St. Lucie County Development Review Task Force Report and County Staff Response

In late 2010, the St. Lucie County Citizens Budget Committee discussed creating a task force to review the development and permitting process to identify impediments to business expansion and start-ups. From those discussions and in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Council a Development Review Task Force was created and held its first meeting in December 2010. The Task Force was a group of private individuals knowledgeable about the County and the development process. 

The Task Force met monthly thereafter and discussed the County’s Land Development Code and development review processes that were deemed to be an impediment to new businesses starting or existing businesses expanding. From those meetings, the Task Force developed recommendations to amend the Land Development Code to assist small business navigate the development approval process by: 

  • Reducing or eliminating certain requirements
  • Creating more flexibility in some requirements
  • Improve internal plan review process efficiencies

The Task Force Report was issued in June 2011 and presented to the Board of County Commissioners at their October 2011 Informal Meeting. Since that meeting St Lucie County staff has been drafting a response to the recommendations in the report. An update on the progress made to date was presented to the Citizens Budget Committee on January 20, 2012. Additional work between the Task Force and staff will continue prior to moving forward through the approval and public hearing process.

 This page contains links to the Development Review Task Force report, draft ordinance 12-003 which would codify proposed changes should they be adopted by the Board of County Commissioners, and a comparison matrix showing the Task Force recommendations and the staff response.

 Please feel free to review the information and provide comment via email to: woodk@stlucieco.org or satterleem@stlucieco.org

 Do not hesitate to contact the Planning & Development Services Department if you have questions or would like more information.

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