Future RV park is OK’d
By Pete Gawda, Okeechobee News
It was a long evening for the Okeechobee County Planning Board/Board of Adjustments and Appeals for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 24.
Even though there were only three items to be discussed, two of them met with controversy.
The first item on the agenda was a request by Glenna Rucks for a special exception to allow a recreational complex in an agriculture zoning district at the Fort Drum Crystal Mine located on N.E. 304th Street.
Proposed plans for the 300-acre complex call for an RV park, tent camping, an outdoor amphitheater, a museum and learning center, gift shop, a restaurant, a bar, cabins and a lodge. The area would be developed in stages. There is a 100-acre lake on the property that was formed by the mining operations that would be used for various water activities.
The owners plan to make the resort available to clubs and hobby groups that could hold events related to their respective areas of interest such as rock collecting, obstacle course, waterskiing, rock crawl, fishing and scuba instruction.
Board member Jeff Sumner asked about rezoning the property instead of granting a special exception.
Planning official Bill Royce replied that there was a special exception for agriculture property that would be appropriate in this situation. He said in the future the zoning could be changed to planned development.
Attorney Devon Maxwell represented the owner and gave a history of the property and described future plans for the property which he said has “unique characteristics.”
Attorneys Wes Harvin and John Fumero represented the property owner to the north, Harry Randall. Even though the matter had been tabled from last month, the attorneys asked for more time to prepare their case. Mr. Harvin listed several items his client was concerned about which, he added, would require expert opinions.
Mr. Sumner noted that several of the areas of concern were not under the authority of the planning board.
Mr. Harvin was concerned about endangered species, an area in which the planning board has no authority. He was also concerned with drainage, which would be handled under permit from the South Florida Water Management District.
Mr. Harvin has also expressed concern about noise.
County attorney John Cassels noted that there are state laws addressing noise and the county has a nuisance ordinance that could be applied to this situation.
Board member Ted Kelchner also noted that some of Mr. Harvin’s concerns would be addressed in the site plan review process.
Mr. Fumero argued for protecting the rural and agricultural aspects of the area. He noted that only a 500-foot buffer separated his client’s property from the noise, light and other impacts of such a large development.
In his rebuttal, Mr. Maxwell asked for an immediate decision. He noted that Mr. Randall owns seven sections of land and the overall impact on his property would be minimal.
Board member Pam Newcomer expressed concern that concerts at the recreational complex would attract more people than the overnight guests.
After some discussion, the board unanimously approved the request for special exception.
Residents of Ousely Estates turned out to protest the proposed 509-unit Silver Palms RV park that would be located behind their subdivision.
Okeechobee Development, LLC, requested a change in zoning from residential general and neighborhood commerical-2 to planned development. The applicants own about 88 acres adjacent to Ousley Estates and Seminole Cove. The property fronts on S.W. 32nd Street and has access to U.S. 441 S.
Plans call for the RV park to be developed in three phases with a central recreation area of about three acres. Plans include a fitness center, a billiards room, a library, card rooms and a private lounge for owners and a 9,000-square-foot clubhouse that can be used as a hurricane shelter.
The planned development district is intended to allow for various and mixed use in a single, comprehensive development. It was established to encourage developments of a superior quality by allowing flexibility and creativity in design options.
Realtor Brandon Tucker, representing the owners, noted that there will be adequate buffering provided by Whidden Ditch and vegetative setbacks. He said there would be no impacts to the school system and less of an impact on sewer and water than site-built houses. He said it would be a first-class gated community with a two swimming pools.
The RV sites would be larger than usual. The sites would be marketed to aging baby boomers and people on the coast.
Mr. Tucker said that devdelopers would pay all impact fees except for school impact fees.
George DuPont of the Ousely Estates Homeowners Association took exception with the proposed development He expressed concerns about the proposed RV park’s effect on wildlife. He said permanent residents of the area would be subject to noise and lights from the RV park.
“Consider our privacy,” he asked the board. “Give us a buffer zone more than a few trees or bushes.”
He was in favor a concrete wall as a buffer.
“This area doesn’t need an RV park at all,” asserted Mr. DuPont. “Be kind to the people who live here year round and pay taxes.”
“Help us out,” was the plea of Darrell Donnelly of S.W. Ninth Way. He was concerned with runoff from the RV park and requested some kind of permanent barrier such as a concrete wall as a buffer.
Mr. Tucker pledged to talk to area citizens on an individual basis to address their concerns.
“I think you would be better off with this in your backyard,” was the opinion of board member Carl Shumate.
He called the planned RV park “reasonable” and stated that the impact would be much worse if the area were developed with site-built houses.
After hearing both sides, the board unanimously voted to recommend that the Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners approve the zoning change.
On the other request for a zoning change, there was no controversy and the board unanimously recommended approval.
Jerry and Shirley Weaver and Peggy McKenzie Miller requested a change in zoning from residential mixed to neighborhood commerical-2 for their property on U.S. 98 N. On their application, they list no specific reason for the change. They wish to have the commercial zoning in place for future use.
A second public hearing on both requests for zoning change will be held before the county commissioners at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 9. Normally, the commissioners make the final decision on zoning change requests after the second public hearing.
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