A supermarket and housing project in Tavernier took another step forward as county commissioners said “yes” to handing out early evacuation workforce housing building permits to developers during a Sept. 11 meeting in Key Largo.
Specifically, the Blackstone-Tavernier 925 LLC group is planning to construct a 49,000-square-foot Publix supermarket and liquor store at the CEMEX property at MM 92.5, oceanside. Behind the Publix, developers are working with the Jacksonville-based Vestcor Companies to build 86 units of workforce housing.
A proposal to the county by the development group’s attorney, Bart Smith, requested 86 of the 300 permits for early evacuation workforce housing without needing to participate in the county’s “1-1 exchange program.” In 2021, county commissioners approved the program in a bid to give developers the opportunity to swap affordable allocations they already received for early evacuation units. That way, the county would have affordable housing allocations to dole out for future takings claims. Per county officials, no one has participated in the program.
Early evacuations units were given to Monroe County and other municipalities by then-Gov. Rick Scott following Hurricane Irma, the category 4 storm that wiped out mobile homes and residences of working class and retired residents in 2017.
“When these quasi-affordable housing units were destroyed, the lots were sold. New homes were built, but those homes are so expensive they’re not affordable housing any more,” Smith told commissioners.
The early evacuation units, of which the county received 300, were specifically designed for multifamily complexes with more than one unit on the property. Those who occupy the units are required to make 70% of their income in Monroe County.
“My goal is that there aren’t buses from Homestead bringing employees into Monroe County. That means their paycheck is leaving Monroe County and being spent in Homestead,” said county commissioner Michelle Coldiron, who voted in favor of the 86 units to developers. “I’d rather all residents who work here also live in the community.”
In addition, tenants of these units must evacuate within 48 hours of a storm. Essential personnel, such as first responders, who may occupy units wouldn’t be forced to evacuate. Per county requirements, the workforce housing complex must have an onsite manager trained in evacuation to ensure everyone leaves in a timely manner.
Before the vote of approval, a number of residents and those representing community groups voiced their opposition to the request. Dottie Moses, president of the Island of Key Largo Federation of Homeowners Association, acknowledged the group objects to using 86 early evacuation units without an exchange of an equal number of affordable housing units. Moses said the exchange program mitigates concerns of future takings claims.
“You say you want to restore faith in the community. We’d like that as well,” Moses said. “But when you change the rules of the game as we go along, that doesn’t help your cause for restoring faith in our local government.”
The developers, in working with Vestcor Companies, are planning to build 58 two-bed, two-bath, 16 three-bed, two bath and 12 one-bed, one-bath units. Smith told the county planning commission at an Aug. 28 meeting that they believe hospital employees from Baptist Health South Florida’s Mariners Hospital could occupy the units. Mariners Hospital is roughly 1 mile from the proposed workforce housing site.
Developers previously secured the county commission’s approval to construct a nonresidential structure beyond the 10,0000-square-foot limit for the Publix supermarket and liquor store last February. FloridaCommerce originally shot down the ordinance but later approved it. The Tavernier Community Association has since filed an appeal to FloridaCommerce’s reversal to approve the county ordinance.
With approval secured for the early evacuation units, the developers will now look to get a major conditional use approval before proceeding with the project. That matter is taken up by the county planning commission.
