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Planning board recommends honorary 'Witherspoon Way' for Northwest 12th Avenue
Summary
Planner Shawn Adams asked the board to recommend resolution 108-26 to add 'Witherspoon Way' as a secondary name for Northwest 12th Avenue to honor Reverend Witherspoon; the board unanimously recommended approval but discussed how loose naming rules can create political friction.
The Planning & Zoning Board on June 15 unanimously recommended that the City Commission adopt resolution 108-26 to add "Witherspoon Way" as an honorary secondary name to Northwest 12th Avenue.
Shawn Adams, planner in training, told the board the request (file 699-2026) would honor Reverend Witherspoon, who moved to Delray Beach in 1940, contributed to the local Black community, operated Witherspoon Paving and funded a Primitive Baptist Church on Northwest 11th Avenue. Adams said the Witherspoon family still lives on Northwest 12th Avenue and that Reverend Witherspoon died in April 1988, satisfying the city's five-year posthumous naming requirement.
Board members expressed broad support for honoring a multigenerational local family but raised process concerns. One member said street-naming rules had in the past been "fraught with politics," noting a previous rush of honorary namings that prompted tighter review; another asked whether the family or the CRA had originated the request. Staff said the family initiated the request and the commission directed staff to pursue a naming solution. "I think the Witherspoon family has made amazing contributions for many generations," a board member said during discussion, while another cautioned that the naming rules are fairly loose and could benefit from tightening.
A motion to recommend approval to the City Commission passed unanimously; the recommendation will be forwarded to the Commission, which makes the final decision on street-designation and sign implementation.
