Martin County Commission denies 2,600-acre Harmony Ranch proposal

MARTIN COUNTY — Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously denied a proposal that would have allowed more than 2,400 homes on 2,600 acres in southwest Martin County.

The commission's denial of a Comprehensive Plan amendment for Harmony Ranch followed dozens of public comments against the project at Tuesday's meeting.

Many residents spoke passionately about their concerns, some becoming emotional when addressing the development's possible impacts to the environment and local quality of life.

Harmony Ranch would set a "dangerous precedent and create a domino effect" of increased development, Jupiter Island Commissioner Peter Conze said during public comment, adding that the "fiscal impact is potentially enormous."

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Applicant Hobe Sound Ranch in September asked the county to change the property's land-use designation from agricultural — which allows one unit per 20 acres — to a mix of residential estate, which allows two units per acre; rural, which allows one unit per 2 acres; and agricultural ranchette, which allows one unit per 5 acres.

Hobe Sound Ranch also wanted changes to the Comprehensive Plan — which governs growth and development regulations — to expand the primary and secondary urban-service districts, which would allow the extension of services such as water and sewer.

Harmony Ranch — west of Florida's Turnpike between Southwest Bridge Road and Southwest Pratt-Whitney Road — for decades has been used for cattle ranching and currently consists of 20-acre ranches, according to the county.

North of the property are the Florida Club and Foxwood subdivisions, to the east is South Fork High School and to the south and west is agricultural land.

The County Commission's decision on Tuesday followed a staff recommendation to deny the change, in part because it would not discourage proliferation of urban sprawl, according to a staff report.

The Local Planning Agency on March 14 also recommended denial, emphasizing concerns about expanding water and sewer service to the proposed project.

The project also faced opposition from numerous Martin County residents, including many who live near Harmony Ranch.

Residents on 86 of the 109 properties that make up the Foxwood subdivision, for example, filed letters of opposition to the project, according to the Foxwood Homeowners Association.

In a letter to the county Growth Management Department, developer Thomas Kenny III, who represented Hobe Sound Ranch, defended the requested change as "logical, financially feasible and efficient," and emphasized that Harmony Ranch would provid "critically needed workforce housing" as well as housing for the elderly and for Martin County's expanding population.

The commission over the last 15 years has denied multiple projects proposed for the area, including one in 2012 by Extreme Sports for a new land-use designation called Extreme Sports Water Ski Park and Hotel.

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