Highland Beach planning board pauses comprehensive-plan recommendation to revise build‑back, housing and transportation language

The Town of Highland Beach Planning Board on July 10, 2025 continued its public hearing on proposed updates to the town’s comprehensive plan and directed staff and the planning consultant to return at the board’s Aug. 14 meeting with proposed language changes that reflect the board’s concerns about build‑back/density, affordable housing requirements, references to assisted‑living or small markets and language encouraging transit on A1A.

The planning board took that step after a presentation by Town Planner Ingrid Allen and consultants from INSPIRE Placemaking Collective, who summarized a package of edits produced through the required evaluation and appraisal review (EAR). The board’s action pauses a formal recommendation to the Town Commission so staff can prepare specific revision language.

Ingrid Allen, Town Planner, told the board the amendments come from an EAR prepared with INSPIRE and that the changes include a new data-and-analysis section, an updated map series, revisions to goals, objectives and policies, and an extension of the planning horizon to 2045. Emily Agaravere of INSPIRE said, “The amendments presented today extend the plan to the 2045 planning horizon,” and outlined the three-part process of data and analysis, revised…