Residents urge county to reject rezoning at 1580 Prairie Road, cite traffic and wildlife concerns

Residents near 1580 Prairie Road urged Palm Beach County officials to oppose a developer’s proposal to rezone the site from single-family residential to multifamily, saying a 69-unit apartment complex would strain roads, lower property values and disrupt local wildlife.

“My name is Michael Watson. I’ve lived in Palm Beach County for 75 years,” Watson said, urging the county to “respect our neighborhood, protect our property values, and preserve our community character” by voting no on the rezoning proposal. He told commissioners the project would add roughly 140 additional vehicles based on two cars per unit and warned that nearby Forest Hill Boulevard and Prairie Road are already congested.

Neighbors who attended a community meeting at the Summit Library described what they said were misleading statements from the developer, Elite Capital and Company Limited, including claims that the land would not require rezoning and that there is no wildlife on the property. “They were unprepared to answer questions like what is the rent cost for each individual unit,” said Ashley Ricker, a neighbor who said the parcel has been occupied by a church since 1961 and that two bald eagles nest nearby.

Speakers pressed county staff to re-evaluate a privately prepared traffic-analysis report. “That report was performed in August, the slowest time of year,” said Robert Wood, who suggested the county should perform a second study during peak season and when schools are in session.

Carol Tignasi and others highlighted vehicle access constraints in the area, noting limited egress routes to Congress Avenue and Forest Hill Boulevard and describing long afternoon commute times on Cherokee Road. Multiple commenters said the developer’s traffic numbers in application materials conflicted with figures shared at the neighborhood meeting.

County staff told commenters the application is in review and that signage and mailed notices to property owners within a 500-foot boundary will be posted when hearing dates are set at the planning commission, zoning commission and, subsequently, the county commission.

Speakers asked commissioners to delay any decision until full public notice and additional traffic analysis are completed; no formal action or vote was taken during public comment.