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EnvironmEntal rEsourcEs
DEvElopmEnt rEviEw lEttEr
TO: Bethany Grubbs, Planning & Development Services Department
THROUGH: Jennifer L. McGee, Environmental Regulations Manager
Amy E. Griffin, Environmental Resources Director
FROM: Brian J. Arbeiter, Environmental Planner
DATE: December 8th, 2020
SUBJECT: Self-Storage Kings Highway – Major Site Plan & Conditional Use
MJSP-11202025892 & CU-11202025893
Background
The Environmental Resources Department (ERD) is in receipt of the November 18th, 2020 date-stamped
submittal from Planning and Development Services. The applicant is seeking approval for the construction
of a 103,200 SF three-story self-storage facility with forty-three (43) RV/boat storage stalls, associated
parking, and additional site improvements. The project is located at the southeast corner of Turnpike
Feeder Rd (S.R. 713) and Miramar Ave in Ft. Pierce and currently consists of one (1) vacant 4.64–acre
parcel. The parcel is currently zoned ‘I’ and has a land use code of 4900 – Open Storage.
Findings
The following items are required to be addressed, prior to approval:
1) A non-binding wetland jurisdictional determination from the South Florida Water Management
District or valid Environmental Resource Permit (last ERP permit expired 2016) confirming the
presence or absence of wetlands per CP 6.1.14.6. The limits and elevations of any jurisdictional
wetlands, which shall contain bearing and distance information used in determining the extent of these
areas, along with the identification of the agency or agencies claiming jurisdiction and categorization
of the wetland shall be depicted on the boundary and topographic surveys in accordance with LDC
11.02.09.A.2.d. The associated 25’ wetland buffer shall also be depicted per CP 6.1.14.6. Be advised
a Wetland Waiver application may also be required, pending the results of the jurisdictional
determination. Any jurisdictional wetlands shall be identified as a Category I, II, or III wetland per CP
6.1.14.1.
2) The landscape plan shall be consistent with Land Development Code 7.09.00, which includes the
following:
a) A minimum ten (10) foot planting space between parking spaces and building and a minimum five
(5) foot planting space between driveways, sidewalks, and buildings shall be provided per
7.10.24.C.2.H;
b) Please adjust the ten (10) foot landscape buffer along the southwest perimeters to exclude the
proposed sidewalk.
c) A forty-eight (48) inch tall hedge is required along the south and southwest property lines where
the vehicular use area is not entirely screened by an intervening building or structure from the
abutting property per LDC 7.09.04.B;
d) The site plan calls for a 706 linear ft. 8 ft. tall wall along the east and northeast property lines in
accordance with LDC 7.09.04.E. This wall shall be landscaped with a twenty-four (24) inch
continuous hedge along both the inside and outside base of the wall or fence. One (1) native
shade tree is required every thirty (30) linear feet. Plantings shall be alternated so that at least
sixty percent (60%) of the required number of trees is located on the outside of the wall or fence
per LDC 7.09.04.E;
e) The site plan specifies the installation of a D curb (mountable curb) around the terminal islands
and interior landscaped areas. All terminal landscaped islands and interior landscaped areas shall
be surrounded with a continuous raised, non-mountable curb in accordance with the
specifications for public works of St. Lucie County as identified in Chapter XIII of this Code
per Land Development Code 7.09.04.C.5;
f) No more than ten (10) parking spaces shall be permitted in a continuous row without being
interrupted by a minimum landscape area of one hundred eighty (180) square ft. for a single row
of parking or four hundred (400) square ft. for a double row of parking per LDC 7.09.04.C.4. Each
interior landscaped area shall have a minimum width of ten (10) ft. One (1) shade tree of an
appropriate species shall be provided for each interior island;
g) Please provide vehicular use area calculations. One (1) square ft. of interior landscaping for each
eighteen (18) square ft. of vehicular use area, consisting of one (1) native shade tree for each 180
square ft. of landscape area per LDC 7.09.04.C.1;
h) Please include native understory plantings in the tree preservation area located along the west
perimeter;
i) Two (2) additional shade trees are required along the west perimeter to comply with the thirty (30)
ft. tree spacing requirement for landscaping that abuts the road right-of-way per 7.09.04.A;
j) Tree species shall have a caliper of two and one-half (2½) inches at four and one-half (4½) ft.
above the ground when installed per 7.09.03.E.2.c. The Yaupon Hollys will need to be specified
at two and one-half (2½) inches DBH minimum (currently listed at one and one-half (1½) inches
caliper). Additionally, item # 12 under the General Landscape Notes will need to be adjusted: “The
tree caliper of all canopy trees specified on the plant list shall be measured at six (6) inches above
grade”;
k) Tree species shall be a minimum of twelve (12) ft. in height when installed per 7.09.03.E.2.c. The
minimum heights for Bald Cypress, Yaupon Holly, and Crape Myrtle on the Plant List are
currently listed to be under twelve (12) ft;
l) Please specify the use of non-cypress mulch under item # 6 of the General Landscape Notes in
accordance with 7.09.04.L.3.a;
m) The tree preservation plan specifies the preservation of seventeen (17) pine trees onsite, which
is consistent with what is depicted on the landscape plan. Please add a note on the landscape plan
that these trees are to be preserved;
n) Please provide a separate tree survey. The provided preservation plan and landscape plan depict
trees to be preserved, but please clarify if there is any vegetation meeting mitigation thresholds
that is proposed to be removed.
o) Backflow preventers shall be screened with an eighteen (18) inch hedge, maintained at four (4)
feet per LDC 7.09.04.H.
Conditions of Approval
Subject to resolution of the findings listed above, the following is a partial list of conditions of approval:
1) Prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy all Category I listed invasive plants shall be eradicated
from the site.
Please contact Brian Arbeiter at 772-462-2866 if you have any questions or if you would like to meet
regarding the details on these requirements.