City approves Seacrest Sound plan for 89 workforce units, requires permanent affordability

The Boynton Beach City Commission on Tuesday approved a future land use map amendment, rezoning and master plan for a 2.97-acre development on North Seacrest Boulevard that will create 89 workforce housing units.

The project, presented by applicant counsel Bonnie Misko and developer representatives, will convert an LDR (low-density residential) parcel to local retail commercial on the future land-use map and rezone the site to planned commercial development (PCD) with a master plan showing 89 dwelling units, 100% of which the developer and staff said will be income-restricted workforce housing.

The commission’s conditions include recorded deed restrictions, electric-vehicle parking infrastructure, a maximum height and density consistent with the approved master plan, and a public-access easement for the project’s usable open space. During final action the commission required that the deed restriction guaranteeing affordable units be recorded in perpetuity and that any future change to the affordability restrictions would require a supermajority vote of the commission.

Planning staff Louis Bencos summarized the approved conditions, including: “provide 10 EV-ready parking spaces…2 of these spaces should be equipped with level 2 electric vehicle charging stations,” limit building height and density per the approved master plan, require recording of deed restrictions in the public record, and provide a public-access easement for open space.

Developer representative Jonathan Karluk said the team “would agree to having this in perpetuity. It's our intent to build this workforce housing and keep it affordable for Boynton Beach.” Planning Director Amanda Ragan confirmed staff will add the deed-restriction language to the conditions and implement reporting requirements to verify compliance.

Commissioners asked staff and the applicant about enforcement and durability of the affordability commitments. Misko and Ragan told the commission the requirement will be recorded as a restriction and enforced both through the contractual agreement and as conditions of the PCD approval; staff will require reporting so the city can verify that units rent to qualifying households.

The commission approved the two ordinances and the development order in separate votes. The future land use map amendment (Ordinance No. 24-024) and rezoning (Ordinance No. 24-025) each passed on second reading by roll call (yes: Commissioner Hay, Commissioner Cruz, Vice Mayor Kelly, Mayor Taipansurga; one commissioner absent). The development/order and related variance and master-plan approvals were approved by the full commission; council recorded the amendment to the deed-restriction condition on the record before final approval.

The project received support from staff and commissioners as a way to add workforce housing to the city stock; several commissioners said they wanted the restrictions to be as durable as possible. The developer and staff agreed to the commission’s requested language prior to the final vote.

What happens next: the recorded deed restrictions and the development order become part of the official record; staff said they will monitor compliance with the affordability reporting requirements included in the approved conditions.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 24-024 (future land use amendment) — approved (roll call yes: Hay, Cruz, Kelly, Mayor Taipansurga; one absent). Ordinance 24-025 (rezoning to PCD) — approved (roll call yes: Hay, Cruz, Kelly, Mayor Taipansurga; one absent). Development-order/master-plan approval (including variance and recorded conditions) — approved (motion passed unanimously).