INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The county will expand its urban service boundary — where homes and business can receive county utilities — to accommodate the coming Oslo Road interchange on Interstate 95. But not before a year-long planning period and plenty of public input.
The County Commission voted 4-1 May 20 to expand the boundary from 58th to 74th avenues, and from Interstate 95 to 98th Avenue. Commissioner Laura Moss voted no.
To quell fears of out-of-control growth, commissioners imposed a one-year moratorium on rezoning within the area, ample time for county staff to craft a plan and timeline, said Commissioner Joe Earman, whose district includes the interchange.
“The moratorium gives us enough time to map out what we want, like agriculture, and what we don’t, like car washes and storage units,” Earman explained. “A connection to Interstate 95 fosters growth regardless. But now we have time to mold what’s coming to our needs.”
Much of the land within the corridor already is zoned for agricultural use.
Moss said she worried the county eventually would lose control of the area.
“To me, expansion of the boundary signals ‘Ggame-on’ to developers, which is opposite from what I feel the community wants,” said Moss. “I fear that this project could get out of control.”
Map of Indian River County urban service boundary
Time to plan
Expanding the urban service boundary was necessary so that what gets built has access to utilities, according to Earman. But expansion does not need to occur right away.
“The interchange is not finished yet,” Earman said. “We are taking these steps now to ensure we are not scrambling when it is complete.”
Without preparation, a scramble to build at or near the interchange would lead to haphazard development, said Planning and Development Services Director Chris Balter. It could lead to developments without sewer or water service or reliable roads, or could pave the way for more cookie-cutter subdivisions.
“The biggest takeaway that we have heard from the public so far is “Keep the county’s character as it is now,” Balter said. “To do that, we need to plan.”
Construction on the $96 million interchange broke ground in August 2023, but it’s been in the works for two decades. Funded by the Florida Department of Transportation, it is expected to be completed in summer 2027.
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Next steps
Balter and his team will first begin formulating a timeline and gathering information, he said. It would include scheduling public forums and gathering more public input.
Of particular interest, he said, is incorporating agriculture into the area, which both Earman and Moss stressed.
“We value public input,” Balter said. “This effort will be a collaborative between the public and the county. We have a blank slate, and can make it what we want.”
Nick Slater is TCPalm’s Indian River County Watchdog reporter. You can reach him at Nick.Slater@tcpalm.com and 224-830-2875
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Indian River County expanding urban service bounding around Oslo Road