The Okeechobee County Planning Board recommended approval for a change in zoning and approved a special exception for an eight-unit town house project next to Kings Bay.
Merchant Construction plans to build the project on one acre at 4555 SE 50th Avenue.
The land is currently vacant.
The units will be two stories. The zoning would change from planned development to residential general.
The Okeechobee County Planning Board recommended denial of a rezoning of agriculture property to planned unit development to allow for a soccer academy.
The project would have brought a school, soccer fields, a 2,500- seat stadium, hotel and restaurant to a remote section of southeast Okeechobee.
County planning staff had recommended approval of the 27-acre project at 13493 US Highway 441 southeast.
Nearby residents in Flying G Estates opposed the project as they raised concerns about noise, traffic, lighting at night and possible impacts on property values.
They also raised the concern of more school buses and a lack of emergency services close to the location.
Residents note there have been a lot of serious car accidents in that section of Okeechobee.
The developer said he chose Okeechobee because of the central location and the desire to attract players and teams from Orlando and Miami to hold matches and exhibitions.
The agenda item for the soccer academy was pulled from the Oct. 9 agenda of the Okeechobee Board of County Commissioners.
The city of Okeechobee Board of Adjustments approved a special exception to allow a Take-5 Quick Oil Change at 2002 South Parrott Avenue.
The plan is to clear the site and demolish one residence on the property.
Two people spoke at the public hearing with the concerns from neighbors mostly about impacts on drainage, additional traffic, and noise.
Herb Green, representing the developer, said they don’t expect more than 50 vehicles per day and don’t expect a traffic problem.
The city technical review committee approved the closure of an alley and right of way at NE 9th Street for a new business First Choice Loading. They are a trucking firm.
St. Lucie County Public Schools celebrate the first A grade they ever received as a district.
Superintendent Dr. Jon Prince told St. Lucie County Commissioners that it was quite a remarkable accomplishment for the district.
“I believe all children are capable of success with no exceptions. One thing I found was that not everybody in our system believed that. If you don’t believe in kids you don’t belong in front of kids.”
Highlands County Fire Rescue added two tanker trucks to their fleet.
Fire Chief Chad Duppenthaler said it is the first step towards replacement of the aging fleet.
He said the tankers will help fight structure fires as they hold additional water than existing units.
One of the tankers will be placed in service at Station 18 in Fort DeSoto.
Duppenthaler said he thinks this will improve fire protection in rural areas of the county.
The Selection Committee on Property Taxes filed eight resolutions and bills related to the issue for the 2026 legislative session Thursday.
They include categorical elimination of non-school homestead taxes, additional exemptions, and reforms.
Any of the bills approved by legislators would have to go before voters next November.
House Speaker Daniel Perez said they all the measures include language that prohibits an affected government entity from reducing funding for law enforcement. They also exempt school taxes.