Zoning panel backs 15‑acre preserve swap in Ag Reserve amid farmer access concerns

The Palm Beach County Zoning Commission on Thursday recommended approval of companion applications to move a 15‑acre preserve designation within the Ag Reserve, a swap tied to the Ascot 441 Atlantic Preserve PUD and the Neal property.

The proposals would remove a 15‑acre preserved designation from the northwest corner of Atlantic Avenue and State Road 441 and assign a 15‑acre preserve to a mid‑block parcel between Boynton Beach Boulevard and Hypoluxo Road. The applicant said the swap would square off preserve parcels and place preserved land where it connects to an existing 90‑acre preserve rather than at a busy intersection.

The applicant, Doug Murray of WGI, told the commission the request is a preserve swap only and that “there's no intent for any development in the near future.” He said any future development would require a separate zoning and land‑use application and additional review.

Despite staff recommending approval subject to conditions, several commissioners flagged traffic and agricultural access concerns. One commissioner said limiting access from Atlantic Avenue could force farmers to use State Road 441 for north–south movements, increasing hazards for slow‑moving equipment. Another commissioner noted that much of the 441 frontage falls within a deceleration and right‑turn lane, complicating future entrance design.

Murray said the applicant would address access and preserve configuration when a future development application is filed, adding that the applicant could consider retaining a western portion in preservation or otherwise providing access from Atlantic Avenue at that time.

After discussion, the commission voted to recommend approval of item 5 (the Ascot 441 DOA and rezoning request) and item 6 (the Neal property rezoning). The record shows at least one commissioner opposed item 5 during debate; the commission then approved item 6 as well.

The swap will proceed to the Board of County Commissioners where the Board will take the final action required for abandonment and other Board‑level decisions cited by staff. The staff report concluded the requests met the Unified Land Development Code standards subject to conditions.

If approved by the Board of County Commissioners, the change would not itself authorize development; any building, site‑plan or access changes would require later approvals and permitting.

Details recorded in the hearing included an applicant acknowledgement that the current farm operations lease the affected 15‑acre parcel, and staff and commissioners noted a county cap on commercial square footage in the Ag Reserve that currently limits near‑term development options.

The hearing record shows no public cards submitted for items 5 or 6 and the applications were presented as companion items.