commitment is made to conform with Best Management Plans for golf courses;
- Potential use of “Advanced Water Treatment Systems” as necessary to ensure that heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, PFAS and/or other carcinogens will not be introduced into the environment;
- Analysis is undertaken to identify impacts on County “levels of service” (e.g., access to beaches, emergency services, law enforcement, etc.);
- The Amendment sets a maximum intensity standard, establishes meaningful and predictable standards for the future use and development of land and provides meaningful guidelines for more-detailed land development and use regulation; and
- The Amendment stipulates that any “open space” within the bounds of an individual subdivided house lot is excluded from the required 70% on-site open space; development rights on the off- site preserved open space are retired upon project approval; and the 501(3) (c) conservation organization should be long-standing and experienced in open space management and not created specifically for, or under the control of, the development
The Guardians of Martin County support the proposed Rural Lifestyle Zoning if it is limited to the area outlined in red (~14,000 acres) and the previously described stipulations are adopted.
Position Paper on proposed Rural Lifestyle Zoning Amendment to
Martin County’s Comprehensive Growth Management Plan
The Guardians Board of Directors, donors and staff consultants have been in frequent discussion with the Martin County Growth Management staff since the proposed Rural Lifestyle Comp Plan Amendment was first considered by the County Local Planning Agency on January 20, 2022. We believe that, if approved by the Martin County Commission as currently drafted, the adoption and implementation of the new Rural Lifestyle Zoning (RLZ) would have far-reaching deleterious impacts on the future of Martin County. Accordingly, the Guardians do not endorse the RLZ Amendments as currently drafted and presented.
The Guardians are willing to support the RLZ Amendments, however, if the spatial extent of their application is restricted and approved now only for the roughly 14,000 acres, (approximate boundary identified on the last two pages of this paper) and a variety of related issues (e.g., protection of water quality, establishment of a fund for acquisition of environmentally valuable lands, among other objectives, including the potential expansion of subsequent amendments to other areas, etc.) that are identified and described hereafter are accepted as stipulated provisions of the Approval.
If the RLZ is to be made available to an area larger than what is shown on the last two pages of this memo, we request that consideration of the RLZ Amendments be deferred for a period of 6- 12 months during which time a Martin County Environmental Initiative is undertaken, with a County Commission appointed Task Force of stakeholders engaged in extensive meetings to further refine details of the proposed new zoning category. We suggest that the Task Force be composed of a diverse group of stakeholders representing different constituencies that are interested in the future of western lands in the County, and that the Task Force be supported by County staff and operated in full compliance with the Florida Sunshine Law. This Initiative would stimulate the development of a thoroughly considered strategy to permanently protect our unique Martin County difference, that which makes our county such a desirable place to live and work.
If these additional steps are not taken, and for the reasons described hereafter, the Guardians will not endorse the current RLZ Amendments as they are presently proposed.
Of utmost importance to the Guardians, is that, in spite of two County-sponsored Public Hearings (i.e., LPA Hearing on January 20, 2022 and Board of County Commission (BOCC) hearing on
February 22, 2022), a Workshop facilitated by the Guardians on March 23, and an open meeting by the Martin County Conservation Alliance (MCCA) on March 29, 2022, many questions remain un-answered and critical wording in the proposed Amendment remains un-refined.
On numerous occasions, the Guardians have met with proponents of the Becker/Discovery Lands project and County staff to learn details of the project. We believe that:
- Previous uses of the ~1,500-acre Becker property have nearly totally eliminated significant natural resources from the site. It is unfortunate that the spread of diseases in the citrus industry has ruined the agricultural profitability of the land. The current lack of natural resources, however, makes these 1,500 acres considerably different than many other large tracts of land in Martin County that are zoned agricultural and which could potentially be available for development pursuant to the RLZ Amendments as currently proposed and shown in the County’s Figure depicting “Agricultural Land in Private Ownership (Large Acreage)” dated March 16,
- Restoration of approximately 120 acres in the NE corner of the property is likely to have a beneficial effect on the ecology of the Atlantic Ridge Preserve State Park (ARPSP), and possibly the South Fork of the Lucie River, so we support this aspect of the project.
- Donation of the existing stable and a corridor along the east side of the Becker property to create a future equestrian access to ARPSP is a potential public benefit of the project. We are aware, however, that the State of Florida has been working on updating the Unit Management Plan for ARPSP, and that an alternative point of access from the Becker property is not included in the plan for the current ten-year planning period. Access to ARPSP, and even use of the stable area is constrained by the presence of a high water table and nearby wetlands, which may explain to why this area has not been selected by the State as either the primary or secondary point of access to the Preserve. Given these constraints, while the Guardians do see some public benefit in the proposed donation, it is of limited value if this parcel is not accepted for management by
- The Guardians support the offer by the applicant to return the historical train station to
“downtown” Hobe Sound for the benefit of the public.
- The Guardians are aware of previous long-range planning studies that included western areas of Martin County. The Sustainable Visioning process conducted by a consultant working on behalf of the County in the 1990s included a genuine community engagement component, a process that was not employed as part of the current Comprehensive Plan Amendment process. Multiple well-advertised workshops held in different areas of the County engaged a cross-section of the community, which resulted in a product that, while
not perfect, represented the views of the stakeholders and members of the public who chose to become involved.
The impacts of the current proposal (which would amend the Comprehensive Plan in a way that was expanded from an initial proposal for applicability to a single property owner to agricultural owners throughout areas outside the urban services districts), have not been fully studied. Many residents were not unaware of the breadth and scope of the Amendment, and requests to the County to “slow the process down” to allow more public participation have not been accepted. As a consequence of this history and an on- going lack of transparency, there is a lack of confidence that decision-makers are acting in support of the majority of their constituents in a way that is best for Martin County while protecting the private property rights of landowners, now and in the future.
- The Guardians support the Commission’s suggestion to assign 50% of the “new” ad valorem taxes that would be generated by developments approved pursuant to the RLZ Amendment to acquire environmentally valuable lands. We are concerned, however, that there are a variety of factors outside the control of a property owner/developer that could prevent the achievement of the owner’s economic analysis targets
The Amendment currently under consideration does not include this provision, and inclusion of such a binding commitment is a significant and critical component that must be developed and refined before the new Amendments are considered for adoption. We understand that fiscal analyses will vary with other future development(s) and that economic benefits may be different. Furthermore, the stated “inability to bind future commissions” gives pause that, what might be negotiated to satisfy current opposition, cannot be assured to continue in a manner that is beneficial to residents unless such protection can be negotiated to be part of the Amendment.
- The Guardians believe that preventing degradation of surface waters and groundwater resources is critical. We are concerned that neither the proposed Becker/Discovery Land proposal, nor other potential developments under the future RLZ Amendment are currently being required to conduct water quality monitoring of off-site discharge (i.e., surface discharge and through percolation into the surficial aquifer). We believe that any project to be developed pursuant to the RLZ must be required to meet state water quality standards and not cause degradation to the receiving waters. We believe that the Amendment must include continuous in-stream monitoring, which would include nutrients, metals, herbicides, pesticides and their breakdown products, pharmaceuticals and PFAS. Further, we believe that the Amendment must include a provision that if monitoring documents that discharges are having adverse impacts, that the owner/developer is required to upgrade/retro-fit the system to prevent further degradation, for the life of the
- The Guardians are concerned about the protection of groundwater resources. Presently neither the Amendment nor the Planned Unit Development step of the process require that site-specific geologic/hydrogeologic analyses be performed prior to Requiring these studies prior to consideration of a proposed project is particularly critical when a project includes the creation of lakes that will be used for surfacewater management and which have the potential to interact with a sub-surface confining layer.
- Similarly, the Guardians are concerned that the inclusion of “advanced wastewater treatment system(s) consisting of individual treatment units that treat domestic waste to secondary standards may be utilized as permitted by the State of Florida“ will not prevent nutrients, heavy metals herbicides, pesticides, PFAS and other potential carcinogens from entering the aquatic environment where they could pose a threat to the health and safety of our residents, visitors and the
- The Guardians are concerned about a potential lack of regulation on the number, size and potential effects of worker housing and “small-scale service establishments necessary to support rural and agricultural uses”. Without regard to the extent to which these structures may be currently allowed on agriculturally-zone lands under the Comp Plan, the construction and occupation of these ancillary facilities will potentially require County services (e.g., utilities, law enforcement, emergency/fire rescue, schools, use of roads, beaches, parks and other “Level of Service” commodities) all of which are more expensive for the County to provide based on the distance from the Urban Service District We concur with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s comments dated March 31, 2022 regarding a lack of data and analysis, which indicated that the Amendment, as presently written, “does not: a) Set a maximum intensity standard; or b) Establish meaningful and predictable standards for the use and development of land and provide meaningful guidelines for the content of more detailed land development and use regulations”.
- The Guardians are concerned that provisions that offer/commit to creating and maintaining private open space may offer little genuine benefit to taxpayers as currently Potential improvements to address this shortcoming are possible, but not within the expedited schedule under which the current process is being driven.
- The Guardians believe that financially-viable agriculture should be an on-going component of Martin County’s We are concerned that adoption of the proposed RLZ Amendment on the initially proposed >130,000 acres (and a somewhat reduced acreage) may have unintended adverse impacts on agriculture that have not been adequately evaluated. Concerns that should be considered are the acreage in
different types of agricultural production (e.g., citrus, row crops, sod etc.), use of abandoned citrus for solar facilities), impacts on infrastructure, land values etc.).
- The Guardians share the concerns voiced by others in the community, that provisions associated with this Amendment, and potentially all future PUD Agreements and conservation easements, are subject to change by a majority of a future County
- The Guardians believe that additional time is also necessary in order to address comments/suggestions raised by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and other state commenting
Based on these, and a myriad of other unknowns, it is the Guardians position that approval of the proposed Rural Lifestyle Amendment should be postponed until such time as a Martin County Conservation Initiative Task Force has been created to evaluate the future development potential of the lands outside the USB, further discussions are held within the community, and details of the current proposal are further discussed and refined.
In accordance with “the precautionary principle” (a decision-making tool to assist in dealing with highly uncertain risks), if consideration of the proposed amendment is to proceed, it is the Guardians recommendation that the spatial applicability of the RLZ be restricted to the area shown on the following figures. The boundaries of the limited polygon shown hereafter are proposed based on the adjacency to the existing boundary of the Urban Service District (and therefore at a location where providing public services is more cost effective than more distant areas), the presence of abutting properties on the north, south, east and west that are not conducive for urban lifestyle development, and the desire to provide an incentive to preserve a higher proportion of open space and habitat protection in the critical headwaters of the South Fork of the St. Lucie River than would likely be otherwise proposed.
In summary, reducing the potential spatial extent of this zoning designation by approximately 90% below what was initially proposed, and integrating the protective covenants identified previously and those that address comments by state agencies could:
- Allow the Becker/Discovery Land project to move forward;
- Create a new permanent, non-taxpayer funded income stream for acquisition of environmentally valuable lands by allocating 50% of the new tax revenues that would be generated as a direct result of construction of a project pursuant to the RLZ. The Fund would be created through a yet-to-be written and BOCC-adopted ordinance and used for acquisitions in the four key areas of projects within the boundary of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, the Loxa-Lucie/Atlantic Ridge Pal-Mar and the Indian River Lagoon Blueway; and
3) Give owners of other agricultural lands adjacent to the Urban Service District boundary an additional opportunity to use their land in an economically-profitable way, while ensuring permanent protection of a minimum of 70% of open space.
Potential expansion of the spatial limit of the applicability of the Rural Lifestyle zoning could be considered in the future, based on the results of the Martin County Conservation Initiative Task Force and the degree of success of a limited number of trial implementations.
***
WHY WE CHOSE RURAL LIFESTYLE
By Tom Hurley
Becker Farms
As a third-generation farmer who grew up with my brothers working in the groves, I’ve experienced firsthand the tremendous challenges inherent in agriculture.
Even though the Becker family is celebrating our 60th anniversary in farming, it seems like only yesterday when citrus canker, greening and hurricanes devastated our groves—and not ours alone. Today, no commercial citrus operations exist in Martin County.
Further, the prospect of intense residential development places additional pressures on agricultural landowners. Fortunately, the proposed Rural Lifestyle land use—which offers an option for qualified landowners to potentially apply to their property—could provide an appealing alternative.
Although the proposed comprehensive plan amendment that the Martin County Commission will hear Tuesday bears the Becker name, we alone cannot take sole credit for this amendment. It’s resulted from an evolving process incorporating diverse voices from the planning, agricultural, conservation and environmental advocacy communities.
Originally, we sought a different planning path for our Atlantic Fields project with Discovery Land Company (more below). But after feedback from the public, county staff and advocacy organizations, we realized that Rural Lifestyle is the best way to preserve the urban service boundary, provide a blueprint—rather than patchwork—for rural planning, and set high standards by which an opportunity with broad-based community benefits could emerge.
Thanks to input from community stakeholders Rural Lifestyle language is much different than what was first presented. Most recently, another option recently introduced is that Rural Lifestyle will not apply to the entire county, but only to areas adjacent to the urban service boundary—where services can be efficiently supplied.
Its strong safeguards now require:
- A minimum 1000-acre parcel, 70-percent of which must remain in permanent open space—clear from ground to sky.
- An additional parcel in Martin County—at least 50 percent of the original site designated for development (or minimum 500 acres)—set aside for permanent agricultural or conservation use.
- Set-aside parcel must falls under control of a local government entity, the landowner and an established, existing conservation nonprofit, ensuring permanent preservation.
- Funding sources to properly manage the set-aside property.
- An economic study—reviewed by a third-party—demonstrating how the project will financially benefit the county.
- Should the site be eligible for water or sewer services, those services must remain solely on the project in question, preventing any property nearby from connecting.
These are just some of the restrictions. All of these encumbrances add up to more costs on properties that will only be able to add about 1 unit per 7.5 acres. This makes the economics of such undertakings largely self-limiting. Suffice to say, it will take a project with a very unique housing stock to become profitable.
Atlantic Fields aims to embody and establish the best of this amendment. Conceived in partnership with Discovery Land Company, creator of 24 luxury resort communities around the world, Atlantic Fields seeks 317 homes on 1,500 acres—currently site of the Hobe Sound Polo Club on Bridge Road.
Public benefits include permanent preservation of the 800-acre Becker Tree Farm, creating a southern access point to the Atlantic Ridge State Park, gifting to the park an elaborate equestrian facility and public meeting place, gifting and relocating the historic Hobe Sound Train Station to the local community, and restoring a 125-acre wetland habitat area.
Featuring a golf course by local legend Tom Fazio, Atlantic Fields offers the quality amenities Discovery is known for, enabling the undeveloped home sites to start at more than $3 million. The economic study projects annual tax revenues exceeding $20 million—or the equivalent of 8,000 homes.
It is especially exciting that Discovery chose Martin County for its first-ever project in Florida. We’re appreciative for the chance to partner—and that is and will remain our role in Atlantic Fields, as partners—with Discovery because of the high caliber of communities they create. But we’re also encouraged by their environmental track record.
From Kaua’i, Hawaii, to Big Sky, Montana, to the Southern Gulf Island of British Columbia, to Barbuda, West Indies, to Great Guana Cay, Bahamas, Discovery works in environmentally sensitive locations while protecting the surrounding area and also supporting—through its generous foundation—local charities and nonprofits.
Protecting the rural character of western Martin County is extremely important to us and is incorporated into our vision through, among others, sustainable development practices, habitat protections and dark skies lighting restrictions.
Interestingly, before the comprehensive plan was drafted, our property was zoned one unit per 2 acres. We were asked to accept the down-zoning of one unit per 20 acres with an understanding that in time our zoning would change again. Please know, we’re in no way upset that my family made this sacrifice. It was the right decision for the time and played a key role in preserving our rural character.
But one unit per 20 acres requires no environmental or agricultural protections and not any public benefits. It can accomplish nothing of significance for the community at large, much less for the family agricultural legacy we aim to honor and preserve.
Rural Lifestyle, however, enables select properties with select projects to come forward for consideration. But it demands much—more land for preservation than the county could easily attain otherwise—be given up in return.
That’s a goal we all share.
This is a longer version of a commentary piece published elsewhere. At Friends & Neighbors we encourage our contributors on important subjects to take all the space needed to give us their full story.
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COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 12, 2022:
During Commissioner Comments, Meier mentioned that the valet stationed outside of Hudson’s is telling people that valet parking is for the restaurant only. The agreement was for the valet not even to ask that question but to park any car that comes up to the stand. When it was approved, the valet was to have a sign that said free for anyone.
Meier also asked about the open space that was supposed to be built for the public as part of the patio portion of the restaurant. So far, we are long on promises but short on delivering. He asked staff to be on top of both problems. And I want Mike Meier to be on top of staff to make sure that these “special agreements” are honored.
A member of the public inquired about the money that the Taylor property in East Stuart received to take down trees. The city forgave the code enforcement fines and then gave the owners additional money for this work. Why is the city continuously bending over backward for one property owner? Why should the rest of us pick up the cost of that property’s maintenance?
The commission had a deliberation and discussion regarding how to hold land use hearings in the future. The city attorney will be filing objections to the administrative law judge’s order on the Kanner CPUD. The original discussion was supposed to be on the Avonlea PUD and their preserve and wetlands. But with the Kanner CPUD fresh in everyone’s mind, the most time was spent on that in a very broad way.
It looks like it is the will of the commission to have individual hearings on land use and site plans. That would mean the type of project that will be going on the property won’t be discussed when the land use is being decided. For the most part, the county has its hearings in this way. It does make for a cleaner vote on what is being approved.
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SCHOOL BOARD MEETING APRIL 12, 2022:
Dr. Millay introduced some tweaks to his organization chart.
Any large institution needs a framework to outline who reports to whom. An organization chart is a diagram with boxes that have the title of the person and lines that connect those boxes to what other positions reports to that title and who that position reports to. At the district fine tuning this is a continuing project.
I sometimes feel that clarity is not the aim of these public explanations since they use nomenclature that only those in the system will understand. It leaves the public scratching their heads in bewilderment. I am sure if I wanted an explanation of what it all means, I could have it because the district does provide almost any information that is asked of it.
If I were a parent, I would want to know what all these positions mean and how it would help my child and the classroom teacher provide a better educational experience. A while ago, Chair Roberts asked Dr. Millay and staff to provide information about how many more district employees had been added over several periods of time. To my knowledge, it has not been provided.
I would love to see it. Especially now that the board is asking the voters to continue with the ½ mill additional real estate tax. Wouldn’t it be great if the district has fewer administrative employees now that it had in the past? Somehow, I believe it has gone in the opposite direction, maybe considerably.
The chart can be found here
The board also discussed a letter that was being sent to the governor regarding his press conference where DeSantis called out Martin County for not following the law. The story is really a tempest in a teapot but has shown the deep divisions that the board has.
Ms. Defenthaler has continuously taken a position regarding providing for the wellbeing of our LGBTQ+ students. It is in a very distinct and separate way than for other students. The district does need to make sure that these children are taken care of psychologically, physically, and academically. But does the district need to have separate policies for those students?
If any student needs help, school officials will draw up a specifically tailored plan to address and ameliorate their issues. Parents are contacted to come in, have an explanation and sign off on the plan. It seems that DiTerlizzi and Powers want to make sure that LGBTQ+ students are covered but, if necessary, every other non-LGBTQ+ student with a problem would also be taken care of.
I think that is the better approach rather than naming groups that should be covered. It isn’t one treatment option fits all but rather one policy that can fit all. The plans would still be individually drawn up and administered for the unique problems of the student. Defenthaler’s focus on one set of problems could be detrimental to all other kids’ problems.
The letter can be found here
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COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 12, 2022:
It appears the commission is finally in agreement on moving forward with a dock ordinance for the east side of town.
James Campo
Several docks and coverings have been built without adequate permitting over the years. James Campo summed up what should happen succinctly and well. A sticking point has been that dock coverings may inhibit the growth of sea grass. Campo makes sense when he states that if the Department of Environmental Protection issues a permit, then the town should not be more stringent.
Kurtzman believes that the town could indeed be more stringent. He said there were experts that addressed the commission who did not think it was a good idea to have dock roofs. Fender stated that the purpose of the ordinance was not to protect sea grasses or any other reasons except that the height of the dock could cause a view issue for neighbors.
It was the consensus of the board to bring back an ordinance for existing dock roofs in accordance with staff outline. You can see the outline here
For about the 19th time, the sale of 7 Heritage Way was discussed. This town-owned parcel of a little more than a third of an acre could generate about $700,000 in revenue. That is close to what the cost should be for the land deal on South Sewall’s Point Road which is needed for adequate drainage. Some of the commissioners are looking at this as a land swap.
Campo believes it should be sold. Mayfield is more hesitant. It is a tough decision since Sewall’s Point owns so little land itself. I can see both points. Mayfield mentioned that if they ever do put in sewers, they may need a place to put a pump house.
It appears most commissioners want the sale. They have instructed the attorney to begin the land use change to one allowing a private home. What I didn’t understand was the thought that a realtor would be willing to take this on for a 2.5% commission as a good public gesture. We will see.
Since I have been covering meetings in Sewall’s Point, I have been perplexed as to their once a month “workshops” instead of 2 regular meetings. During workshops, the commission cannot vote on things…they can only discuss. This means ordinances can sometimes take a minimum of two months to pass. By the time of the second vote, you forgot what the ordinance was all about.
The commission, except for Campo, has completely changed in the last few years. The insistence of some past commissioners to have the workshop meeting to iron things out and discuss is today an antiquated custom. Commissioners can discuss agenda items and vote at the same meeting.
Congratulations for moving decisions along.
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The meeting held on the evening of April 14th will be reported on in the next newsletter.
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COMMISSION MEETING OF APRIL 11, 2022:
Tucker Johnson was sworn in as commissioner to serve in the seat vacated by the resignation of Michael Brooks. He was appointed by the town commission. Johnson will serve in that capacity until the next election in March of 2023.
Pidot addressed emails sent by former county and town commissioner, Anne Scott to town residents. The March 22nd one refers to several points that has her “hair on fire” as she has framed it.
Scott’s biggest complaint is the Guardians’ endorsement of the rural lifestyle amendment. As you know this newsletter also has had problems with why Martin County needs this land use. Scott believes that it is the worst possible outcome for land planning. Pidot believes that the presentation of that development and others by other groups is fine, but it is debatable whether town government should weigh in on non-town matters.
Other items Scott mentioned and to which the mayor responded:
- The selection of commissioners by appointment instead of a special election. In truth the charter does give the commission the authority to appoint replacements if needed. Jupiter Island has been doing it this way for years. They did it when Scott was on the commission.
- Scott complained that the town is not taking a position on growth. They have heard several presentations. Besides Discovery, there is the 3 Lakes Golf Courses project. None of the growth is within town borders.
- As to who county commissioners are and why should residents care…they should care. Is Scott mad because individuals who are sitting on the county commission currently don’t believe what she believes?
- She complained about the Mayor’s Coffee, the costs, and why the people do not meet with other commissioners. Pidot stated and it was re-iterated by Manager Michael Ventura that except for the cost of the coffee, there is no additional cost to the town. As to other commissioners, Ms. Scott may had forgotten about “sunshine” and how other commissioners cannot meet outside of regularly advertised meetings. Of course, any citizen can meet with any individual commissioner.
- Scott also claimed it is hard to obtain public records from the town and that public meetings should be more public. Pidot refuted both of those points. I don’t know how you can say public meetings are secretive. Ventura also mentioned that the town will be using federal ARPA funds to upgrade their recording capability. And they should do that.
I would add that the town should post full agendas and attachments to their website in anticipation of meetings which they do not currently do. They should have downloads of past recorded meetings on the town’s website. Perhaps with the improvements that Ventura spoke about, this will all be routine as it is in other municipalities. I have had only one instance where a public records request was not easily obtainable from staff. However, within 24 hours of my contacting Pidot, I had the information.
- Scott also mentioned the town hiring a flak and asked who else he works for? Pidot went into some detail that the company had been used by the town numerous times as a consultant. Of course, the company works for others…as they should.
You can find the two emails here
Lastly, I once again urge the commissioners to speak into their microphones. They are on the air live and if they do not speak directly into the mics, how is the public going to hear? Pidot is quite understandable, but the others are not especially Townsend.
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In The Spotlight
by Jackie Holfelder
Jackie is always looking for a good story…you may reach her at: jackieacolumn@gmail.com
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GETTING BACK TO BASICS
It seems that our political choices are becoming narrower and narrower on both sides of the spectrum.
The Democrats are pulling leftward at an alarming rate. Their rhetoric makes me want to sing the “Internationale” which is the old Socialists’ theme of the 1930s. And the Republicans are so caught up in trying to exclude as many people as possible from their ranks that they have almost a cultish view of who should belong to the party.
What happened to problem solving? Isn’t that the function of government? I do not mean government as arbiter in determining which set of morals is best for all. And I don’t want some guy in the legislature espousing solutions to problems that do not exist or government thinking it should butt their nose into things best left to individual discretion.
When everything is about being elected and staying in power, then your motivation isn’t about successfully governing but rather retention of position. By narrowing the number of people that you are courting, you can retain position and power without having to deliver anything substantial to your voters. It is the keep me in power dilemma because I believe what you do, and the other guy doesn’t.
Good governance can be achieved by concrete steps. If you have a proposal on improving how the economy works, then whether you are prochoice or not is immaterial. The same goes for gay rights or any other hot button topic. Government is not meant to be a religion. Government solves problems from the defense of the nation to crime to the economy.
Political Parties once stood for very fundamental solutions. If you wanted a strong defense, believed in free markets, and strong and certain punishment if a crime was committed, you became a Republican. A Democrat was someone that thought government should interfere in markets, that more money should go to people than to national defense, and that crime could be solved by socio-economic policies.
Now where you stand on the abortion question, a transgender person’s right to play ball, or what books should be allowed in libraires decides your political party. I would argue that these problems… if they are problems… are not political and no matter what is done on any or all won’t change where the U.S. stands in the world.
I want Democrats and Republicans to get back to basics. I want solutions for governance problems to be hashed out in legislatures and executive mansions. Whether a woman has an abortion, or a guy plays on the girls’ team is not the government’s business.
We are fast becoming a nation that is ungovernable because we forgot what government is supposed to do. When even the naming of a post office is partisan, you know there are real problems. If we don’t arrest this thinking that politics and individual morality are the same, we are doomed.
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GET THE WORD OUT
Friends and Neighbors of Martin County is your eyes and ears so that you know what is going on in Martin County’s municipal and county governments. I attempt to be informative and timely so that you may understand how your tax money is being spent. Though I go to the meetings and report back, I am no substitute for your attending meetings. Your elected officials should know what is on your mind.
Tom Campenni 772-341-7455 (c) Email: thomasfcampenni@gmail.com
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Articles Tom wrote:
From Martin County Moment:
“A Deal In The Works”
“The Emperor Has No Clothes”
From Medium
“School Vouchers Can Prevent School Censorship”
“Christian Nationalism For America Is A Fallacy”
Other Articles:
The Capitolist: “Jeff Brandes’ think tank: Live Local Bill will help, but bigger changes needed to fix affordable housing crisis”
The New York Times: “How To Clear 500,000 Ferel Cats From New York Streets”
Trump’s Indictment
Florida Phoenix: “Statehouses debate who should build EV charging networks”
The Washington Post: “Tracing the power of Casey DeSantis”
GLOSSARY
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
Annual Medium Income (AMI)
Basin Action Management Plan (BMAP)
Best Management Practices (BMP)
Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)
Business Development Board (BDB)
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
Career & Technical Education (CTE)
Center For Disease Control (CDC)
Centum Cubic Feet (CCF)
Children’s Services Council (CSS)
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
Community Development District (CDD)
Community Redevelopment Board (CRB)
Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP)
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Emergency Operation Center (EOC)
Equivalent Residential Connection (ERC)
Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU)
Evaluation & Appraisal Report (EAR)
Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA)
Fixed Asset Replacement Budget (FARB)
Federal Rail Administration (FRA)
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND)
Full Time Equivalents (FTE)
Future Land Use Maps (FLUM)
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)
Hobe Sound Local (HSL)
Indian River Lagoon (IRL)
Land Development Code (LDR)
Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS)
Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSUM)
Local Agency Program Certification (LAP)
Local Planning Agency (LPA)
Martin County Fire/Rescue (MCFR)
Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO)
Martin County Taxpayers Association (MCTA)
Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU)
Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU)
Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY)
Organization For Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD)
Parks & Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB)
Planned Unit Development (PUD)
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
Preserve Action Management Plan (PAMP)
Request for Proposal (RFP)
Residential Planned Unit Development (RPUD)
Right of Way (ROW)
Secondary Urban Services District (SUSD)
South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)
South Martin Regional Utility (SMRU)
State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP)
Storm Water Treatment Areas (STA)
Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Urban Planned Unit Development (UPUD)
Urban Services Boundary (USB)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Zoning-In-Progress (ZIP)
