Zoning commission recommends approval for 101-unit affordable housing project with worship space, approves parking waiver

Seventh at Haverhill, a proposed five‑story, mixed‑use development of 101 affordable housing units and a 5,000‑square‑foot place of worship, won recommendation from the Palm Beach County Zoning Commission on a class A conditional use and a concurrent type 2 waiver to reduce required parking.

The project team asked the commission to increase the property's allowable density from its current High Residential (HR) 8 designation back to HR 12 and to allow transfer of development rights beyond the two units per acre limit. Meredith Lay, agent with Schutzen Bowen, representing the applicant, said, "We are seeking to increase the density of the property to allow, high residential 12 units an acre." She told the commission the plan includes 101 multifamily units and a 150‑seat worship space and that the development would provide a mix of on‑site recreational areas and upgrades to aging infrastructure.

The developer is requesting both a density bonus under the Affordable Housing Program and a type 2 parking waiver. "Our project is offering or, to be affordable at a 100% a 100% of the units affordable at 60% or below," Lay said, referencing the project's pledge to make all units affordable at or below 60% of area median income. Lay also described the parking request and cited recent county changes: "Earlier this year, the BCC passed an ordinance to allow a reduction a further reduction in, parking for affordable housing pro projects."

Why it matters: the commission's recommendation moves the application forward to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) for final action on the land‑use change and related text amendments. If adopted by the BCC, the project will add a…