Wellington is in line to have more than 200 affordable apartments built at its western edge, thanks to a three-year-old state law being used for the first time ever in the village.
The 2023 Live Local Act
requires local governments to allow the development of multifamily and mixed-used residences in areas zoned for business or industry, even if local zoning laws say otherwise.
No vacant properties existed in Wellington that fell under the scope of the law until 2024, when the village annexed Entrada Acres, a 257-acre area north of the intersection of Southern Boulevard and Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.
Tim Stillings, the village's director of planning, zoning and building, says that the “council was aware of the Live Local Act, but it wasn’t something that was explicitly planned or desired.”
“The intent of the annexation was to have greater control of development in this area,” Stillings said.
At a June 29 meeting, the village staff informed the village council with two projects set to occupy the space: Residences at Country Grove and Residences at Country Landing.
Both are being developed by Georgia-based company NuRock. Each project will cost about $51 million and have 106 units each — 63 two-bedroom/two-baths and 43 three-bedrooms/two baths.
All the units will be affordable, with prices between $1,249 to $2,310 including utilities. None are expected to be sold at market price.
The area is tucked away at the far western edge of the village, near Palm Beach State College's Loxahatchee Groves campus. Within a 10-mile radius, there’s two hospitals and various restaurants, retail stores and schools.
“Given the countywide demand for affordable housing, the location will be a preferred spot for those in the area. There are several employment opportunities,” Stillings said.
The project doesn’t require the council’s approval to move forward. However, it can still vote to waive impact fees and land dedication payments of $943,206 for each residential building.
“While we don’t have a recommendation for a specific amount, we think there’s a merit for some consideration of at least a partial waiver, if not a full one, if that’s the consensus of the council,” Stillings said during the meeting.
At the end of the meeting, another potential Live Local Act project was mentioned for about 10 acres on Rembrandt Road, near the NuRock sites. It would become 212 apartments.
NuRock is still going through approvals of the site plan and is expected to return to the Palm Beach County Commission in August to further discuss financing. The company is hoping to get assistance through the housing bond program.
Palm Beach’s affordable housing bond program, passed in November 2022, allocates $200 million in loans to build workforce housing across the county. It was used recently in a finalized $13 million housing agreement for the Waterview Apartments at Mangonia Park.
The Live Local Act is being challenged legally across the state by multiple cities and counties for violating the Home Rule, or the power of a local government to self-govern.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Wellington to see 200-plus affordable apartments under Live Local Act
