With one vote Wednesday, the Palm Beach County Commission finally can end the most significant threat that the Agricultural Reserve Area has faced.
Before the commission is GL Homes’ request to build 1,277 homes on roughly 600 acres north of Stonebridge Country Club at State Road 7 and Clint Moore Road. The site, known as Hyder West, is on the southeast edge of the reserve—22,000 acres west of Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach that make up the last coastal farm belt in South Florida.
Rules designed to limit development in the reserve prevent GL from building on Hyder West. So, the company proposes giving the county 1,600 acres it owns near West Palm Beach in return for permission to build those 1,277 homes. GL then would build about 1,300 fewer homes on that northern land.
Every conservation and community group remains opposed to the swap, as they have been since GL concocted the idea several years ago. In their memo recommending that the commission reject the proposal, county planners echo public fear of the commission setting this precedent.
Under current rules, developers only can transfer land within the reserve and must preserve 60 percent of development sites. That restriction helps to minimize the overall number of homes. Approving a swap from outside the reserve would lead to almost unlimited development, which would drive out most—if not all—of the remaining agriculture.
GL already has built roughly 10,000 homes in or near the reserve. The company is offering this deal because, as county planners note, there are “few parcels remaining” for development within the reserve—unless the rules change.
For GL, the return would be impressive. The 1,000 market-rate homes on Hyder West would sell for more than $1 million each. Compared to what GL would charge for the northern homes, the company could make at least $500 million more in revenue, by most estimates.
To make the deal seem good for the public, GL proposes to build a $150 million water project on part of that northern land. Among other benefits, GL officials say, the project would direct water to the Loxahatchee River.
In addition, GL would build 277 workforce housing units on Hyder West and donated 25 acres for a park. Another donation would provide land for a synagogue. To anyone who doesn’t understand the history, the deal might sound tempting.
Former County Commissioner Karen Marcus is president of Sustainable Palm Beach County. She understands the history.
Marcus was in office in 1999, when voters taxed themselves $100 million to buy land within the reserve. That purchase became the county’s promise to prevent the reserve from becoming just more suburban sprawl.
Giving in to GL, Marcus said, would be “terrible.” She also notes that the company already must provide conservation benefits on that northern land. Seen in that context, the water project shrinks in value. Marcus said the county has other options for improving water supply. County staff also point out that the benefits of the project are uncertain, as are the prospects for securing the permits.
Last September, GL Homes asked to delay a planned vote on the swap because the company seemed likely to lose. Since then, the seven-member commission has gained three new members. Two of them, Sara Baxter and Marci Woodward, spoke against the swap when they were running. Woodward represents Boca Raton and Delray Beach.
When we spoke last week, Marcus reiterated nothing in this proposal would benefit the Agricultural Reserve Area. Despite two decades’ worth of attempts to weaken the rules, county planners state that the county is “approaching fulfillment of the development pattern” that voters asked for 24 years ago. All the county commission needs to do is affirm that public trust.
Delray to discuss CRA changes
At today’s meeting, the Delray Beach City Commission will discuss two major changes to the city’s community redevelopment agency.
One would eliminate the CRA board’s two appointed members. Instead, the board would consist only of the mayor and the four commissioners. The other would create a five-member advisory committee, with each elected official getting to appoint one member.
In April 2018, shortly after Shelly Petrolia became mayor, the commission abolished the seven-member, appointed board that had been in place for decades. It happened without the item being on the agenda.
Debate about that action “hasn’t stopped,” Commissioner Ryan Boylston said. Some residents have wanted the commission to restore the independent board. City Attorney Lynn Gelin, though, believes that isn’t possible.
Gelin cites a 2019 advisory opinion from the Florida Attorney General’s Office. It states that once a commission has acquired oversight of a CRA, the commission can’t give it away.
But some residents like the idea of community involvement, to provide guidance and establish priorities for the board. Thus the idea of the committee. “If we can’t go back to the old board,” Boylston said, “What’s Plan B?” He said the committee might meet “six times a year.”
Comment about the CRA since 2018 often has divided along the lines of Delray Beach’s political factions. And there would be a political element to cutting the appointed positions.
Doing so would remove Petrolia ally Angie Gray from the board. Gray ran unsuccessfully for the commission this year, with strong support from Petrolia.
Though no vote is scheduled for today, Boylston said, “I’m pretty sure we will provide direction.”
Site plan for Alexan Delray
Also on today’s agenda is the site plan for Alexan Delray, a 267-unit apartment complex on South Congress Avenue.
The commission already approved changes that would allow the project on a roughly seven-acre site in an industrial area. By a vote of 3-2, the commission rejected a recommendation of denial from the planning and zoning board.
Though rules allow up to eight stories, Alexan’s buildings would be five stories. According to the staff memo, there are still questions about the color and design of those buildings. This will be the first significant residential project to go before the new commission after the March election.
Delray’s golf course back on agenda
Also on today’s packed agenda is the proposed public-private partnership to renovate Delray Beach’s golf course. After more than a year, the lame-duck commission delayed a decision in March.
Three bidders remain from the six that applied to build on a portion of the course in exchange for financing that renovation. Commissioners have said that they do not intend to spend city money on the course.
Angela Burns and Rob Long, who just joined the commission, seemed cool to the partnership during their campaigns. If the commission kills the idea, developing an alternative plan for the course may fall to the residents who spoke out against the partnership during four public meetings.
Delray Beach awarded Blue Flag designation
Delray Beach has received recognition for what officials always call the city’s most valuable asset—its beach.
According to a news release, the beach is one of two in the United States to get Blue Flag designation. The program, which began in Europe 36 years ago, is overseen by the Foundation for Environmental Education.
Applicants must meet roughly 30 criteria related to the environment, safety and accessibility. Recommendations go to an international jury, which awarded the designations last month. Delray Beach will raise its Blue Flag during a ceremony at 9 a.m. on May 19. On the beach, of course.
