Editorial: Innovative plan for Adams Ranch still partly Cloudy

TCPalm.com
August 27, 2006

Preservation of the natural environment of Adams Ranch in western St. Lucie County is a noble and worthy goal.

But does the tradeoff associated with an innovative new plan to achieve that goal serve the best interests of St. Lucie County?

Perhaps.

Perhaps not.

And, that is the difficulty. As St. Lucie County commissioners consider changes to the county's comprehensive plan and land-use regulations, questions remain, particularly in regard to the creation of a new town that would be authorized in the tradeoff.

Under the state-sanctioned Rural Lands Stewardship program, designed to protect agricultural land from development, the Alto "Bud" Adams family would receive credits for setting aside a major part of the 16,466-acre ranch, theoretically barring the property from ever being developed.

The family would sell those credits to builders Lennar Corp. and Centex, allowing them to develop the town of Cloud Grove on the St. Lucie-Indian River County line. Under current regulations, the 5,000-acre site could have 1,200 homes. If the Adams family preserves about 12,000 acres, the builders would be allowed to construct 12,000 homes or more in Cloud Grove.

With the remaining land at Adams Ranch, more than 900 homes could be built, although the family says the land would probably be used only to establish a ranch tour business, an office for the family foundation and, perhaps, a sleeping lodge for visitors.

The town of Cloud Grove would be built in a former citrus grove, far from any urban services. The developers also own a sizable piece of adjacent land in Indian River County, but no plans have been announced for that property.

Still, would a well-planned, well-designed and self-sufficient town, as required by regulations, be preferable to current patterns of residential land development in the county? Yes, but is it really attainable? Can it be assured? Should it be built miles away from civilization, encouraging more sprawl?

That's what commissioners need to be focused on as they consider the plan. There have been too many instances of developers not delivering on their promises.

A particular problem is that no master plan has been presented to indicate how the new town would be able to satisfy all its requirements, including the location of open spaces, school sites, retail and non-service jobs and specifics on mixed use and mixed housing alternatives.

Such a plan is not required at this point in the process, but it would be helpful to commissioners and to the public to have better knowledge — at least on paper — how the town might look and work.

Of course, if commissioners approve changes that would allow the proposed stewardship program to proceed, they will still have opportunities to approve or reject details of the new town. They would, however, be locked into some of the larger factors associated with the comprehensive plan and land-use regulation changes.

This is a complex issue with numerous pros, cons and uncertainties. Commissioners need to get out their fine-toothed combs and make sure they get this right. It's hard to believe they have enough information to make such an important decision today.

AGENDA

What: Special meeting of the St. Lucie County Commission

Purpose: To consider approval of Adams Ranch land development regulations

Time: 6 p.m., Monday

Location: County Commission chambers, 2300 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce

Return to News/Events Section.