DEVELOPMENT
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So, the primary focus rests with the two
waterfront properties of a combined 33.7
acres, which represent Vero’s largest and
most desirable undeveloped tract of land.
Why is it considered undeveloped? Because
the decommissioned power plant is
due to be dismantled and the wastewater
treatment facility will likely be relocated
west of town. These properties will be
available in another two to five years, but
the process of deciding the future of this
valuable land will soon be underway. So
therein lies the controversy — how will
those properties be developed?
Since its inception 100 years ago, Vero
(“Beach” was added in 1925) has maintained
a small-town feel, which only
became a challenge when Florida itself
grew into the country’s fourth most populated
state and waterfront communities
bore the brunt of that growth. Vero Beach
resisted the tendency towards sprawl due
to successive City Council controls on
development. One of those controls, for
instance, was a three-story building height
limit in both the city and county. Only one
building on Vero’s barrier island exceeds
that limit because of a loophole that was
closed soon afterwards.
VOTER INPUT
Recent City Councils have tried opening
the door to more South Florida-style development,
so an amendment to the City
Charter was passed that protects many
publicly owned properties from non-public
use without voter referendum. Two of
the properties protected are the ones now
in question.
Those properties, the former Vero
electric plant and current wastewater
treatment facility, can be viewed as either
public recreational access to the Indian
River Lagoon or as a needed revenue
source for the city if fully developed. The
need for revenue was created with the sale
of Vero’s electric utility to FPL.
Since 1917 and up until last year, the city
owned its electric utility services, which
provided nearly a quarter of the city’s
income. However, the rates consumers
paid were higher than the rates paid by
consumers served by investor-owned FPL.
Pressure mounted to do something about
it, and that something was to sell the Vero
electric utility to FPL so consumers could
benefit from the lower rates. The problem
with that decision was a significant loss of
city revenue.
City Councils over the past several years
have cut budgets and begun selling off
city assets or finding ways to monetize
them to make up the difference without
raising municipal taxes. This has resulted
in a widespread backlash by city residents
who fear Vero is becoming over-commercialized
and developer-driven.
A look into Vero’s political history shows
that elected officials have generally tried
to maintain the small-town quality of life.
The question is what will motivate decision
making by current and future City
Councils, especially with regard to these
properties?
Keeping them in City Charter protection
ensures that voters have the final say in
what happens. At this point, city residents
want it to remain as land accessible to the
public with parks, boating facilities and
possibly restaurants or other businesses
that support that public vision.
INCOME POSSIBILITIES
Another option for those looking to
maximize the value of that land is to allow
commercial development, providing
ongoing income to the city and helping
offset the revenue lost with the sale of
CITY OF VERO BEACH
An aerial shot of the entire ‘three corners’ complex shows the city’s former power plant in the upper section. The water treatment facility is on the lower right
and postal annex at the lower left. The area could determine the future of Vero Beach.
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