DEMAND TRANSPARENCY, REVIEW & FEASIBILITY STUDY

Petition

We, the undersigned residents, business owners, and stakeholders of Fort Pierce, urgently call for a transparent, comprehensive, and community-centered review of the proposed Causeway Cove development at 601 Seaway Drive. Furthermore, we respectfully urge the Florida Legislature to expedite amendments to the Live Local Act to:

• Demand a transparent and accountable review process at both the state and local levels.
• Insist on genuine affordability—not affordability in name only.
• Require comprehensive feasibility studies, including environmental and traffic impact assessments, before granting any approvals.
• Restore meaningful oversight authority to local governments to ensure community interests are protected.
• Ensure all applicants are rigorously vetted and continuously monitored to guarantee that grant funds and tax incentives are used strictly for their intended purpose: delivering true affordable housing.
• Urge the state to re-evaluate Live Local Act eligibility criteria of the Causeway Cove Development Project using detailed, project-specific information.
• Call for immediate collaboration between state and local representatives to amend the Live Local Act, closing loopholes that currently enable misuse by developers and investors.

Causeway Cove Private Proposal - Fort Pierce Technical Review Agenda for May 15th, 2025

How Did we Get Here

The City of Fort Pierce has been planning the Western Peninsula Charrette development project, which consists of businesses, homes, hotel, marina and interconnection to public parks. This was highly publicized and offered community planning.

The developer of Causeway Cove Marina is seeking to bypass local oversight by applying directly to the State under the Live Local Act, proposing a massive luxury high-rise, multi-use project that does not align with the City’s Western Peninsula Charrette-a plan created with significant community input. The current private proposal includes:

• Five 18 story high-rise buildings
• 2,326 parking spots
• 1,066 apartment units
• 204 hotel rooms
• Commercial area 57,729 sqft
• Amenities 94,160 sqft
• 198-boat-slip marina + 10 moorings

This scale and design bear little resemblance to the community’s vision and raise serious concerns about environmental, infrastructural, and social impacts. Additionally, several points are lacking details which make the qualification for the Act in question.

Design Review Narrative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why This Matters

The developer is using the Live Local Act to bypass our local controls. While this law is meant to encourage affordable housing, the reality is that the state’s definition of “affordable” is based on area median income, which includes wealthier neighboring communities. This means many local families will still be priced out.

The Live Local Act permits increased density and height allowances in areas zoned for commercial, industrial, or mixed-use, even if local codes would otherwise restrict that. The maximum density proposed is 30 units per acre. The law allows developers to bypass certain local zoning rules if at least 40% of residential units are affordable for 30 years - which is 505 out of 1,260 (30 x 42.39). Additionally, much of the 42.39-acre site is submerged as part of the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) and should not count toward density calculations.

• Site Plan
• Survey
• Location Map

The application also misrepresents the proximity to Kings Landing, claiming it is within one mile by measuring directly across the Intracoastal Waterway. In reality, the only access is by road-a distance of The Live Local Act’s requirements should be based on actual, unobstructed travel routes, not unrealistic point-to-point measurements across water. This means the proposal does not meet the Act’s qualifications.

 

 

 

 

 

If approved, this project would be the tallest structure on the peninsula and set a precedent for future high-density development. Our infrastructure-roads, water, sewer, and emergency services-would be strained. Traffic congestion would worsen, and hurricane evacuation would become more difficult.

Environmental concerns are also significant. The site has a history of contamination exposure from boat storage and petroleum runoff as well as the neighboring waste water treatment facility. The current plan would run infrastructure through sensitive areas, risking our estuaries and wildlife. Without comprehensive soil testing, environmental studies, and traffic analysis, approving this project would be reckless. If contamination is found, cleanup could take years and cost millions-on a barrier island.

Site Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, fast-tracking this project under state law undermines our local authority and the public process. It sets a dangerous precedent that private interests can override the community’s vision.

Summary of Key Concerns

• Lack of Local Oversight: The project bypasses City review, eliminating local code enforcement and public input. 
• Environmental Risks: The site has a history of contamination. No full soil contamination test, environmental impact study, or watershed analysis has been conducted.
• Infrastructure Strain: No traffic impact analysis or feasibility report has been provided to determine if local infrastructure can support the development.
• Questionable Density Calculations: The developer’s density calculations include underwater land, artificially inflating allowed density and concentrating units on less buildable land.
• Unrealistic Affordability: The definition of “affordable” rent may not reflect our local market, and the project’s tax exemptions mean fewer benefits for the community.
• Public Cost:  State taxpayers may bear the costs through grants funding the development and additional local taxpayers costs for infrastructure improvements and environmental remediation while Tax Exemption through the Act provide no state or local tax regeneration.

Petition For Change

• Demand a transparent, both state and local review process.
• Insist on real, not nominal, affordability.
• Require full feasibility, environmental and traffic impact studies before any approval.
• State to re-evaluate the Live Local Act qualifications based on detailed information.
  
• State Representatives to modify the Live Local Act to provide more transparency between state and local government processes and protect the Act and it's funding from abuse and misuse.

Conclusion

This is not just a zoning decision-it’s about the future character, health, and sustainability of Fort Pierce. We demand responsible development that respects our community’s vision, protects our environment, and ensures a livable future for all.

TCPalm News

"From my perspective, this is the tip of the iceberg. This is just going to be the first round of this," - Commissioner Broderick who called the law "an end run to get around local government," warned that this likely will not be the last large development to use the Live Local Act in Fort Pierce.

"It's a developer's dream."