Planning commission approves text changes to county Recreation and Open Space element to align with parks master plan

The Palm Beach County Planning Commission approved staff-recommended text amendments to the county's Recreation and Open Space element (ROWS) of the comprehensive plan to align the element with the Parks and Recreation Department's recently adopted parks master plan and to update several policies and maps. The planning commission approved the changes based on staff recommendations; the motion passed unanimously.

The ROWS element, first adopted in 1989 and revised 11 times, had not been updated since 2012. County staff told the commission the changes are largely editorial and policy clarifications intended to reflect the new county parks master plan adopted earlier in the year and to set planning horizons and level-of-service standards through 2045. Planning staff said the amendments revise park-type definitions, update the map series, formalize green-infrastructure goals, and add policies to support long-term maintenance and additional funding avenues such as a newly formed Parks Foundation.

Bob Hamilton, director…