Planning Board delays North Flagler overlay amid resident, developer concerns over height bonuses and submerged land

The West Palm Beach Planning Board voted to postpone consideration of the city-initiated North Flagler Overlay District (code revision case 2506) at its April 15 meeting, citing unresolved technical questions and community concerns about height bonuses, inclusion of submerged land in lot-area calculations, and how incentive payments would be spent.

Rick Green, the city’s development services director, framed the overlay as a staff-driven effort to manage future redevelopment along North Flagler Drive — an area bounded by the northern city limits, North Flagler Drive, the Intracoastal Waterway and Fourth Street — and to regulate building massing, parking and streetscape improvements. “The intent of the overlay is to better regulate future development within this corridor,” Green said. The proposed rules establish a 40-foot base height with a 240-foot maximum, and allow up to 300 feet where applicants qualify for workforce-housing incentives or fund infrastructure improvements.

Senior planner Kevin DeFrank walked the board through the proposed development regulations, explaining that lots 100 feet or less in width would have a maximum floor-area ratio (FAR) of 2.5 and wider lots could have an FAR of 3. The overlay also would require a 12-foot…