The Palm Beach County Commission is expected to vote for a proposal on Thursday, July 30, that would break up preservation areas in the Ag Reserve, making it easier for developers to buy smaller farm properties in order to fit in more housing development.
Ag Reserve supporters fighting to save farmlands held a protest rally in front of the Palm Beach County Government Center Tuesday, July 21, to urge the commission to vote against the “contiguity” changes next Thursday. (Read the motion here.)
If there is anytime to show up and request commissioners vote down this proposal, it is now.
Although this would be the first vote and the adoption vote would be on October 26, a county commission approval now would give the proposal undesirable momentum.
The law pertains to Agricultural Reserve 60/40 planned residential developments, which are required to set aside 60 percent of their land for preservation. Currently the plan requires preservation parcels less than 150 acres in size to be contiguous to other preservation or conservation areas of 150 acres (or which together total 150 acres).
The restriction enforcing contiguous preservation areas was designed to preserve large, continuous swaths of lands, which are more amenable to farming, crop rows, wildlife corridors and open space for drainage areas. Removing the “contiguity” requirement for parcels smaller than 150 acres would allow preservation areas to be isolated into piecemeal areas to accommodate surrounding development.
County staff has given the Commission its approval.
However, the Palm Beach County Planning Commission was so disturbed by the “contiguity” proposal for the Ag Reserve that on June 12 it voted unanimously – 12 to 0 – to withhold its recommendation.
The county planning staff has justified its approval for the board of county commissioners with an 18-page report . If passed, the contiguity change would affect owners of about 133 parcels, most under 10 acres, and make 1041 units available for development, according to the report.
Giant developer G.L. Homes, which has already built several thousands of homes and is planning on adding more in the Ag Reserve, is lobbying the government to ensure votes for the change.
Aligned with G.L. Homes is a group of smaller-farm owners who wear orange shirts at pivotal government workshops and public hearings printed with “Forced to Farm.” At the last workshop in March, 2015, some owners directly told commissioners they would like to see the Ag Reserve go away altogether.
Tell Commissioners to vote “NO” to the ‘contiguity’ rule change at the public hearing July 30.
If you are among the 67% of county residents who voted for the bond referendum for the express purpose of preserving farmland in the Ag Reserve from development sprawl, your voices are needed now!
Please tell your commissioners to vote “No” on this rule change and show up if you can before 9:30 a.m. on the morning of July 30 at the 6th floor of the Government Center, West Palm Beach.
If you can’t attend, please let each commissioner, for the record, know that you – the people – know what is happening and do not want to see the Ag Reserve further undermined by removing the contiguity requirements for preserve parcels less than 150 acres in size. Ask to postpone discussion until after the United Way report on hunger and also for a NO vote
EMAIL PBC MAYOR SHELLY VANA TO VOTE NO on CONTIGUITY CHANGE FOR THE AG RESERVE
EMAIL COMMISSIONER HAL VALECHE TO VOTE NO on CONTIGUITY CHANGE FOR THE AG RESERVE
EMAIL COMMISSIONER STEVE ABRAMS TO VOTE NO on CONTIGUITY CHANGE FOR THE AG RESERVE
EMAIL COMMISSIONER PRISCILLA TAYLOR TO VOTE NO on CONTIGUITY CHANGE FOR THE AG RESERVE
EMAIL COMMISSIONER MELISSA McKINLAY TO VOTE NO on CONTIGUITY CHANGE FOR THE AG RESERVE
EMAIL PBC VICE MAYOR MARY LOU BERGER TO VOTE NO on CONTIGUITY CHANGE FOR THE AG RESERVE
EMAIL COMMISSIONER PAULETTE BURDICK TO VOTE NO on CONTIGUITY CHANGE FOR THE AG RESERVE
UnitedPBC appreciates that Commissioner Burdick is a frequent supporter of environmental issues and of people who will be impacted by a development. Of the seven-member commission, Burdick is often the lone dissenting vote opposite a pro-developer voting bloc.