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Cargo operations plan changes at Port of Fort Pierce
By AlEXI HOWK
alexi. howk@scripps.com
November 15, 2006
FORT PIERCE - Months of fighting against Lloyd Bell's plan to develop cargo operations at the Port of Fort Pierce could
come to a close if city and county officials agree to his latest proposal.
Bell has agreed to withdraw his application for permission to use state-owned submerged lands at the port's Berth 4 if the City
Commission Monday night approves a conceptual plan for cargo operations at Berth 1 and allows the use of 350 feet of land
at Berth 2 as part of the operation. If approved in concept, Bell still would have to come back to the commission with a final
site plan for approval.
City and county officials, as well as environmental groups have long fought cargo development at Berth 4, saying it's against
the county's comprehensive and port master plans. They want to see commercial development, including a mega-yacht
industry and a Ritz Carlton hotel developed on the property.
Bell's business partner, Michael Ravelo of Fort Pierce Waterfront Terminals LLC, submitted preliminary plans for the operation
to the city late Monday. Ravelo wants to bring in rock from the Bahamas using ships about 225-feet long and 34-feet wide with
18-foot drafts.
According to Ravelo, the hours of operation would be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and no more than three or four ships a week would
dock at the port. The rock would be hauled away by railway and local trucking companies for use at construction sites.
Ravelo wants to use 350 feet of Berth 2 to operate a conveyor belt system, which would pick up rock and load it into
stockpiles. He also wants use of Berth 2 for two front-loader trucks.
'THEY CAN FORGET IT'
The agreement between the city, county and Bell was reached last week during a cabinet aides meeting in Tallahassee. After
the meeting, Bell's application was to be forwarded to the governor and his cabinet for review Tuesday. However, that meeting
was postponed to Dec. 5 to give both parties time to reach an agreement and for Bell to withdraw his application.
"I'd like to see this happen," Bell said.
However, Bell, who owns 67 acres at the port, said if city and county officials try to dictate how he can use his land, "They can
forget it. We're not having that nonsense."
"I'm not going to have people dictate to me when I can come and when I can go," Bell said. "The hours of operation are not
relevant. Now, we're not going down there and making a lot of noise, but I'm getting sick and tired of people trying to regulate
me out of business."
Ravelo said the application for Berth 4 would not be withdrawn until "We have something pending showing the city and county
are acting in good faith. I'm not giving up nothing until I get what I'm supposed to get."
As part of the agreement, Ravelo said, the city and the county are supposed to work with environmental groups St. Lucie
Waterfront Council and the Fort Pierce Harbor Advisory Committee to get them to "back off."
'NOSE OF THE CAMEL'
That's not going to happen if the plan includes Berth 2, said John Parry, secretary and treasurer of the St. Lucie Waterfront
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Council.
Parry, who attended the cabinet aides meeting, said Bell's representatives made no mention of using Berth 2. He said the
matter was discussed with city and county officials behind closed doors.
"Berth 2 is the nose of the camel," Parry said. "I think Bell's intention is to develop the entire property into cargo operations. I
think what he's got planned for the future is different from what he's proposing in his plan. There's not enough money in rocks
to make sense out of it. What is Mr. Bell really planning for that property down the line?"
County Administrator Doug Anderson said he received the plans Tuesday afternoon but had not looked at them because he
immediately forwarded the proposal to the county's Planning Department for review.
Anderson said though the proposal would not go before the County Commission, "The city will seriously consider listening to
any comments the county will have. Berth 2 is not to be used for any type of cargo."
DETAILS OF THE PLAN
· 17 acres of Lloyd Bell's 67 acres of port property would be used to develop cargo operations at Berth 1. Aggregate rock
would be shipped in from the Bahamas using ships about 225-feet long.
· 350 feet of land at Berth 2 would be used to operate a conveyor system and two front-loader trucks for picking up and
unloading rock into stockpiles.
· Access to the property would be from Port Avenue.
· The plan proposes horizontal infrastructure improvements only with no vertical construction. Improvements include
vegetative buffers, fencing, and an extension of a rail spur from Avenue M. The plan also includes three stockpiles.
OBJECTIONS
· City and county officials, as well as environmentalists argue cargo operations damage the Indian River Lagoon.
· The county's comprehensive and port master plans allow "limited" cargo at Berth 1 only. Cargo operations are prohibited at
berths 2, 3 and 4.
· Local officials and environmentalists want to see Lloyd Bell's property preserved for commercial development.
· Cargo operations at Berth 2 could deter future developers from being interested in the port.
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