Posted on February 18, 2025
MARTIN COUNTY — A contaminated site here along the St. Lucie Canal is expected to be cleaned up and developed into a marine operation for nearly $9 million.
The plans are likely to come to fruition following the County Commission’s decision Tuesday to designate the land as a brownfield, where expansion, redevelopment or reuse “may be complicated by actual or perceived environmental contamination,” according to Florida law.
“It will be an environmental benefit,” said Commissioner Edward Ciampi before his colleagues voted 4-0 in favor of the designation. “It will be an economic benefit.”
Commissioner Stacey Hetherington abstained because of a conflict of interest.
Tax-credit incentive
The designation required county approval and was sought by a local affiliate of New Jersey-based Ferreira Construction to obtain state corporate income tax credits.
The firm, 9670 Southwest Marine Way LLC, stands to obtain up to $500,000 annually in corporate income tax credits during cleanup.
The firm plans to clean up and develop the 8-acre site at that address. Soil and groundwater at the site are contaminated, according to The Goldstein Environmental Law Firm, which worked to secure the designation.
What will the land be used for?
Ferreira Construction plans to use the site as a base for marine construction operations, which is expected to create the equivalent of 30 full-time jobs.
Following cleanup, the property owner is considering construction of a 12,000-square-foot-warehouse for marine construction equipment, a 7,800-square-foot office building, a boat ramp, dry retention area and gravel parking lot.
