The county has postponed its Jan. 9 Roundtable on development in the Ag Reserve to February 17, 2015. It also canceled the pre-Roundtable staff sessions that had been set for mid-December.
The staff sessions will discuss important details and technical information pertaining to the next Roundtable discussion. Sessions had not been re-scheduled yet. The county cited conflicts for the date changes.
GET ON THE AG RESERVE LIST
County staffer Mario Bell distributes news on the Ag Reserve meetings to people who have signed up as being interested in what is happening on the Ag Reserve. You can contact Mario at [email protected] or at 4-5314, or contact Isaac Hoyos at [email protected] or 4-5347, should you have any questions.
BACKGROUND
The Board of County Commissioners held a workshop in March, 2014, at the request of certain farmers and property owners who wanted to expand their options for development in the Ag Reserve. Following its workshop, the Board directed staff to prepare for a ’roundtable’ discussion among representatives of interest groups, to include the farmers, property owners (including major housing developer GL Homes which already had extensive developments in the area). Environmentalists and civic groups committed to preserving the Ag Reserve were invited to sit down with the developers and farm owners to explore conflicts and areas of consensus. The county hired a consultant to conduct these “Roundtable” discussions and then report back to them so the commissioners could discuss it again. The previous Roundtable was held on September 29, 2014. See opinion in Palm Beach Post
Local Roundtables have also been held by civic groups and communities.
For reference: 2000 Ag Reserve Master Plan PBC Planning Report
[Post Updated Dec. 24.]