Palms West Hospital seeks tier change for 18.85-acre site near Loxahatchee Groves

The Palm Beach County government meeting held on March 15, 2025, focused on a significant proposal regarding an 18.85-acre site owned by Palms West Hospital. The site, located in the rural tier north of Southern Boulevard and west of Crestwood Boulevard, is surrounded by the town of Loxahatchee Groves, the village of Royal Palm Beach, and the village of Wellington.

The primary agenda item was a request for a tier change from rural to urban suburban. This change aims to create a consistent tier designation across the land owned by the hospital, which includes the main hospital campus to the east. The proposal also involves revisions to two maps in the comprehensive plan: one to redesignate the site's tier and another to depict it as an urban service area.

Historically, in February 2006, the board had approved a future land use designation change for the site from rural residential to institutional and public facilities to facilitate hospital expansion. However, the site has remained vacant due to challenges associated with having two different tier designations. Recently, the board approved a rezoning for the site to institutional and public facilities, allowing for the addition of 36 hospital beds and surface parking.

The county's managed growth tier system, established in 1999, aims to protect livable communities and direct future development. It consists of five tiers, with the urban suburban tier expected to accommodate 90% of the county's population and associated services. In contrast, the rural tier supports large lot residential development with limited commercial activity.

The proposed tier change would significantly increase the development potential of the site, allowing for nearly 370,000 square feet of development compared to the current 82,000 square feet limit. Although no buildings are proposed at this time, the change would enable future development in line with the existing hospital site.

The staff report confirmed that the tier change meets the necessary policies outlined in the comprehensive plan, including contiguity to the urban suburban tier and compliance with state definitions of sprawl. The proposal was deemed compatible with adjacent uses and met all level of service standards, pending a condition of approval.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the importance of the proposed tier change for the future development of the Palms West Hospital site, aligning it with the county's growth management goals and enhancing the potential for expanded healthcare services in the area.