As most of you already know, I haven’t written an editorial in years, and I only do so when it is absolutely necessary. We work hard to keep opinions out of our regular news cycle, so I want to be upfront with readers.
I decided to publish this one after months of misinformation is being spread to our residents by a blogger in Vero Beach. This is the same writer who has applied a familiar legacy-media script to the city’s annexation efforts since 2018 — short on facts, heavy on condemnation of local officials and aimed at stirring anger over growth.
The land in question was once productive farmland. Orange groves there perished decades ago. Hale’s went out of business, followed by the company that bought it out. The current landowner now has little choice but to put the property to other uses, including housing and commercial development.
Florida is going to grow whether we like it or not. The property itself will be developed, whether or not it is annexed into the city. That basic reality is one fact other publications rarely mention when covering Sebastian.
These pieces often appear just before City Council meetings, apparently in hopes that readers will show up and repeat the blogger’s negative talking points. This is not principled journalism or service to the community. It is rhetoric designed to manufacture outrage.
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
The facts are straightforward. Sebastian has one of its strongest City Councils in many years — a group that came together after the 2020 recall. Mayor Fred Jones, Council members Chris Nunn, Ed Dodd, Bob McPartlan, and Sherrie Matthews genuinely love this city and are focused on decisions that will keep Sebastian sustainable for the next 100 years.
It is telling that large-scale county development on thousands of acres draws little criticism from other publications. The county has been developing at a record pace for years. Yet when Sebastian annexes a relatively small parcel, it suddenly becomes a crisis.
Some demand that Sebastian not grow at all, even as the county is ready to develop everything around us under looser standards if the property is not annexed. Annexation allows the city to apply its stricter building code, including a lower height limit — some of the toughest rules in Indian River County.
When a landowner chooses to annex into the city of Sebastian, it benefits everyone. These owners want to be part of our community. Property owners have the right to decide what to do with their land. We’ve seen what happened in parts of Vero Beach, where development under looser county rules has effectively fenced the city in and limited its ability to grow. Readers should consider the source when reading other coverage about Sebastian.
Annexation also brings meaningful tax revenue to the city. Without it, those property owners would pay county taxes while their future residents continued to use Sebastian’s parks, boat ramps, and other amenities. It’s been said that tax revenue isn’t much, but it’s more than enough to maintain our amenities while we grow.
I have spoken personally with local officials, including the city manager. These are your neighbors who live here and care deeply about Sebastian — unlike some critics who live in another city and write for publications headquartered two counties away. Council members earn only about $300 a month for what is essentially a volunteer position. They share residents’ concerns about growth and believe the best way to manage it is through annexation.
It’s true that growth can have a negative impact on the Indian River Lagoon, but unless you read Sebastian Daily, you might not know that the city is actively helping to restore it. The city has already transitioned residents living along the lagoon from septic systems to county sewer service and is working with state legislators on grant funding and other solutions for the rest of the city in the coming years.
Some officials have volunteered to plant millions of clams and acres of seagrass. Each mature clam can filter up to 20 to 25 gallons of water per day. The city is also home to a successful oyster farm operated by Treasure Coast Shellfish, owned and operated by Nicolette Mariano, a local Aquaculture Biologist. You should see how her oysters are cleaning the lagoon, with clear water all around the oyster cages.
Mayor Fred Jones attended the Project SeaSafe event last month in Grant and has joined Sebastian Daily and me at previous events to plant clams in the lagoon. These are real, boots-on-the-ground efforts — actions you rarely hear about from those who prefer spreading fear and alarmism.
As I warned about the Graves Brothers property in 2019, refusing annexation risks leaving Sebastian completely surrounded by county development with looser standards. That is not protecting our character. It is surrendering it.
Annexation is good for Sebastian. It is time to accept that reality and guide it on our terms. Sebastian will not become another Palm Bay or Port St. Lucie. Our strict local codes are intended to maintain the small-town charm that makes this place special.
The only people who need to “come together” on this issue are Sebastian officials, residents, and the landowner seeking annexation. While the annexation will require county utilities, the county has had no problem extending its boundaries far to the west, where it continues to expand and develop at a rapid pace.
I know some will disagree, and that is fine. But on an issue as important as annexation — one that will shape our community for generations — residents deserve facts over blogosphere noise and manufactured outrage.
This editorial represents the opinion of Andy Hodges, Sebastian Daily editor-in-chief. It does not necessarily reflect the views of all Sebastian Daily contributors or staff.