Agricultural Reserve To Be Decimated. Did G.L. Homes Ask You To Testify?
OpenSecrets.Org Says G.L. Homes Employees Donated More Than $200,000 To Republican Party. PBC Commission Now Majority Republican.
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Questions are being asked across Palm Beach County after the Board of County Commissioners voted 5-2 Wednesday to approve a controversial plan by G.L. Homes to build more than 1000 homes in a section of the Agricultural Reserve just north of Clint Moore Road and west of U.S. 441.
In a work of strategic brilliance that will forever alter the landscape of Palm Beach County, G.L. Homes acquired undesirable land in another part of the county, then horse traded the land. G.L. Homes will build a reservoir on the land it never really wanted, then give it to Palm Beach County. In exchange, Palm Beach County is letting G.L. build another batch of million dollar homes, a small park, a limited number of “work force housing” apartments, and providing space to Jewish organizations.
The land for the new development — just north of Clint Moore Road along U.S. 441 — is in what’s left of the Agricultural Reserve, an area that was supposed to be left as farm and farm-related space. Many of G.L.’s developments are on land that was once designated as the Agricultural Reserve. Among the developments G.L. has already built in the Ag Reserve: The Bridges, Boca Bridges, Seven Bridges, Lotus, Dakota, and Valencia properties up and down Lyons Road.
G.L. Homes attempted this land swap last year, only to receive signals from commissioners at the time that it was a no-go. G.L. Homes withdrew the plan until a new board was elected, then submitted it again. . That board on Wednesday — surprising many — voted to approve the plan. There are still off-ramps that the county can take.
OpenSecrets.org reports that members of the G.L. Homes company donated in excess of $200,000 to the Republican Party in the last election cycle. Four of the the current seven county commissioners are republicans.
Several speakers, speaking in favor of the development, said they were asked by G.L. Homes to speak on the company’s behalf. We are asking you to let us know if you were contacted by G.L. Homes. What you were asked to do. And what incentive, if any, was provided.
Please use the form below.
