Council approves series of land‑use, zoning and development measures across Palm Beach Gardens
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Summary
At its Sept. 4 meeting the council approved multiple ordinances and resolutions — including small‑scale comprehensive plan amendments, zoning changes, a voluntary annexation, and site‑plan approvals for Avenir and Panther National — mostly on unanimous votes.
The Palm Beach Gardens City Council approved a slate of land‑use and development items Sept. 4, voting unanimously on multiple ordinances and resolutions that affect zoning, annexation, platting procedures and several projects in the Avenir and Panther National communities.
Ordinance 8‑2025: The council adopted a small‑scale amendment to the comprehensive plan to change roughly 11.61 acres within the Donald Ross Village PUD from commercial to mixed‑use. The clerk read the ordinance and staff reported no changes since first reading.
Ordinances 9 and 10‑2025: Council approved a land‑use amendment (Ordinance 9) and a companion zoning change (Ordinance 10) for the Gardens Learning Center (1.46 acres) to resolve internal consistency between land use and the existing zoning and use. Natalie from planning reiterated that the petition is housekeeping in nature, that no site plan changes are proposed and that the height allowance remains the same. Janet Caganski, vice president of the Horseshoe Acres residents association, told the council she and her board had previously objected to a 2019 rezoning effort and warned of potential value loss to an adjacent 1.8‑acre residential lot if future development changed the context; staff responded that any future site‑plan or new development would return to the city for approval.
Ordinance 13‑2025: Council approved on first reading a voluntary annexation of a 0.4‑acre parcel on US‑1, supported by staff findings that the parcel meets Chapter 171, Florida Statutes criteria and planning and zoning recommendations.
Ordinance 14‑2025: Council approved first reading of land development code amendments to implement recent state legislation on plat review and administrative approvals, including designating Planning & Zoning as administrative authority for plats and the city manager as administrative official for plat approval; the changes also shorten review timelines and update several technical provisions.
Resolution 64‑2025: Council approved architectural elevations, floor plans and landscaping for Longview at Avenir Pod 10 (230 single‑family lots), including five home models and multiple color palettes.
Resolution 65‑2025: Council approved a site plan for Phase 1 of the Panther National lifestyle center — roughly 11.5 acres of open space and a racket center with tennis, pickleball and padel courts, a tot lot and restroom building. The applicant said the plan provides 20 vehicle parking spaces and 28 golf‑cart spaces.
Most items were recommended by staff and unanimously approved 5–0. Where neighbors raised objections (notably on Ordinance 9), council and staff clarified that current actions were limited to plan or zoning changes and that any future development proposals would be subject to subsequent review and public hearings.
