In a 3-2 vote, the St. Lucie County Commission on May 4 denied a proposal by Happy Foods LLC for a conditional use to construct housing for up to 96 migrant citrus grove laborers.
Happy Foods LLC, a subsidiary of IMG Citrus, proposed four 2,930-square-foot dormitory-style buildings on 7.7 acres on Orange Avenue in Fort Pierce. It would have been the largest labor camp in the county.
Each year, 150,000 to 200,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families annually travel and work in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Health (FDOH). The migrant labor camp program currently issues over 700 permits in 33 counties ensuring that 34,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers, and families live in housing that meets or exceeds standards set by law. One of the requirements of the H-2A program is that employers provide housing for the workers that meets the FDOH standards.
“We feel it’s important for us to build housing that would meet the correct standards for our workers. We also believe the best place to do that would be on our property, Happy Foods Grove, a 4,000-acre citrus grove that would also be the primary worksite for these individuals,” says Timothee Sallin, co-CEO of IMG Citrus. “Putting the housing there is a way to simplify things for everyone.”
Those who rejected the project cited the remote location, saying the nearest hospital and fire station were too far away.
“We don’t believe that was the real reason, and we also don’t believe that was a legitimate reason,” Sallin says. “We’re still waiting on the written decision which would include the formal reason for denial.”
According to Sallin, the St. Lucie County Commission is required by law to provide a formal reason for denial. This would identify the specific issues that are not in accordance with codes and regulations.
If IMG Citrus is unable to find a confirmed legal standard for denial, Sallin says the next course of action would be to potentially pursue a reversal of the decision.
“I think that the denial of this project is a clear indication that the St. Lucie County Commission does not support agriculture because it is not something that is unique to our company, but it is a need that all agricultural operations in the state and in St. Lucie County will have,” Sallin says. “St. Lucie County has a long history of agriculture. But based on this particular decision, it seems that they’re turning their backs on the industry, and it’s very unfortunate to see that happen.”
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