Community

M Ranch is committed to being a good neighbor and working with nearby residents and property owners to address concerns they may have. 
 

Buffering

Various buffers will be created and maintained throughout the property to create visual screening and reduce noise:

  • The entire mine operation will be surrounded by a sodded berm, and the Carlton Road frontage will further buffer the site with a sodded berm and additional 4 to 6-foot landscape/ tree/shrub buffer to obscure the site and enhance dust control.
  • There will be an additional 200-foot setback with 51 acres of land separating the mining operation from the surrounding agriculture community.
  • The mine operation will use a private, improved agricultural Haul Road between Carlton Road and Glades Cutoff Road to avoid the use of public roads. The Haul Road will be buffered along the south side with a sodded berm and a 4 to 6-foot-tall hedge, along with 12-foot-tall native trees and palms, where it abuts existing residences and commercial uses within 200 feet, in compliance with St Lucie County Code. 

 

Dust Abatement

Control of dust is a high priority for M Ranch and several measures will be undertaken to ensure minimization of dust:

  • A Wet Mining process will be used to extract the shell rock, which will significantly reduce dust.
  • The main Haul Road will be constructed of asphalt millings and buffered along the south side with a sodded berm and 6-foot-tall landscape hedge, along with 12-foot-tall native trees and palms, where it abuts any residential property and commercial uses.
  • Landscaping will be irrigated, and the road will be watered as needed.
  • The stockpiling area will be located on the farthest southwesterly corner of the site, over 2,000 feet from Carlton Road and away from adjacent residential uses.

 

Effect on Traffic Flow

With all the development already approved in St. Lucie County, there is a significant need for the fill material that would be mined at M Ranch.

  • The materials from M Ranch mine are expected to be transported short distances (less than 10 miles) to local construction sites along Glades Cut-Off Road and Range Line Road.
  • Glades Cut-Off Road will be the main entrance for the mine operation. Trucks will move the product across M Ranch on a private Haul Road and exit onto Glades Cut-Off Road, closest to the construction sites using the materials.  This design was intentional to keep traffic out of the agricultural community along Carlton Road.
  • Safety precautions include a manned scale house and gates at the crossing of Carlton Road.
  • A traffic analysis shows that the roadway capacity on Glades Cut-Off and Range Line roads will not be adversely impacted and will continue to operate at an acceptable level of service.
  • A majority of truck traffic generated from the proposed M Ranch mine will be replacing existing truck traffic on St. Lucie County roadways currently transporting fill from mines outside the area.
  • Once mining operations cease (after approximately 7-10 years), truck traffic will subside as the site transitions into a Water Reclamation area.