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Palm Beach Gardens adopts citywide mobility plan and new mobility fee on first reading
Summary
Council approved Ordinances 3 and 4 on first reading to adopt a citywide mobility plan and updated mobility fee schedule, including a recommendation to find extraordinary circumstances and implement fees effective Aug. 5, 2025.
The Palm Beach Gardens City Council on April 3 approved on first reading a citywide mobility plan and accompanying mobility fee schedule meant to replace fragmented east/west schedules and county road impact fees within city limits.
Staff and consultant presentations from the planning department and New Urban Concepts outlined the plan’s scope, project priorities and fee methodology. The mobility plan expands the city’s 2019 east‑side system to citywide coverage (excluding Alton and Avenir PCDs, which retain proportionate‑share agreements). The plan provides multimodal projects (roadway, bicycle, pedestrian, transit) intended to improve connectivity, close key sidewalk and bicycle gaps and support transit-oriented development in the TOD district.
Jonathan Paul, principal of New Urban Concepts, summarized key calculations: the proposed citywide mobility fee is assessed per 1,000 square feet (examples given by staff include roughly $2,800 per 1,000 sq ft for single‑family calculation and an average ~$10,000 for a 3,500 sq ft home); multifamily and commercial rates were discussed in the technical report. Staff recommended a finding of extraordinary circumstances so the council could adopt the fully calculated fee rather than apply statutory caps that would limit increases and require phasing.
Council members asked how the effective date and applicability will be determined for projects in the pipeline; staff clarified the new fee will apply at the time a building permit is issued and that the anticipated effective date is August 5, 2025. Staff also explained that a portion of collected fees will need to be set aside for improvements to county‑maintained facilities and that the city intends to pursue interlocal agreements with Palm Beach County for joint projects.
The council voted 5–0 to approve Ordinance 3 (first reading) and Ordinance 4 (adopting related LDR amendments and findings) and closed the hearing. Because the measures passed on first reading, staff noted there will be a second reading and additional opportunities for questions before fees become final.
Next steps: second reading in May, follow-up work on interlocal agreements with Palm Beach County and implementation planning leading to the anticipated Aug. 5, 2025 effective date for the fee schedule.
