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Planning board asks staff for map of vacant commercial/industrial lots to curb potential warehouse growth
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Summary
Board members requested a map of vacant parcels zoned commercial or industrial between Bahama/Barack Obama Highway and Congress Avenue (including MLK and Blue Heron) to explore zoning changes and owner outreach aimed at preventing warehouse development next to residential areas; staff agreed to prepare materials and suggested a workshop.
Board member James Gallen asked the Riviera Beach Planning & Zoning Board on March 26 to obtain a map identifying vacant parcels zoned commercial or industrial west of Bahama/Barack Obama Highway to Congress Avenue so the board can consider land-use changes to discourage warehouse development near homes.
"All I want is the vacant properties that are listed as commercial and industrial," Gallen said, urging staff to present the list so the board can act before developers submit applications.
Gallen and other members said the community does not want additional warehouses adjacent to residential areas, and they asked staff to show which parcels are vacant, what the current zoning allows, and whether changes could be made or owners approached. Curt Thompson (staff) said he could pull up a map after the meeting and staff indicated they can prepare materials and bring the topic to a workshop.
Board members identified the review area as extending from Barack Obama Highway (east) to Congress Avenue (west), Blue Heron to the south and Seward Beach Road to the north, and they also asked staff to include parcels along MLK Boulevard where vacancy was reported. Members discussed convening a workshop within the next month to review the land-use map and possible zoning revisions, and to consider outreach to property owners before permits are filed.
Staff cautioned that property owners retain rights and that zoning changes may require owner engagement or a formal plan amendment; board members noted impact fees and prior developer funding as potential levers to track. Staff and Curt Thompson agreed to provide the requested maps and to explore whether a CRA list or other city records could identify relevant funds and prior actions.
The board asked for a workshop to review potential options to make it more difficult for warehouses to be built on remaining vacant property and to coordinate that work with the forthcoming comprehensive plan map updates.
