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Developer tells commission units‑per‑acre zoning hinders affordable housing, urges alternatives
Summary
Local developer Christopher O'Brien urged the Palm Beach County Planning Commission to move away from measuring density as 'units per acre' and to consider metrics based on bedrooms or occupant estimates to encourage smaller, more affordable housing types; he offered to consult with staff.
Christopher O'Brien, a developer who said he has worked in South Florida since the 1970s, used the meeting's public comment period to argue that Palm Beach County's reliance on "units per acre" as a zoning metric discourages the development of smaller, more affordable housing types.
"My perception is that the problem is our concept of zoning where we do units per acre," O'Brien told commissioners, saying some international practices measure density by number of bedrooms or projected occupants rather than dwelling units per acre. He described design approaches in Japan that focus on living‑dining‑kitchen (LDK) layouts and smaller units that can be both affordable and neighborhood‑compatible.
O'Brien framed his remarks as a practical suggestion rather than a formal petition: he told the commission he would be willing to meet with staff and share ideas and designs drawn from his experience, including earlier local projects that sought higher-density outcomes while maintaining neighborhood character.
The commission did not take action on Mr. O'Brien's remarks; staff and commissioners moved on to the public hearing on the Bulk Candy Store application. O'Brien closed by offering his contact information to staff for follow-up.
