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Neighbors urge county to oppose rezoning of 1580 Prairie Road over traffic, wildlife and community-impact concerns
Summary
Residents told the Palm Beach County Commission during public comment that Elite Capital's plan for a 69‑unit apartment complex at 1580 Prairie Road would harm neighborhood character, increase traffic, affect schools and disturb wildlife; county staff said the application is under review and public hearings will be scheduled.
Several residents addressed the Palm Beach County Commission during public comment to urge officials not to rezone 1580 Prairie Road from single‑family to multi‑family residential. Michael Watson, who said he has lived in Palm Beach County for 75 years, called the proposal a "strong opposition" and said the project would undermine neighborhood character and home values while adding roughly 140 vehicle trips if the 69 units average two cars per household.
"Rezoning to a multifamily apartment complex would dramatically reduce the property values of existing homes," Watson said, adding that Prairie Road and nearby intersections are already congested during rush hours.
Neighbors told the commission the developer, identified in a community meeting as Elite Capital and Company Limited, gave inconsistent information about whether rezoning was required and provided no rent or unit‑mix pricing at a recent public meeting. "They lied to us," said Ashley Ricker, who lives at 1584 Prairie Road next door to the site. Ricker and other commenters said the parcel has been a church site since 1961 and that the property hosts wildlife, including two bald eagles.
Carol Tignasi, who reviewed the developer's application, said the developer presented traffic impacts as minimal at a community meeting but that the application contained a much larger projected traffic increase — a discrepancy she asked the county to investigate. Robert Wood, another nearby resident, challenged a private traffic study by Pinder Troutman Consulting and asked the county to perform a second analysis during peak season and school session, arguing that the initial study was conducted during slow months and underestimated impacts.
Opponents raised additional concerns about school‑impact assessments, emergency‑service strain and the effect of added vehicles on transit and school bus routes. Some speakers suggested the parcel remain a place of worship instead of becoming an apartment complex.
County staff told the board the comprehensive‑plan amendment and zoning application are in review; hearing dates have not been set and signs will be posted and property‑owner notifications sent once the public‑hearing schedule is established. Staff said the process will include planning commission and zoning commission hearings before any county commission action.
No formal vote or decision on the rezoning occurred during the meeting. Commissioners did not take immediate action; Commissioner Flores, responding to earlier public comments, cautioned against disparaging renters during the discussion.
