A workforce housing project in the Agricultural Reserve, west of Boynton Beach, is moving forward after the developer agreed to a series of concessions sought by residents of neighboring Valencia Reserve.
The builder, West Boynton Ranches, scaled back the project to 198 housing units from 259, a 24% reduction and less than half of what was initially proposed two years ago. Valencia Reserve is an upscale 55-plus community bordering the project.
“We fought this for more than two years, but after meeting recently with the developer, Valencia Reserve can now support the project,” David Schulson, a Valencia Reserve spokesperson, said at a county commission meeting Wednesday, Aug. 26.
At one point, the builder submitted plans that could have resulted
in a massive mixed-use development that included a Costco retail outlet. That plan was abandoned after strong opposition developed throughout the neighboring communities.
To win support of Valencia Reserve, the developer also agreed to end a tree farmer’s lease, lower the height of the four-story buildings, plus add a six-foot wall, a 25-foot buffer and a three-foot berm. It also agreed to install flat roofs.
Valencia Reserve residents were concerned about the tree farmer's use of a road, and how that would impact an already traffic-congestion problem on Boynton Beach Boulevard that would only get worse after the apartment complex is built.
Did developer's concessions to Valencia Reserve, oppositiong go too far?
Some county commissioners thought the builder gave up too much.
Both Marci Woodward and Joel Flores lamented the loss of the tree farm. Woodward noted that the county’s goal is to support agriculture in the Ag Reserve.
“And now we are going to lose a tree farm to appease a community,” she said.
Flores said it was “unbelievable” what the builder had to go through to gain the community’s backing.
But Commissioner Gregg Weiss said that is how the process is supposed to work. He added the commission has always urged developers to work with nearby communities to address their concerns before their projects are brought to the commission.
“That is what happened here,” Weiss said.
The apartment complex would be built In the Ag Reserve on a 32-acre tract designated for essential housing, a category created to provide homes for workers and moderate-income earners. The site is on the south side of Boynton Beach Boulevard and about one-quarter mile west of Lyons Road.
The applicants need the county's approval of a zoning change for the project to move forward. The commission voted Aug. 26 to transmit the plans for state review. The builder is expected to appear before the commission in December to seek final approval.
More than 20% of the apartments will be income-restricted for workforce housing.
Lauren McClellan, the applicant’s agent, said the Ag Reserve urgently needs this type of housing. Several housing advocacy groups, including the Housing Leadership Council, support the project.
McClellan noted that nearly all of the homes built in the Ag Reserve are high-end residences that sell for more than $600,000, well out of the reach of teachers and first responders.
Schulson noted that traffic congestion was still a concern that needs to be addressed. Boynton Beach Boulevard cannot currently handle rush hour traffic, he noted.
Last year, the county Planning Commission rejected the project noting then that it was too dense and the height of the buildings should be reduced.
That is exactly what the builder did.
Mike Diamond is a journalist atThe Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Ag Reserve housing project advances after compromise with neighbors
