‘The Compound’ in Palm Bay to Benefit from Brownfields Assessment Grant

“the compound” target area identified in grant

BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The East Central Florida Regional Planning Council received a $1.5 million Brownfields Assessment Grant for use community-wide over four years.

The target area identified in the grant application focused on the area of Palm Bay, which is referred to as “the compound.”

In May, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $300 million in Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup Grants awarded nationwide.

The East Central Florida Resilient Corridors Coalition will administer the grant, including the City of Palm Bay, south Melbourne, Kissimmee, and Apopka – with RPC as the lead agency.

“Brownfields grant funding can serve as a vital economic development tool to foster redevelopment and reuse of key commercial and industrial sites in communities with real or perceived contamination,” said Joan Junkala-Brown, Deputy City Manager.

Grant funds can be used to conduct Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments on identified sites, the cost of which can be a barrier to certain development opportunities.

The Resilient Corridors Coalition will complete an evaluation of proposals from professional consulting firms interested in contracting to assist with implementing the brownfields program under federal regulations.

Following the start of the 2025 calendar year, the City will bring forth a Memorandum of Understanding between the RPC and the City of Palm Bay to formalize the partnership and use of the grant funds.

Following the selection of a professional consultant, the Coalition will kick off grant deliverables, including community engagement opportunities, identification of parcels, collaboration with property owners, site assessments, and other eligible activities.

CLICK HERE for more information as updates become available.

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 safety and that of others. All violations 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 introduce additional public education materials to deter improper or illegal use of properties in the compound and increase safety awareness.

Educating the community about The Compound’s realities is key to public safety and 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 safely and on time.

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 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 be compromising their safety. The City of Palm Bay urges residents and visitors to seek out other sanctioned, authorized venues for outdoor recreation.”

The area’s future, commonly referred to as The Compound, mainly depends on the individual landowners.

There are 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.

The Florida Department of Transportation is currently 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 proposed project’s environmental impacts before any construction can begin.

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