SEBASTIAN – There’s been a lot of talk around town on why there’s been no construction or land clearing at the site of the new Spirit of Sebastian development.
Spirit of Sebastian was annexed last year following the approval by the City Council. It will bring between 500 to 700 homes to our area over the next decade.
We found out that there’s been a minor setback. Sebastian and the County occupy parts of Old Dixie Highway, and this has caused a delay.
“My understanding of the situation is that the county has in fact given the go-ahead to use Old Dixie as a construction access point. However, due to the right of way issues, they are having difficulty approving the road for normal residential access,” Mayor Jim Hill told Sebastian Daily.
Hill said the county has been working closely with the City of Sebastian and the developers of the property to come up with a resolution that will work for all.
Last year, the annexing drew criticism from residents who are afraid the site plan may prompt an increase of traffic to the city. The City Council said that if the property wasn’t annexed, the county could approve 1,100 homes instead of the proposed 500 to 700. Hill also said the developer is paying for all the roads, county water & sewage, and the city would generate revenue through fees and taxes.
