ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
to turning the 20-acre Harbour Pointe Park into a shining
example of what a park can be.
Delores Hogan Johnson, president of the St. Lucie Waterfront
20
Council and a former state representative, is enthusiastic
about the proposed research and education center, she
said. The health of the Indian River Lagoon is extremely
important, she said, citing the lagoon’s biodiversity.
“Let’s keep in mind that we must protect the lagoon,”
Johnson said.
Consultants said that over the long term, the center could
end up occupying 7,500 square feet with labs, classrooms,
outdoor learning space and grow tanks.
“To see that whole area come alive is going to be great
because it’s never happened before,” Townsend said.
The entire port project, expected to be completed by 2040,
is estimated to cost between $82 million and $130 million
spread out over many years with grant funding helping
defray expenses, although consultants said it is too early to
come up with firm costs. Private companies doing business at
the port will be responsible for building their own facilities.
The master plan draft is the first to detail what the port
might look like. It was the result of months of work with
community input in virtual meetings and surveys.
Legueux detailed the efforts to gather opinions from residents
and business people as to what they wanted the port
and port planning area to become.
Before approving the draft plan, Townsend asked the
consultants to work specifically with business people after
Harold “Buzz” Smyth, owner of Causeway Cove Marina,
said the county is going into competition with his business by
operating a public marina at the port.
He also said he is worried that the proposed docks were >>
REVISED PORT VISION
The planning result is a multifaceted vision for the port that
calls for:
• Creation of the Treasure Coast’s premier center for yacht,
shipbuilding, and related marine repair, overhaul, and
maintenance facilities;
• Investment in county-owned Harbour Pointe Park to emerge
as a public marina, boat ramp and upgraded park; and
• Advancement of a new wharf and surrounding uplands
dedicated to the support of small import/export marine
dependent businesses.
Implementation of the master plan will take 10 to 20 years.
Success relies on favorable market conditions, incremental
investment by the public and private sector, and sustained
community alignment and goodwill. Achievement of the
aims and projects contained in the master plan are worthwhile,
and will result in an active, working waterfront that
serves as another important engine driving economic and
social progress for the county and region.
LINK: To download a copy of the 2020 final draft of the
master plan go here: https://tinyurl.com/portmasterplan
and scroll down the list to Port of Fort Pierce Final Draft.
To open and read the plan you may need a PDF reader. A
free one can be downloaded here: https://get.adobe.com/
reader/otherversions/
A revised master plan includes
plans to develop the land around
the Port of Fort Pierce where the
megayachts are refurbished.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
Source: St. Lucie County final draft 2020 port
master plan by Moffat & Nichol and Atkins
/portmasterplan
/
