On this episode of The Current by TreasureCoast.com, Michael Mortell, City Manager of the City of Stuart, joins us to talk about urban planning, public perception, and what shapes Stuart’s future.

Mortell shares how his long career from private attorney to city commissioner, city attorney, and now city manager gives him a unique view of how policy is implemented and how local government functions. The conversation covers zoning, land use rights, Brightline, traffic infrastructure, the impact of state mandates like the Live Local Act, and public misunderstandings around Stuart’s development.

Mortell also unpacks misconceptions surrounding projects like Costco and local population growth, highlighting the difference between perception and reality in civic development. The episode offers a grounded perspective on how growth is managed, how Stuart fits into a larger regional forecast, and why infrastructure decisions made decades ago still shape today’s outcomes.