Stuart News
Atlantic Ridge plans endorsed in Martin County

By MICHELLE SHELDONE
michelle.sheldone@scripps.com
April 12, 2007

HOBE SOUND — It had all the makings of a battle between conservationists and developers and instead turned into what one local resident called a "lovefest" for the two groups.

The proposed Atlantic Ridge Preserve residential complex came away from Wednesday's Martin County Commission meeting with a glowing halo of praise from diverse political fronts. Plans for the 650-home community on 804 acres at Bridge Road combine "clustering" homes in one area in exchange for conservation land and extending the county's water and sewage services beyond the current western boundary.

The plans also include reducing the number of homes that county growth guidelines allow on the site and donating property that's on Gov. Charlie Crist's Florida Forever conservation program "A-List" of high priority state acquisitions.

"No one else has come in and asked for their density to be reduced and to increase the amount of preserve," former county commissioner Maggy Hurchalla said.

The homes would be built on one-acre lots, and the donated land would be situated on the western edge of the project, serving as a dividing line that County Commissioner Sarah Heard said would strengthen the urban services boundary, the cutoff point for providing drinking and wastewater services.

"It turns out, on a site-specific case, (certain) planning tools can be appropriate and a benefit to the citizens of Martin County," Palm City resident Dan Martinelli said. Another resident, Al Forman, described the deal as a "lovefest" between environmentalists and developers.
Martinelli called all development plans a balancing act where the public benefits have to be weighed. In this instance, the donated 341 acres of land provide a missing link in wetlands between the Atlantic Ridge Preserve and Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Morris Crady of Stuart-based Lucido & Associates land planners said.

The land improves a much-needed fresh water flow into Kitching Creek and the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River. Martin County planners in 2005 sought to purchase the land, but its $70 million value was beyond government means.

"We all understand how important Atlantic Ridge is to our (waters)," Crady said. "We also understand people have property rights."

Speakers flowed to the commission podium for more than three hours to applaud Atlantic Ridge. They cautioned commissioners only to consider it a unique situation and not allow it to set a precedent for other attempts at clustering and moving the urban service boundary.

The plans require two changes to the comprehensive plan that guides growth in the county, and commissioners voted 4-1 to send them to Florida's Department of Community Affairs for approval.

Commission Chair Michael DiTerlizzi cast the lone dissenting vote because of his opposition to moving the urban service boundary.

Lee Weberman, the commissioner representing Hobe Sound, called the effort a "learning exercise" and proof that "one size doesn't fit all."

He wants to name the conservation land for the late Arnold Stanberry, who was the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Martin County chapter president.

Weberman also asked that Atlantic Ridge developer Alberto Micha consider improving the intersection at Bridge Road and U.S. 1 and donating $1,000 per home to help with affordable and low-income housing solutions.