Builder Wants to Build 1,140 Homes Near Lyons Road.
BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
DELRAY BEACH, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — G.L. Homes, the increasingly controversial company behind The Bridges, Seven Bridges, Boca Bridges, Lotus, Dakota, the Valencia communities, and more, wants to build another 1,140 homes roughly a mile south of Boynton Beach Boulevard on Lyons Road. The plot — which is in the Agricultural Reserve — seems to cross the line between unincorporated Delray Beach and unincorporated Boynton Beach.
G.L., who months ago was denied permission to build another community west of U.S. 441 and Clint Moore Road, is now focused on what’s known as the “Whitworth AGR-PUD,” according to documents reviewed by BocaNewsNow.com. Commissioners initially gave G.L. Homes permission to build 481 units. The company is now seeking permission to nearly triple that number. Staff members for the Palm Beach County Zoning Board have initially told commissioners that the request should be approved. A vote is expected during Wednesday’s meeting at Thursday’s meeting at 2300 North Jog Road in West Palm Bach at 9 a.m. Here’s the language filed by G.L. Homes, operating as “Boynton Beach Associates By G.L. Homes.”
“The proposed application is for the Whitworth AGR-PUD Development. The development was originally approved by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) on September 29, 2021, for a rezoning to the Agricultural Reserve Planned Unit Development (AGR-PUD) with 277 dwelling units. The BCC approved modifications in January 11, 2023. The request proposes to modify the overall Master Plan by rezoning and adding land area (417.52 acres) and residential units (481 units) for a total of 1,140.03 acres and 1,140 units. In addition, the request includes a Full and Partial Releases of Conservation Easements for previously approved Preserve Parcels that will become part of the Development Area.
The Preliminary Master Plan indicates 9 Residential Pods, 2 Civic Pods, and associated water retention and landscape buffers. The development includes 682.50 acres of Preserve Area and 455 acres of Development Area. Access to the Development Area is from State Road 7 and Lyons Road.”
Homeowners and environmental supporters reaching out to BocaNewsNow.com say G.L. Homes needs to stop its decimation of the Agricultural Reserve, an area that was long ago set aside as an agricultural zone that was supposed to be used only for farming and farm-related activities. But G.L. Homes over the past two decades has convinced Palm Beach County Commissioners to let it build in the Ag Reserve — first between Clint Moore and Atlantic, then between Atlantic and Boynton Beach Boulevard. The company has built approximately ten communities with thousands of homes valued at more than $1M.
It appears the Palm Beach County Zoning Commission, which ultimately reports to the Palm Beach County Commission, is poised to approve the request to build 1,140 new homes. The proposed name of the new community is unknown at this time, G.L. Homes tends to recycle old names into something new. The Bridges evolved into Seven Bridges and Boca Bridges. There are multiple “Valencia” varieties. And no one seems quite sure how Lotus became “Lotus Edge,” or what exactly a “Lotus Edge” is. That community is being built on Lyons Road near Glades.
The Palm Beach County Zoning Commission’s staff says the plan should be approved with just a few adjustments. What are your thoughts on the plan for more building in the Ag Reserve? Share your comments, below.
What’s the value of having an Ag reserve if the zoning commissioners completely ignore the value of having the reserve. The reserve was obviously set up for an environmental purpose which is slowly but surely disappearing. What is GL going to do for the county for allowing it to build new communities. Will it contribute to the cost of maintaining extra fire and police? Widen roads? This is a political give away with no reliable oversight. Additionally, the cost of these homes far exceeds the cost that most current residents of PBC can afford. This perk is for out of state residents who want to move to Florida and avoid paying income tax.
They need to stop the building on Lyons Rd between BBB and Atlantic Ave. Traffic is terrible and infrastructure doesn’t accommodate for it!! Enough is enough! Let GL build somewhere else!!
More development rights in the Ag Reserve or even the properties themselves, were sold to G.L. Homes, who is simply playing musical chairs. It’s not the same situation as last year, where they wanted to transfer development rights from The Acreage to build more in the Ag Reserve. I think the bigger issue is all the parcels with sold development rights and conservation easements restricting them to agricultural or environmental uses, are being used as truck storage lots or quasi-industrial uses, which is not agriculture-related and disastrous for the environment.
Gl homes and the commission should think about building affordable housing for our growing population we don’t need 1441 new multi million dollar homes on our land reserved for agriculture. It’s obscene in this state people need affordable housing.
That is crazy we have so much Tragic already. Boca Raton was so beautiful 20 years ago. Sorry it is not that great today.
That is crazy we have so much Tragic already. Boca Raton was so beautiful 20 years ago. Sorry it is not that great today. As well Delray Beach & the surrounding area.
Building is progress, and I have no problem with that. But not requiring this massive builder to contribute to the surrounding infrastructure is ridiculous and a political giveaway. I live close by, and nowhere else I have lived in this country, has a local and state government not required a developer to contribute something to infrastructure.
I totally agree that GL should contribute to the infrastructure . We who live on Lyons road have all the dirt dust and inconvenience during building stage. Plus traffic needs to be addressed as commissioner Maria Saks has been asking for.
I have no problem with GL building more homes but before the first home is built let GL PAY and do the work to widen Lyons Road
Enough is enough already. GL Homes are decimating our area. The remaining preserves and farmlands should most definitely be protected. These builders only care about their bottom line not the environment. They do not contribute to infrastructure and we, the taxpayers, once again pay for big corporations who do not pay their fair share. Once these preserves and farmland are gone, they are gone for good, never be able to be replaced again. They are essential to keep the ecosystem going. Shame on the politicians who are most likely lining their pockets with each and every variance they agree to give and destroy what is left of our precious green space.
Totally agree
Totally agree. Vote out these commissioners.
As the commissioners allow more building they increase impervious surface area and increase the risk of flooding. They don’t seem to have any notion of open space and environmental conservation. They allowed prior development without making GL widen Lyons Road or provide proper lighting on Lyons (all well within their ability to do).
The addition of 1000+ units will affect traffic at all the nearby intersections producing more problems and air pollution.
Maybe its time for a moratorium so we can deal with the problems caused by their previous rulings
I totally agree and based upon how the AG RESERVE was voted on by the residents of PBC and paid for by the taxpayers..this should have been on the ballot the first time it became an issue, rather than a planning or zoning board decision or PBC Commissioner decision.
The County commission seems to think that the vote of the people of Palm Beach County to create the AG reserve, was just a suggestion. Any Commissioner who votes to allow more building in the Ag reserve should be voted out of office. They should be respectful of the vote of the residents. Love to see how much developers have contributed to the election campaigns of commissioners.
Unfortunately, this decision will have been made before they can be voted out. Also please note, most of the zoning and planning board DO NOT reside in South County.
Maybe the County Commissioners should insist that GL Homes build homes for the working class like firemen, policemen and women, teachers and not these ugly million dollar houses.
PBC Commissioners sent to prison. If you weren’t around in 2010 or don’t remember it, google search pbc county commissioners jailed. We sent a bunch of them to prison. Time to do it again?
Apparently the board members must be receiving contributions to their elections or favorable gifts to allow this to happen. The Lyons road extension from Atlantic to Boynton Beach Blvd. must be completed before any other construction begins. I moved here for the beauty of the farm land an GL destroys all the properties with cheap cookie cutter housing. Stop the GREED,
GL should be stopped from anymore building in South Florida What he has gotten passed through to build should be affordable homes that middle class people can afford.
No more million dollar homes. Enough is enough building in South Florida. Go build in Port St Lucie
Disgusting….. Palm Beach County Commissioners only care about what goes into their pockets now. They don’t care about the future of the county, its people…. funny how greedy people convince themselves that they are doing the right thing. How about looking in the mirror and actually being true to oneself? Why bother creating Ag Reserves when we know that they don’t mean anything???? So sick of selfishness. THey are opening the door to future inquiries into their actions. Be careful Commissioners. In today’s world, it is easier than ever to find and share your dirty laundry. Shame on all of you.
This development needs to have major infrastructure improvements made first before construction is approved. This density is also rediculous and needs to be cut back. GL needs to contribute to the road infrastructure and get it started before construction. Any commissioner in my district that does not address this corporate greed will not get my vote and will find their record on this matter on social media and the local news .
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