The Planning Commission voted to initiate a dedicated Resiliency Element to the Palm Beach County Comprehensive Plan, a staff proposal intended to consolidate climate adaptation and mitigation objectives and to align county departments on resilience priorities.

Dessie Koceras, resilience and sustainability analyst in the Office of Resilience, summarized the proposal’s five key strategies: adaptation, mitigation, sustainable development, social equity and regional collaboration. The Office of Resilience noted its creation in 2018 and said the new element would be grounded in the county’s 2024 climate vulnerability assessment, the regional climate action plan and other existing research.

Commissioners asked about how the element would interact with emergency management and with department‑level implementation (building, transportation, stormwater). Megan Houston, resilience director, and staff said the initiation phase is intended to identify overlaps and to coordinate with departments so that the final text is actionable and avoids duplication. Commissioners asked about economic impacts, incentives versus mandates, and whether disaster resilience (including emergency management coordination) would be covered; staff said initiation is the first step and that cost, regulatory changes and interdepartmental responsibilities will be evaluated during drafting.

Commissioner Ankur Patel moved to initiate the Resiliency Element; Commissioner Glenn Groman seconded. The motion passed with a majority; Commissioners Penny Pompey and Brian Stenberg voted no on initiation.