The Palm Beach County Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of a proposed Unified Land Development Code revision to define freestanding emergency departments (FSEDs) and to adopt related use and parking standards.

Brian Terry of Insight Studio, representing ACA (the initiative’s applicant), told commissioners the change responds to a regulatory gap and would create a specific FSED use under medical office designations with tied criteria. "The purpose and intent here is really just to create FSED, freestanding emergency departments, as a use specifically defined within the code," Terry said, adding that FSEDs must be associated with a hospital and provide the same services as an emergency department but do not provide long‑term inpatient care.

Terry and staff described three primary code changes: moving definitions for urgent care and ambulatory surgical centers into Article 4, establishing an FSED use classification under medical office uses, and adjusting the parking table and screening standards to reflect the new use. Staff said they coordinated the revisions with county agencies including the health department, county attorney, planning, engineering and fire departments.

During questioning, staff clarified that discussions with fire officials meant the county cannot restrict first responders from using lights and sirens. Brian Seymour, attorney for the applicant, said HCA facility data indicate ambulance arrivals to FSEDs average "a little over 1 per day," explaining that first responders typically transport the most critically ill patients to full‑service hospitals.

Board members asked how 24‑hour operation would work in commercial zones with existing limitations. Staff replied that operators seeking to run an FSED 24/7 within 250 feet of properties subject to local operational restrictions would need a waiver from the Board of County Commissioners or would have to amend a PUD’s conditions before operating 24/7.

A motion to recommend approval of the ULDC revision carried on an affirmative vote. Acting in its capacity as the Land Development Regulation Commission, the body also voted that the proposed revision is consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan.

The recommendation advances the ULDC amendment through the county’s public review process; any applicant proposing an FSED will later be subject to applicable site plan, compatibility and permitting reviews.