In 2007, someone proposed changes to Indian River County Code 911.11. This very code has been used for years to establish fair and consistent protection of every person who lives in Indian River County. This land development regulation amendment eliminated 31 different types of industrial uses permitted along the industrial rail corridor.
Yes, the public is concerned about dust, noise and traffic relative to industry near residential neighborhoods. However, these public concerns were not properly researched and substantiated. The County Commission ordered the Stan Bolins Staff to analyze changing the land development regulation for light industrial and that report said the regulations could be changed the change would not apply to existing applications.
The list of allowable uses for light industry changed with the vote of the commissioners. They adopted the amendment. which now limits our use of light industry for one of its real purposes. The rail corridor is especially important for the safe transport of hazardous or questionable materials. Code 911.11 now creates a situation where questionable and dangerous chemicals will be transported on the roads right next to our cars, trucks and school buses. This creates a real public safety issue, and imposes public risks that were not considered when the commission voted for the act.
Luckily, this is easy to repair before it gets out of control. Call your commissioner and tell them to rescind the amendment. It is not fair to the owners of light industry, the people looking for jobs and, most importantly, the safety of our citizens. Let's repeal this mistake and demand the government be ethical, fair and consistent when dealing with anyone.
Did the commissioners know this public safety issue would have a lasting effect of changing the land development regulation? Was it ever considered? Let's ask the county attorney, Alan Polackwich, for clarification.
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