Knight Kiplinger’s Pineland Prairie has passed another hurdle to being fully approved and built. The entire new community is an example of New Urbanism. It will have walkability to stores and offices. Housing of different sizes, styles and prices will be within close proximity to each other. Most of the land will be open. Mr. Kiplinger touts that younger people want to live in this environment. I can’t say anything bad about the project. I think it is a great and necessary idea.
Many of the characteristics that Mr. Kiplinger wants to create at Pineland Prairie already exist. The infrastructure, roads, and amenities are built. A vibrant restaurant scene exists. The largest employers of Martin County are located within its boundaries and it has everything from athletic fields to vest pocket neighborhood parks. It is the City of Stuart.
The problem lies not in what the City has but what it doesn’t. The City Commission has exhibited a lack of imagination and knowledge on how to capitalize on Stuart’s assets. Being the “Happiest Seaside Town” is one thing but being a city that has an economic and demographic future is quite another. For the past fifty years, Stuart has allowed Martin County to grow and prosper around the City but has done very little to enhance and maintain itself as the hub of the county.
As an example, at their last meeting, the City Commissioners voted to approve a lease with Mulligans for 20 years with a $2 million cancellation clause. This, in essence, locks up any possibility of having an enhanced Flagler Park, creating new economic opportunities and a more vibrant Downtown. The entire peninsula which is owned by the City will now be frozen in time due to the lack of basic real estate experience and a “good old boy” approach to governance. This 1960s mindset in a 21ST century environment will continue to hobble the City’s viability. It is too bad for the taxpayers, residents and commercial real estate owners within Stuart’s borders.
By tweaking zoning and land development codes, Stuart could immediately begin the process of implementing what Kiplinger wants to do in rural Palm City. The City has all the pieces necessary to attract younger people, new jobs and businesses. What we lack is a political establishment within the city that has the vision and the business acumen to see what Mr. Kiplinger, our young people, and most of the County Commissioners have seen.
I am all in favor of Pineland Prairie being allowed to exist and prosper. It will be a long-term asset to Martin County. It will not be sprawl but, rather, a self-contained community. When finally built and completed in twenty years, it will be a fantastic place to live in the future.
With foresight, imagination and will, Stuart could be the Pineland Prairie of today instead of the City of yesterday.