Treasure Coast Sun

HOBE SOUND, Fla. - Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21) has addressed a letter to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and its Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC), concerning the proposed development at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. In his correspondence, Mast emphasizes the necessity for a transparent public comment period that ensures all community voices are heard.

“My current understanding of the process is that the entirety of the decision to move forward with this development comes down to a vote by the members of FDEP's Acquisition and Restoration Council. Ahead of the vote, the citizens of my community will have the opportunity to make their voices heard during a public comment meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 27, 2024,” wrote Congressman Mast. “Currently, not one of the ARC's 7 voting members is scheduled to be in attendance at this meeting. Instead, a ‘subject matter expert’ is slated to speak. This individual is not a member of the ARC and will not be casting a vote in favor or in opposition to moving the development proposal forward.”

“The absence of the ARC members at this public comment meeting will deprive them of the ability to hear from the actual public about the impact their decision will have on our community. It also gives the appearance of a box-checking exercise to citizens who deserve to have their voices heard by actual decision-makers,” continued Congressman Mast. “The proposal to open any state park in Florida for development is first-of-its-kind. It would be negligent for ARC members to vote on this proposal without being eye-to-eye with people actually impacted. The Treasure Coast and Palm Beach communities merit attendance by every ARC member at the public meeting scheduled for August 27, 2024.”

Congressman Mast urges FDEP to require every voting ARC member's presence at an upcoming public comment meeting regarding this project.