The West Palm Beach Planning Board on Dec. 16 voted unanimously to recommend City Commission approval of major amendments to the Keiser University Community Service Plan Development (CSPD). Attorney Heather Allen presented changes to campus land‑use designations (adding dormitories, classrooms, a student union and aquatic center in specified campus areas) and a modification to campus parking regulations to better reflect observed demand.

Allen told the board that an on‑campus parking study showed peak observed parking demand of 670 spaces, far below the 1,118 spaces that would be required by the city code as‑written for 1,088 full‑time on‑campus students. The applicant and its traffic consultant selected a planning metric of 0.7 parking spaces per full‑time on‑campus student and added a 10% mitigation buffer; the amendment also requires that the applicant commission an updated parking‑demand study if full‑time on‑campus enrollment reaches 1,400.

“We landed on 0.7 parking spaces per full‑time on‑campus student,” Allen said, describing the study methodology. Staff recommended approval with minor wording edits to make clear that the 1,400 threshold is measured in full‑time on‑campus students, not total enrollment. Kevin DeFrank, senior planner, told the board staff found the amendment met the applicable code standards and recommended approval.

Board members praised the applicant’s data and the built‑in review trigger. The Planning Board passed a motion recommending City Commission approval with the staff’s modified condition wording.

The recommendation moves the matter to the City Commission for final action; staff will prepare the final resolution and conditions for commission consideration.