FORT PIERCE — The St. Lucie County Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously Aug. 21 to recommend denial of a conditional-use permit for a proposed 77-acre sand mine near Sneed and Flume roads, citing concerns over noise, truck traffic, and impacts on nearby wells.
Miami-based Pereira Investment Group sought approval to dredge an existing 44-acre lake to 50 feet deep and excavate additional pits in phases. County planners recommended a 40-foot limit to reduce the risk of saltwater intrusion, though the company’s engineers claimed no threat existed.
The proposal included a 12-foot berm to reduce noise and dust, widening Sneed Road to 24 feet, paving 3,300 feet of Flume Road, and adding a turn lane for trucks. The firm also pledged to cover any cost of repairing or deepening residents’ wells…