Editorial: Work together to control impact

Date: February 28, 2007
Edition: Port St. Lucie News, Stuart News

If approved, the proposed new town of Cloud Grove in northern St. Lucie County will have a major impact — in Indian River County, too.

During a recent joint workshop on the new town and its potential 12,000 homes, Indian River commissioners were concerned about water use and traffic impacts.

The issue tackled during the joint workshop — impacts of growth that flow over county lines — is reminiscent of the battles between Port St. Lucie and Martin County.

Cloud Grove developers — Lennar Corp. and Centex homes — had no specifics to allay those concerns. But, unlike what happened with Port St. Lucie and Martin officials, Indian River commissioners were assured that St. Lucie commissioners will take their concerns into account.

However, that pledge was made by Commissioner Doug Coward, who is currently opposed to the Cloud Grove project as it is being presented. Coward may be in the minority among St. Lucie commissioners when it comes to proceeding with Cloud Grove.

That is where the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council can play a major role. St. Lucie commissioners are requiring that Cloud Grove representatives submit to the council their plans as a Development of Regional Impact. That will allow input from both counties, with the council determining what will or will not be allowed.

Beyond that, it's important for the residents of northern St. Lucie County and southern Indian River County that officials of the two counties work together in the planning stages of such projects.

They must be more successful than officials in Martin County and Port St. Lucie. Conflicts continue as Port St. Lucie aggressively seeks development, while Martin County is more restrictive.

Border wars among the three counties are not helpful for their residents and are not helpful in attracting business ventures that may benefit the region as a whole.

More talk and more cooperation are needed among elected officials. More understanding of the political and economic concerns in each county is also necessary.

Mitigating negative impacts can be found. Making those solutions feasible, however, should not be the responsibility of residents. The solutions must be required of the developers before they receive authority to proceed.

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