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Planning board backs Riviera Beach Housing Authority plan for four income-restricted units; funding and parking draw questions
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval of a site plan from the Riviera Beach Housing Authority for four two-bedroom, two-bath affordable units, funded with roughly $460,000 in county gap financing and subject to a 50‑year income restriction at 80% AMI.
The Riviera Beach Planning and Zoning Board voted unanimously to recommend City Council approval of site plan SP-24026, a proposal by the Riviera Beach Housing Authority to build four income-restricted multifamily units at a vacant lot on West Blue Heron Boulevard.
Principal planner Kurt Thompson presented the site plan. He said each dwelling unit would be roughly 900 square feet (two bedrooms, two baths), the lot size is approximately 7,840 square feet, and the project includes six parking spaces (one ADA space, four spaces at a one-to-one ratio for dwelling units and one visitor space). Thompson told the board the site has a downtown mixed-use future land-use designation and downtown general zoning.
Thompson said Palm Beach County provided about $460,000 in gap financing for the development and that, as a condition of the funding, all units will be set aside for households at or below 80% of area median income (AMI) for 50 years. He cited the 2023 area median income figure of about $62,152 and an 80% threshold of $49,721 as the target for affordability.
John Hurt, executive director of the Riviera Beach Housing Authority, and Jeffrey Jackson, chair of the Housing Authority board, described the units as two-bedroom, two-bath energy‑efficient walkups with a planned six‑month construction timeline and said most units developed by the authority will remain affordable for at least 50 years. Hurt said the authority’s mission is to provide “quality affordable housing at all levels” and said the project is part of a broader pipeline of small infill developments.
Board members pressed staff and the applicant about parking, drainage and traffic. Several board members expressed concern that six parking spaces may be insufficient for four two‑bedroom units, and asked whether handicap‑accessible units would be included. The Housing Authority said one unit would be designed to be “handicap ready” and convertible to full accessibility if required. Staff said drainage and stormwater calculations will be reviewed and confirmed during the building permit process and that the project falls under a county traffic exemption that does not require a traffic study. Thompson said a building permit will not be issued without required permitting from South Florida Water Management District or the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Board member Brown said he supports the project and noted the need for additional affordable housing in the city; the board then voted to recommend approval, unanimously.
Speakers recorded in the transcript for this item include Kurt Thompson (principal planner), John Hurt (executive director, Riviera Beach Housing Authority), Jeffrey Jackson (chair, Housing Authority), board members and staff.
