Juno Beach council approves $125,000 contract with Treasure Coast for master plan after narrow 3–2 vote

The Juno Beach Town Council voted 3–2 to engage the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council to prepare a master plan and associated market study at a cost of $125,000. Council members who supported the contract said the work will produce a market and demographic profile and generate code-change recommendations to preserve the town’s character while informing future land‑use decisions. "We want to keep Juno Beach Juno Beach," Council member Diana said, urging work to "preserve the character and charm" and to address condominium redevelopment and potential teardowns.

Treasure Coast representative Dana Little told the council the proposal includes public outreach, a real‑estate market study and recommendations for code and comprehensive‑plan changes. He said the market study’s core findings would be presented at the first workshop in March and that the full plan would complete on the schedule shown in the proposal. "Without the vision the plan provides, you don't know where to go," Little said, describing the master plan as a process for identifying shared community values and translating them into code and design strategies.

Opponents warned the council had received the proposal only days earlier and said the scope and timing needed more review. Mayor Wheeler and others pressed for more detail on whether the scope would include infrastructure and traffic analyses; Little said a separate infrastructure impact analysis could be added but may increase cost, and that the market study itself focuses on economic and demographic characterization. "I want to get it right — this is a lot of taxpayers’ money," one council member said, noting the budgeted amount and a preference to resolve scope questions before authorizing work.

Councilmember (mover) made the motion to proceed with Treasure Coast at $125,000, amended to add beachfront condominium redevelopment language and to use the name "community vision and master plan;" the motion was seconded and passed on roll call 3 to 2. The council directed staff to finalize the interlocal agreement and to bring back any cost changes if expanded scope is requested. Staff and the consultant will return with a refined scope, a schedule for public workshops and a plan for the market study presentations.