The Palm Beach County Zoning Commission on a voice vote recommended approval of two companion applications to swap a 15-acre preserved parcel in the Agricultural Reserve, allowing that acreage to be released from preservation and adding 15 acres of preserve elsewhere.

The package before the commission included a rezoning request (PDD/DOA) to add 15 acres to the Ascot 441 Atlantic PUD and a separate rezoning request for the Neal property. Doug Murray of WGI, representing the applicant team, said the proposal would remove the preserved designation from the southern 15 acres at the northwest corner of Atlantic Avenue and State Road 441 and assign a like-sized preserve to a mid-block 15-acre parcel closer to Boynton Beach Boulevard and Hypoluxo Road.

"We're not proposing any development," Murray said, adding that any future development would require returning to the commission for zoning and land-use approvals. He told commissioners the swap would better align preserved lands with existing larger preserved tracts and intersections where future commercial demand might be concentrated.

The commission discussion focused on farm access. One commissioner said the swap as drawn does not provide access from Atlantic Avenue to the northern parcel and warned that farmers currently using Atlantic to move equipment could be forced onto busy State Road 441, increasing safety and turning difficulties for large tractors.

Murray responded that, while there is no site plan now, he "can agree verbally that we're gonna address that and have an keep an access off of Atlantic Avenue that would go up to the farming operation" if and when the property returns for development review. He also said some western portions of the parcel could remain preserved in a future application to protect farming access.

County staff recommended approval, finding the application met Unified Land Development Code standards subject to the listed conditions. The commission voted to recommend approval; the record shows at least one commissioner voted in opposition during the motion on item 5. The motion passed and the companion item (item 6) subsequently was recommended for approval as well.

The commission did not record a roll-call vote in the public transcript excerpt; staff will forward the recommendation and conditions to the Board of County Commissioners for final action on any land-use changes and the requested partial release of conservation easement.

Charges or future commitments on access, site configuration, or preservation mix will depend on conditions attached in later hearings and any site plan review when and if an applicant submits a development proposal.

Ending: The items move next to the Board of County Commissioners for final action and any required changes to conservation easements; the applicant said it will address access and preserve configuration during any future development review.