SEBASTIAN — The Sebastian City Council will take up an appeal Wednesday over a denied proposal for an Ameron Boat & RV Storage facility on Ashbury Boulevard, where developers argue the rejection lacked solid evidence despite concerns from neighbors about traffic and safety.
The council’s agenda for the Jan. 28 meeting includes a quasi-judicial public hearing on the 3.8-acre project at 45 Ashbury Boulevard, next to a community of 193 homes. Property owners William and Todd Brognano sought a site plan approval, conditional use permit and waiver last month, but the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-2 to deny it on Dec. 18, citing risks to public health, safety and welfare.
An appeal was filed the next day, triggering the council’s review under the city’s Land Development Code. City staff has recommended upholding a limited scope, focusing only on the existing record from the commission’s hearing, including minutes, documents and public input. The code allows the council to reverse, affirm or modify the decision, but any reversal or change requires at least four votes.
Residents in the Ashbury community have showed strong opposition, telling Sebastian Daily they worry the facility could bring more traffic, noise and potential accidents to the residential area. “We don’t need something like this right next to our homes,” one resident said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It’s going to disrupt the neighborhood without any real benefit.”
In a letter to the council, attorney Jonathan Rhodeback, representing the Brognanos, contended the denial violated Florida law by relying on unsubstantiated opinions rather than expert analysis. He pointed to comments during the commission’s deliberations, where one commissioner struggled to specify reasons for rejection and sought input from colleagues and staff.
“The conclusion that the project poses risks to public health, safety and welfare appears based on layperson fears about traffic and accidents,” Rhodeback wrote. “This is at odds with the engineer’s analysis showing minimal impact and safe design.”
Rhodeback cited state statutes and case law, including a 2004 Florida appeals court ruling in Orange County v. Butler, to argue quasi-judicial decisions must stem from “competent, substantial evidence” applied to code criteria—not speculation.
City officials declined to comment ahead of the hearing. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at City Hall, with public comment expected.
If approved on appeal, the facility would provide outdoor storage for boats and recreational vehicles, a growing need in the coastal community. Opponents, however, maintain it doesn’t fit the area’s residential character.