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County begins plan amendment process for Liberty Airport Center after applicant cites Rivian interest; commissioner raises EV fire-safety concerns
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Summary
The board initiated a privately proposed comprehensive-plan text amendment to add an economic development center designation for the 68‑acre Liberty Airport Center to allow vehicle repair/maintenance uses; the agent said the step is initiation only, and Commissioner Flores raised safety concerns about electric vehicle battery fires.
The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners voted to initiate a privately proposed comprehensive-plan text amendment for the Liberty Airport Center that would add an economic development center (EDC) designation to language covering the site.
Jordan Sperling, agent for the applicant, told the board the request is limited to initiation of a comprehensive-plan text amendment and does not include site plan, operational, or final approvals. Sperling described the 68-acre Liberty Airport Center (Southern Boulevard at North Jog Road) as an existing developed center and said the proposed change would pair an EDC designation with industrial uses to allow vehicular-based commercial uses, including repair and maintenance that would support online sales and service operations. He noted Prologis represents the property owner and that Rivian, an electric-vehicle manufacturer, has sought a Palm Beach County location to better service customers.
"Today, we're requesting, just initiation of a privately proposed comprehensive plan tax settlement for Liberty Airport Center. That's all that it is today," Sperling said, emphasizing the board’s future discretion on approvals.
Commissioner Weiss said he had discussed the project with the applicant and described the use as economic development with automotive-related preparation activities. Commissioner Flores said she supports small business but urged caution: she raised life-safety concerns about electric vehicle batteries and said firefighters have told her those batteries can be "extremely hard to shut off" if they ignite. Flores said she was willing to initiate the text amendment but wanted assurances that the proposed use would fit the location and that safety issues would be examined.
Josh Nichols of Schmidt Nichols was introduced to provide a short presentation; the agent and staff reiterated the request is an initiation of a text change meant to address an unintended policy restriction and is not a site-specific operational approval.
The board voted to initiate the amendment (motion to approve made by Commissioner Weiss, second by Vice Mayor Woodward) with the initiation step advancing the process to subsequent hearings where site-specific review and further community input will occur.
