Planning board recommends annexation, land‑use and zoning changes for Chickasaw Road enclave

The City of Greenacres Planning & Zoning Board recommended approval June 12 of a city‑initiated Future Land Use Map amendment and a companion rezoning for the Chickasaw Road enclave, a roughly 9.75‑acre group of 16 parcels surrounded by Greenacres.

The board’s action sets the stage for the properties to be annexed through an interlocal agreement with Palm Beach County and for the city council to adopt the future land‑use and rezoning following county approval. Assistant Director Gianni Gallier presented the staff report and recommended approval.

The proposal would change the enclave’s designation from the current Palm Beach County “low residential” (allowing up to 3 units per acre) to the City of Greenacres “residential low” (allowing up to 5 units per acre) and zone the parcels to the city’s RL‑3 district. Gallier said the change is intended to integrate the enclave into the city’s land‑use and zoning framework after annexation and that the plan and rezoning “meet the state statute requirements and the city's comprehensive plan requirements and the city zoning code requirements.”

Gallier told the board the total area is 9.75 acres with 16 parcels now developed mostly with single‑family homes. He said the site currently contains 16 single‑family homes and that, under current county build‑out assumptions, the parcels could yield up to 29 single‑family residences; under the proposed 5 units per acre designation the theoretical maximum increases to 48 units. Gallier and other staff emphasized that any future development would require separate site‑plan review, traffic approvals and other concurrency determinations before additional housing could be built.

Board members asked about notice to nearby property owners, traffic impacts and whether property owners had requested annexation. Staff said owners were not the initiators; the annexation is being pursued because the area is surrounded by the city and because an interlocal agreement with Palm Beach County is in process. Gallier said property owners within 300 feet received mailed notice and that staff had met with homeowners previously about Chickasaw Road improvements; one board member asked that the city consider certified mail or other signed‑receipt methods to ensure receipt of notices.

The board held the required separate public hearings on the future land‑use amendment and the rezoning. Hearing no public speakers, the board voted to recommend approval of both items. The city council previously approved the interlocal agreement on May 19; the annexation will go before the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners on July 8, after which the council is expected to act on the recommendations.

The board’s votes were taken by voice; no roll‑call tallies were read into the record. Staff noted the Development Review Committee had reviewed the request and offered no outstanding comments.

The board discussion also noted neighborhood attributes and constraints. Members and staff discussed traffic access from Chickasaw Road and existing uses on some lots (storage of boats, vans and equipment behind homes), and reiterated that the current approvals modify land‑use and zoning only — not any immediate development plan — and that site development proposals would return to the board for review.

The board passed both recommendations during the meeting’s public‑hearing agenda. The actions will now follow the agreement and county approval steps required for annexation and local adoption.

Ending: The board closed the matter and moved on to the next public‑hearing items on the agenda.