STUART — A proposed $200 million business and housing development here gained steam Thursday followed by an emotional reaction by the property owner.
Mario Murgado took a moment to gather his emotions after the Local Planning Agency recommended the City Commission approve his proposal. It’s unclear when the commission will consider it.
“I appreciate the support to move to the next step,” Murgado said, adding that he is trying to please everyone who might be affected by the project while taking care of business, too.
Details of the project
Murgado is partnering with real estate developer Jay Jacobson to bring three luxury car dealerships, 249 apartments, possibly a Starbucks, as well as commercial space to about 35 acres on U.S. 1 between Southeast Indian and Southeast Pomeroy streets.
Murgado already owns the Audi, Maserati, Infiniti and Alfa Romeo dealerships in Stuart. Jacobson is co-founder of Eden Multifamily, a residential development and investment firm with offices in Miami and Charlotte.
Two items were before the Local Planning Agency Thursday. One was a land-use change on about 23 of the 35 acres. The second was consolidating another 12 acres with the 23.
Business owner Mario Murgado speaks to members of Stuart’s Local Planning Agency on March 13, 2025, about his plans to bring new car dealerships, 249 apartments and other commercial space to 35 acres between Southeast Indian and Southeast Pomeroy streets.
The land-use change was recommended for approval by a vote of 4-1, with Vice Chair Deanna Peterson opposed.
Local Planning Agency member Werner Bols was absent.
Some criticism
“There’s nothing coastal” to this, said Peterson in one of her critiques, referring to how the project fails to fit in with the character of Stuart as a small coastal town.
Murgado and Jacobson, consequently, must change the design to fit with the local landscape, a condition of the Local Planning Agency’s approval. A second condition of approval is for them to meet again with residents of Willoughby Golf Club, which is just west of the proposed project.
Stuart already has enough apartments and other housing, she said, and new city commissioners elected in August are opposed, to at a minimum, to apartments.
And some excitement
But Local Planning Agency member Margaret Bromfield was excited about the project “because here is someone who wants to develop and provide housing and not just another storage unit,” she said.
Stuart Local Planning Agency members Lance Vogl (left), Vice Chair Deana Peterson, Chair Kelly Laurine, Ryan Strom and Margaret Bromfield at a meeting March 13, 2025, at City Hall.
“Still talk with Willoughby and see if there are other accommodations that you can do,” she instructed Murgado and Jacobson. “But I think if we are reasonable, a lot of thought was put into this,” she said, “Making a walking space, having a nice layout.
“We complain all the time that we need housing in Stuart,” Bromfield said.
More support
Local Planning Agency member Ryan Strom also was supportive.
Willoughby residents have been concerned that apartment tenants could see into their homes, an issue Strom felt was adequately addressed in the latest design of the project.
Willoughby residents also are concerned about noise from the apartment community affecting their play on the golf course, and Strom said he thought the design addressed that, too.
“Of all the iterations (of this project) I have seen,” Strom said, “this is by far the best.”
Traffic will be less than for big-box retail store, Strom said. A big-box retailer once was proposed at the same location.
Murgado’s reputation preceded his involvement in Stuart years ago, added Strom, who was impressed then and remains so, he said.
“Here we have a group that’s willing to invest a significant amount of money for the city of Stuart in a very unique way and style,” he said.
Allowing higher buildings than a previous limit is something he is willing to do, he said.
Another vote
Consolidating the two parcels also was recommended for approval by a 3-2 vote, with Peterson and member Lance Vogl dissenting.
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What goes in the commercial space had Vogl concerned because any type of business — such a paint store — could sign a lease, he said.
But Murgado guaranteed no paint store would be leasing commercial space there because it’s important who his neighbors are. His investment in Stuart’s Audi, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Infiniti stores was $400 million, he said.
Keith Burbank is TCPalm’s watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com and at 720-288-6882.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: $200 million auto dealership proposal for Stuart gains traction