Palm Beach Gardens council opposes county plan to route Seminole Pratt Whitney Road through Avenir

The Palm Beach Gardens City Council unanimously approved a resolution March 6 opposing a Palm Beach County presentation that showed Seminole Pratt Whitney Road running through the Avenir planned community. Planning and Zoning Director Natalie Crowley told the council that Avenir’s master plan and the county/TPA long‑range plans do not call for routing the county road through Avenir Drive and that the city supports the alignment shown in the Transportation Planning Agency’s documents.

Crowley reviewed the history of Avenir’s master plan and traffic studies, and noted that Avenir was approved in 2016 with design features — including roundabouts and a 56‑foot right‑of‑way for Avenir Drive — consistent with a neighborhood road rather than a major county thoroughfare. She said the TPA’s adopted long‑range plans (2040/2045/2050 exhibits) show an alignment outside Avenir and that recent county slides presented to the public suggesting a meandering alignment through Avenir were misleading. “This resolution indicates the city supports the approved alignment of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road as depicted on the TPA 2050 plan,” Crowley said.

During public comment, residents and regional officials expressed concern and support. Rebecca McKeach, a longtime resident near Holly Drive, backed the city’s action but criticized the council for past decisions she said prioritized newer developments over older neighborhoods. Sarah Baxter, Vice Mayor of Palm Beach County, said she personally supported the city’s resolution and favored the TPA alignment that avoids running traffic through Avenir.

County staff provided a written request to postpone the resolution for additional city–county staff discussions; the county letter noted that TPA exhibits are planning tools and that the county’s TIM map and capital program remain the authoritative docket for right‑of‑way. County staff also asked staff‑level coordination to resolve misunderstandings.

The council’s resolution urges Palm Beach County to proceed with the TPA‑adopted alignment outside Avenir, accelerate North Lake Boulevard improvements included in the county CIP, and oppose any plan to use Avenir Drive as an alternative alignment. The motion passed unanimously.

Next steps: city staff said they will continue coordination with county and TPA staff on the long‑range plan and construction scheduling.