City of Palm Bay Awarded $100,000 Grant from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for ‘The Compound’

Action Plan will focus on the northern segment of 'the compound' at J.A. Bombardier Boulevard

BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA–In August 2024, the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council nominated an area of Palm Bay, referred to as “the compound,” for a planning project under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Land Use Revitalization Technical Assistance Program.

In September, the City of Palm Bay was notified that EPA would fund an Action Plan for “the compound” that incorporates sustainable development considerations to encourage catalytic moves that will stimulate economic growth.

The Technical Assistance provided by EPA Region 4 is valued at $100,000, with no match required by the City of Palm Bay.

In November 2024, the City of Palm Bay, RPC, EPA Region 4, and their consultant kicked off the technical assistance, gathering all data and information related to “the compound,” to be followed by a site visit, calls, and meetings with key stakeholders and large property owners in “the compound.”

The Technical Assistance also includes outreach with key entities to discuss the future of transportation access, stormwater, and utilities, to include water, sewer, and power.

The consultant will seek continued input from the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce, and other economic drivers in the region to identify opportunities and a path for fostering strategic development of “the compound.”

The Action Plan will focus on the northern segment of “the compound” at J.A. Bombardier Boulevard, also known as Port Malabar Unit 53.

WHAT IS ‘THE COMPOUND’?

When General Development Corporation went bankrupt in 1991, development stalled, and the land that makes up The Compound was liquidated. The Compound remains largely undeveloped aside from the roughly 200 miles of roadway installed by GDC.

Today, the area known as the Compound is mostly privately owned and zoned for residential use, although the City of Palm Bay owns the paved roadways. Of the area’s 2,784 total acres, only 235 acres are City-owned.

The area known as The Compound is not zoned as a recreation area open to the public.

The City of Palm Bay officials said that although nearly all of The Compound is privately owned, the area has been increasingly used illegally as a popular spot for outdoor recreational activities.

This misconception has led to an increase in illegal activity in the area. Anyone entering private property without the consent of the landowner is trespassing.

The public may access the City-owned paved roadways; however, all traffic laws apply.

Speeding, racing, driving in an unsafe manner, blocking the roadway, and operating off-road vehicles are all prohibited on City roadways, including those found in The Compound.

Dumping and littering personal trash, yard waste, construction material, or waste of any other kind is also prohibited. Finally, as The Compound is zoned for residential use, shooting firearms is illegal and a public safety hazard.

Dealing weapons in The Compound is especially hazardous as bordering areas, such as the Three Forks Marsh Recreation area, are intended for public use.

Anyone in the area must observe all laws for their own safety and that of others. All violations carried out in The Compound are punishable and may include fines or possible jail time.

The Palm Bay Police Department engages in spot enforcement and public information campaigns to educate those using the area known as The Compound as a recreational site.

The City of Palm Bay will be introducing additional public education materials with the goal of deterring improper or illegal use of properties in the compound and increasing safety awareness.

Educating the community about the realities of The Compound is not only key to public safety, but it also impacts the City of Palm Bay’s first responders.

When incidents such as brush fires, injuries, or accidents occur in The Compound, Police and Firefighters need to be able to reach the call location in a safe and timely manner.

Emergency response times may suffer if routes are blocked by vehicles or debris. The efficacy and well-being of these workers can be compromised by issues like unsafe drivers and firearm use in The Compound.

In practice, The Compound is many things to many people. Many choose to use the area for off-roading, camping, target practice, and a range of other activities.

“The reality of the situation is that there is one thing The Compound is not: a recreational area,” said City of Palm Bay officials on the city website.

“Anyone who chooses to use The Compound for recreational activities is likely in violation of the law and could possibly be compromising their own safety. The City of Palm Bay urges residents and visitors to seek out other sanctioned, authorized venues for outdoor recreation.”

The future of the area, commonly referred to as The Compound, is mainly dependent on the individual landowners.

There are currently no plans to revisit the concept of a large-scale ‘GDC-style’ development at the site. Conceptual plans for a future extension of the St. John’s Heritage Parkway pass through The Compound. However, no final plans have been approved.

Currently, the Florida Department of Transportation is carrying out an Alternative Corridor Evaluation to determine possible alignments for the roadway. Providing the results of the ACE are positive, FDOT will then begin a Project Development and Environmental Study to determine the environmental impacts of the proposed project before any construction can begin.

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