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Hundreds of Loxahatchee Groves residents urge council to reject proposed RV-park zoning change
Summary
More than 300 residents, represented at the Sept. 3 meeting, urged the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council to deny a proposed zoning change and large RV park project, citing safety, traffic, property values and environmental concerns; the council took no final zoning action that night.
LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, Fla. Sept. 3 More than 300 residents have signed a petition opposing a proposed zoning change and a large RV park project, a resident representative told the Town Council at the meeting Sept. 3.
Ally Daley told the council she spoke on behalf of "over 300 residents of our small town of just 3,500 people united in opposition to the proposed zoning change" and asked the council to "reject this proposed zoning change, this project, and to protect the rural heart of Loxahatchee Groves and our town charter." Daley said speakers had prepared a document outlining safety, environmental and property-value concerns; she also said the developer had offered $500,000 for infrastructure, which she said would primarily serve the RV park.
Several residents described incidents they said were tied to transient occupants and rental properties. Teresa Beresford, who identified her address on Citrus Drive, described a predawn SWAT raid "right across the street from me" and said repeated short-term rentals had contributed to safety concerns. Phyllis Manilla and other residents said they had observed unfamiliar vehicles, people and rented RVs in their neighborhoods.
Common concerns raised by speakers
- Safety and policing: Residents described suspected criminal activity near unvetted rentals and expressed frustration at limited local law-enforcement presence.
- Traffic and infrastructure: Speakers said a large RV park would increase traffic, noise and wear on local roads and could exceed the town's infrastructure capacity.
- Property values and community character: Several speakers cited the town charter and said the proposed zoning change would threaten the town's rural, equestrian character; one speaker cited studies suggesting nearby RV parks can depress adjacent property values by 10 to 15 percent.
- Environmental risks: Speakers raised concerns about wetlands, protected species and potential impacts to canals and aquifers. Ally Daley and others referenced local studies alleging the development would damage rare wetlands on the site.
What the council did
No zoning decision was made at the Sept. 3 meeting. Members of the public asked the council to deny the proposed zoning change; one resident offered to provide the council a research packet for review. When asked, the council received the petition and public comment but did not vote on the underlying rezoning ordinance that night.
Context
Speakers repeatedly urged the council to honor the town charter and land-use plan that prioritize rural residential and equestrian lifestyles. Some speakers also faulted what they described as a small set of outside consultants and lobbyists working on behalf of developers, and they asked the council to limit or halt grant or lobbying activity that they said could lead to land-use changes.
Ending
The council did not take legislative action on rezoning at the meeting. Residents said they will return to the council for upcoming hearings and will submit written materials to the record.
