Updates from Knight Kiplinger
Start of Construction Underway at Newfield
Jan. 31, 2022
Five years after Knight Kiplinger presented his vision for Newfield to the citizens of Martin County, and more than a year after the county commissioners approved the Master Site Plan for Phase 1, construction work began last fall and is moving forward.
But don’t go looking for new houses yet, because the early work is almost invisible–the laying of pipes for public water and sewer, fire hydrants, conduit for telecommunications lines, etc. Then comes the creation of stormwater retention lakes, waterways, grading for the town center, and the laying out of streets, blocks and village greens.
“I’m pleased that so many local folks are enthusiastic about Newfield and impatient for it to get underway,” Kiplinger says. “But I remind them of how long it takes to build a high-quality new town–not just the government review and approvals, but the careful design and engineering of the community. And after homebuilding begins, it will be a gradual, decade-long build-out.” The utility work is the first, vital infrastructure for a new town, and it’s progressing west along Citrus Boulevard, from Citrus Grove Elementary and Park, almost two miles to where the town center will start to grow next year. After the utility trenches were filled and sodded over, the only indication of completed work are the new yellow fire hydrants of Martin County Utilities.
Following plans done by Shaun MacKenzie of MacKenzie Engineering and Planning, Inc., of Palm City, the work is being performed by Felix Associates of Stuart, one of numerous regional contractors that bid on the Newfield infrastructure. “We were pleased to select Felix for several reasons,” said Knight Kiplinger. “They have a great reputation, are local, and were able to assure us they could get the piping, which is in short supply during this national construction boom.”
The utility work, in the broad right of way of Citrus Boulevard, is not disturbing the current agricultural operations of Newfield, some of which will continue after the new town is built, since agriculture will be a key component of the Kiplinger vision.
Tommy Smith’s herd of cattle are watching the work along Citrus, where pastures will remain at Citrus and Boat Ramp Avenue as part of the Newfield Master Plan and its 2,000+ acres of open space (some 70% of the total acreage). Farmer John Long, of Agri-Gators, Inc. who grows potatoes on leased land at Newfield, will complete this winter growing season before his acreage is reduced next year by grading for the town center.
Kiplinger and Commissioner Ed Ciampi, whose Palm City district will include Newfield, recently spoke to Jon Shainman of Channel 5 WPTV (NBC in West
Palm Beach) about the start of construction. (Construction moving forward on Newfield development in Martin County (wptv.com)) During the interview, a curious alligator did some sunbathing along one of the current ag canals.
Almost all of the new town will arise on former farmland north of Citrus, not on the natural lands–slash pines, saw palmettos, sabal palms and prairie–south of the boulevard, which will be preserved forever (and traversed by trails) in the Kiplinger Conservancy. In the far northwest corner of the Conservancy, there will be a gopher tortoise sanctuary where tortoises removed from other development projects will be relocated.
After the utilities are completed shortly, work will begin on creating a network of waterways–connected lakes and canals for visual beauty, recreation, and stormwater retention during rainy seasons. The fill from digging the waterways will raise the level of the new town center a few feet. The first of these lakes will be north of Citrus, and some will eventually be dug on part of the open land south of Citrus, across from the new town.
While all of this is going on, Knight and his team are advancing the design of new county playing fields and the look of the town center, with its mix of various housing types and neighborhood retail.
For the economic vitality of Martin County, there is considerable market interest in Newfield’s light-industrial land that lies along the Florida Turnpike, called Martin Enterprise Park. It will be attractive to a variety of employers and their business needs, ranging from warehouse space to research & development and light manufacturing.
An equestrian future for Palm City’s Newfield community
Mar. 23, 2021
Master Site Plan For Newfield Phase 1 Approved By Martin County Commissioners
Dec. 15, 2020
FAQs about a Community Development District (CDD)
Dec. 11, 2020
Newfield Advances to BOCC Hearings Dec. 8 and Dec. 15
Nov. 30, 2020
Announcing NEWFIELD…the first town at Pineland Prairie
March 3, 2020
Local Planning Agency again grants strong support for Pineland Prairie
July 17, 2018
Leading planning organizations praise Pineland Prairie as setting ‘new bar’ for future projects
June 21, 2018
Pineland Prairie has recently received high praise from leading planning organizations, the Martin County Commission and public commenters. Please click here to read the latest published reviews and access short video vignettes regarding our plans for Pineland Prairie. Read more >>
Amendments to Enable Pineland Prairie Earn Unanimous Approval
March 2, 2018
In its first public governmental review, Pineland Prairie earned a 5-0 vote of approval from the Martin County Local Planning Agency. The proposed land use and text amendments necessary to implement the new compact, mixed-use community – which also received positive comments from the county’s planning staff – will now advance to the Martin County Commissioners for consideration. Read more >>
Pineland Prairie is Profiled in Stuart Magazine
January 12, 2018
My vision for Pineland Prairie is the cover story of this month’s issue of Stuart Magazine. I was gratified to read so many positive citizen comments about our planning concepts and environmental features. It sounds as if many of our fellow Martin County residents think it’s time for this kind of community, which will add a new dimension to the wonderful lifestyle choices that exist in our county today. To read the story, please click on the following link, which will take you to the Stuart Magazine website. Read more >>
The Plan for Pineland Prairie
September 22, 2017
Please click on the title above, or go to the new tab under “The Plan for Pineland Prairie” in the toolbar above. What follows is a description of the preliminary plan for this new community for submission to the Martin County government. Read more >>
The Large Land Area of Pineland Prairie
September 6, 2017
Please click on the title above, or go to the new tab under “A Special Property” in the toolbar above. What follows is some analysis of how big Pineland Prairie is compared with other places you know about Martin County. Read more >>
Population Densities around Martin County
September 6, 2017
Please click on the title above, or go to the tab under “Envisioning its Future” in the toolbar above, to see how communities around our county rank by their population densities. (You might be surprised!) Read more >>
New Towns That I Love
August 18, 2017
Please click on this title (or the new tab under “Envisioning its Future” in the toolbar above) to see photos of some wonderful new communities in the Southeastern United States with characteristics I’d like to emulate at Pineland Prairie. Each in its own way, they’re creating a special “sense of place” that’s missing in conventional suburban development (“sprawl”). Read More >>
What I’m Hearing from the Community
July 1, 2017
Please click on this title (or the tab “Comments from Citizens” in the toolbar above) to read summaries of comments that have been sent to this Web site and that I’ve heard at citizen meetings and individual appointments in recent months. This input is providing me with valuable insights into our county’s needs and how this project might help meet them. Many citizens’ suggestions are now being incorporated into our design of Pineland Prairie. Read More >>