Fort Pierce city commissioners voted to explore hiring outside land-use counsel to review whether the city has any legal options to challenge the proposed Causeway Cove development under Florida's Live Local Act. The move escalates a dispute over a 43-acre waterfront project on South Hutchinson Island that the city previously said it had no legal power to stop.
The commission approved the motion at a meeting as the city monitors lawsuits filed elsewhere in Florida that seek to restore greater local control over development decisions. The vote comes as Florida enters the latest phase of the law, known as Live Local 4.0, which took effect July 1, 2026. The changes expanded eligible development sites and further clarified protections for qualifying projects that include affordable housing.
The proposed Causeway Cove development along Seaway Drive calls for five towers ranging from 11 to 17 stories, 913 residential units, two hotels totaling 407 rooms, more than 72,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, and 218 marina slips, according to city records. The project has drawn opposition from residents who say it would transform an area known for waterfront views, boating access and small-town character.
City officials have repeatedly said the project qualifies under the Live Local Act and therefore moves through an administrative review process rather than a traditional public hearing and commission vote. The law, passed in 2023, allows qualifying projects to bypass certain local zoning, density and height restrictions if they reserve at least 40 percent of units as affordable rental housing for at least 30 years.
Fort Pierce Commissioner Michael Broderick said residents' concerns extend beyond the size of the development. Broderick pointed to longstanding concerns about capacity on Seaway Drive and debates over affordability. According to city officials, some qualifying units could rent for more than $2,300 per month, while Fort Pierce's median rent is substantially lower. Critics argue the formula can produce rents that technically qualify as affordable under state guidelines but remain difficult for many local residents to afford.
Land-use attorney Keith Poliakoff, who has represented clients in Live Local disputes across the state, said local governments generally have limited discretion once a project satisfies state requirements. Poliakoff said the law effectively requires municipalities to administratively approve qualifying projects, even when residents or local leaders oppose the density, height or scale of a development. State data show more than 200 Live Local projects have been proposed or approved across Florida.
Dana Trabulsy, whose district includes parts of the Treasure Coast, has recently questioned whether developments of this scale reflect what legislators intended when they approved the measure. If construction moves forward as anticipated, it could begin before the end of the year.