Residents of the High Point community in Fort Pierce are raising alarms over a new residential development they fear could bring severe flooding and security risks to their neighborhood. The project, spearheaded by Kolter Homes, is currently under construction near the US-1 corridor and Savannah Lakes, an area deeply integrated into the Treasure Coast’s local landscape.
As land clearing and elevation changes progress, neighbors are closely monitoring the environmental impact right from their own backyards.
The clearing of woods and the elevation of adjacent land for the new Kolter Homes project has prompted dozens of High Point residents to petition local officials for immediate drainage solutions and enhanced boundary security.
The removal of dense trees and the artificial raising of the adjacent land have left many locals highly concerned that their established community will bear the brunt of displaced storm runoff. High Point residents have highlighted several specific threats to their community:
- Storm Runoff and Overflow: Neighbors anticipate that displaced water will flow directly into High Point’s storm drains and retention ponds, potentially causing them to overflow and flood the wider complex.
- Costly Property Damage: There is a growing fear that rising waters, especially during Florida’s intense hurricane season, will destroy essential ground-level infrastructure, particularly lower-level residential units and exterior air conditioning systems.
- Loss of Privacy and Security: The elimination of the natural tree barrier has left legacy homes exposed, prompting demands for a secure, unclimbable wall or a specialized fence to safely separate the two properties.
Local resident Mark Puz detailed the expected trajectory of the runoff, noting that the community’s existing ponds are highly vulnerable if the new development’s drainage is not aggressively managed. Fellow neighbor Julie Moore echoed these anxieties, emphasizing that the storm water currently has nowhere else to go due to the dramatically altered terrain.
Beyond water intrusion, neighborhood safety remains a paramount concern. Residents like Kenneth Sievers are actively urging the developer to construct robust physical barriers to replace the lost natural vegetation, ensuring peace of mind for the families living next door.
To make their voices heard, more than thirty concerned neighbors attended a recent Fort Pierce City Commission meeting on March 9. They presented their case directly to local officials, hoping for rapid regulatory intervention or a proactive compromise with the developers.
Currently, the community is awaiting formal action plans from both the City of Fort Pierce and Kolter Homes. As the Treasure Coast continues to experience rapid real estate expansion, balancing lucrative new construction with the safety, infrastructure, and peace of mind of established local neighborhoods remains a pressing priority for residents and officials alike.
