The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) held a workshop in March 2014 to discuss issues and policies affecting the Agricultural Reserve Area, in response to requests by farmers and property owners seeking to expand the development options currently available in the Agricultural Reserve (AGR). The Board heard a presentation on the history of the adopted provisions, the achievement of goals for the area, and the continued economic importance of the AGR. The proposed changes presented in March 2014 on behalf of some farmers and property owners can be viewed here. Following the workshop, the Board directed staff to prepare for a roundtable discussion, to include representatives of interest groups, and to bring the results of the roundtable to the BCC for discussion and direction at a subsequent workshop.
June 2014 Survey
As an initial step in preparation for the interest group meetings, the Planning Division posted a survey regarding the AGR in June 2014. Respondents were asked to provide comments regarding the most important issues or problems to be addressed in the AGR, as well as potential opportunities or solutions, and to identify a primary area of interest. Additional information regarding the survey can be found
here.
August/September 2014 Interest Group Meetings
Using the information provided on the surveys, nine interest group meetings were conducted in 2014. Additonal information regarding the interest group meetings can be viewed
here.
September 2014 Roundtable
The roundtable discussion directed by the BCC was conducted on September 29, 2014. The presentation used by the roundtable facilitator to lead the discussion and record the outcomes can be found
here. An audio recording of the roundtable proceedings can be accessed here.
February 2015 Technical Sessions and Public Comment Period
In follow-up to the September 2014 roundtable, two technical sessions were conducted in early February 2015. These sessions were in response to requests received at the first roundtable for additional information regarding the potential impacts of the proposals and concepts discussed. Staff's presentations from these technical sessions can be found
here.
February 2015 Roundtable
A second roundtable was held on February 17, 2015. The report prepared by the roundtable facilitator can be found here. An audio recording of the roundtable proceedings can be accessed here. In the roundtable process, alternative concepts and proposals were offered by various organizations and interest groups for consideration by the BCC, and can be viewed below. Please not that the County does not verify the information presented within any proposal, and the positions expressed within the proposals are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the County's policy or view points.
Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations (COBWRA)
Alliance of Delray
STAR: Save the Ag Reserve
Forced to Farm PAC
Everglades Law Center
School District
Sierra Club, Loxahatchee Group
Concerned Citizens for Equestrian Rights
March 2015 Board of County Commissioners' Workshop
The results of the roundtable process were presented to the BCC in a workshop session on March 24, 2015. The agenda and meeting videos can be viewed below:
2013-2015 Agricultural Reserve Workshop Timeline
- December 2013: BCC directs staff to prepare a comprehensive workshop for discussion of AGR issues
- March 2014: BCC Workshop, where BCC directs staff to identify and meet with interest groups, conduct a roundtable discussion with representatives each interest group, and return to the BCC in a subsequent workshop for direction
- June-July 2014: Indentification of interest groups through survey process
- August-September 2014: Meetings with each indentified interest group
- September 2014: AGR Roundtable
- February 2015: Technical sessions and second AGR Roundtable
- March 2015: AGR BCC Workshop
October 26, 2021 BCC AGR Workshop
At the May 5, 2021 Comprehensive Plan hearing, the Board of County Commissioners directed staff to hold a workshop to discuss agriculture in Palm Beach County and address industrial future land use designations in the Tier and discuss the concept of higher density with workforce housing in the Agricultural Reserve Tier.
December 15, 2021 BCC Zoning Hearing - Planning Director Comments
At the request of the Board at the October 26, 2021 AGR Workshop, Planning Division staff presented a proposal by GL Homes regarding the Indian Trails Grove (ITG) approval and the Agricultural Reserve (AGR) Tier. At the Agricultural Reserve Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Workshop on October 26, 2021, the Board directed staff to meet with GL Homes and return with a presentation on the proposal. The GL Homes proposal would allow for the transfer of units from ITG to AGR, allow for preservation of land in ITG for additional AGR development, and allow the additional preserved land within ITG to be used for agriculture or for a water resources/management purposes. The concept proposed by GL Homes consists of the dedication of 1,600 acres within the ITG site to the County for water resources in exchange for the relocation of residential development potential to a new development within the Agricultural Reserve.
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