Commission declares 2410 North Australian Avenue surplus, directs negotiations with adjacent owner for affordable housing

The West Palm Beach City Commission on Feb. 18 unanimously approved Resolution 39-25 declaring city-owned property at 2410 North Australian Avenue surplus and authorizing staff to enter formal negotiations with VDG Land Company LLC for the sale of the parcel.

The action, made during the consent portion of the Feb. 18 meeting, follows a staff presentation that described the site as approximately 1.16 acres, zoned recreation/open space and currently vacant. Jennifer Ferriero, the city’s housing and community development director, told commissioners the parcel contains some underground utilities connected to an adjacent lift station and has overhead power lines that limit standalone development potential. Ferriero said the most feasible path to development is assembling the parcel with adjacent lots owned by VDG Land Company.

The resolution directs staff to pursue direct negotiations with VDG Land Company. Ferriero said staff would seek to ensure a “significant number of the units on the site are set aside for affordable and/or workforce housing purposes for a minimum of 30 years,” that utility easements would be recorded to permit burial of utilities and right-of-access, and that the city might retain ownership of the parcel area occupied by the lift station.

City code requires that city-owned property be declared surplus before staff may pursue disposition. Ferriero told the commission that under the city’s code of ordinances (section 231) staff must declare property surplus and select a method of disposition before entering negotiations. The commission voted to adopt the resolution without discussion; the clerk announced the motion carried unanimously.

The resolution does not finalize a sale. Terms of acquisition, final unit counts, exact affordability levels, developer obligations for easements and utility relocation, and whether the lift-station parcel will be retained by the city were not specified at the meeting. Ferriero said those issues would be addressed during negotiations and a future agenda item if a purchase agreement is prepared.

The commission took no public testimony on the item and no amendments were offered. The resolution’s adoption initiates staff negotiations only; any resulting sale or required land-use approvals would return to the commission for formal action.

Notes: The property was described as approximately 1.16 acres; existing conditions discussed include an adjacent lift station, sanitary sewer connection, and overhead power lines. The staff presentation identified VDG Land Company LLC as the adjacent interested owner and stated affordability covenants of at least 30 years would be sought if the site is developed for workforce/affordable housing.

Ending: Staff will proceed with formal negotiations under the direction approved by the commission and will return with proposed sale terms and any related land-use or easement matters if and when a purchase agreement is reached.