News Cast for March 21st:
The Okeechobee County Planning Board scheduled a March 25 public hearing to consider a comprehensive plan amendment to expand the Lazy Seven Rural Activity Center.
The property to be developed is located west of SW 87th Terrace and south of state road 70 west.
150 acres could be developed into residential housing. It is currently in agriculture use. The applicant would like to build 75 new homes.
The planning board voted to table the application earlier this year.
The planning board approved a special exception to allow a mine or borrow pit at 12575 state road 70 near Posey’s Corners.
The material will go to help adjacent lands develop off route 70.
If the operation one day gains an access to Berman Road all of the trucks leaving the property with fill dirt will pay 10 cents per ton to maintain and repair the road and other county roads.
181 acres were included in the application.
Broward County Commissioners approved plans to expand the Monarch Hill landfill rather than send more trash to Okeechobee County.
The facility will be expanded by 24 acres and the height limit was increased by 100 feet.
Surrounding cities and many residents opposed the landfill expansion.
Chris Sunison said this will not look good for the future of the region.
“Just imagine the tourist and his family coming down the Florida Turnpike. Hey look kids there’s Monarch Hill, I mean Mount Trashmore. It is higher than the Empire State Building, the Sears Tower, and the Statue of Liberty.”
Jeffrey Broder told commissioners that many nearby residents are asking the county to stop the project.
“If you oppose it the costs will increase for all Broward County to dispose of trash, construction debris and waste. We haven’t even considered what will happen when another hurricane hits. The methane removal that benefits our environment will also stop.”
The Indiantown Village Council named the new parks and recreation building after longtime volunteer coach Bob Sousa.
The building had been the home of Indian River State College classroom and was recently donated by the village by Martin County.
The village plans to hold community events there, like weddings and sweet 16 parties.
Mayor Carmine DiPaolo predicts it will generate revenue for the village.
The council named the facility the Bob Sousa Center.
His daughter, Mary Ellen Sousa, said the family appreciated this honor.
“This leaves a legacy for my family and there are four generation of Sousa’s in Indiantown.
I just thank you all. I am so honored and humbled because my dad volunteered a lot of time. He spent a lot of our family’s money to make sure kids had cleats and gloves.”
The National Weather Service reported a moderate to severe drought in our region.
Drought conditions are ranked on a zero-to-four scale with four being the worst. Most of Central Florida is at a one, a moderate level.
Rainfall has been below normal through the dry season and that may continue, forecasters said.
The NWS said drier than normal conditions are generally favored through the end of April when the dry season ends.
The City of Okeechobee Technical Review Committee approved the site plan for a new office for Dr. Saeed.
It will be built at 510 North Parrott Avenue which currently houses the Seacoast Banking Center.
The just over two acre parcel will include a 5,040 square foot, one story, addition to the facility.
There were some issues about sidewalks on streets around the building and also the need for fire hydrants.