Challenges and

Opportunities

S preading over 2,000 square miles, Palm Beach County is larger

than the state of Rhode Island. With a population topping one million, it is
one of the fastest growing areas in the United States. Although many of those
residents live in one of its 37 municipalities, almost half (48 percent) live in

the county’s unincorporated areas.

Palm Beach County also is one of the fastest growing areas in Florida.
More than 350,000 new residents are anticipated by 2020. If current trends
continue, more than 85 percent of these new residents will settle west of I-

95,1 on what is now some of the county’s prime rural and agricultural acreage
and wetlands. This growth will continue having significant impacts on our
citizens, the natural environment, and the local economy.

How can Palm Beach County deal with this growth while protecting and
restoring its rich environment, strengthening its economy, and improving the
quality of life for all of its residents?

What seems an insurmountable task is possible. Palm Beach County can

move in a positive direction. This handbook will show how each of us, as
residents of Palm Beach County, can help ensure that this happens.

1
A Rich and Varied

F
rom the Atlantic Ocean, across the Intracoastal Water-
way to the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, and on into the
greater Everglades ecosystem, Palm Beach County is

blessed with a rich and beneficial environment, including

areas that are especially environmentally sensitive. The area’s
natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and economy are

largely dependent on these abundant resources. South Florida

and the Sahara Desert are at the same latitude–the difference
is that we receive 60 inches of rain each year. Tourism, which
delivers $1.5 billion annually to the local economy, benefits

directly from a healthy environment, one that provides clean

water, pure air, and beautiful beaches and natural areas.
Reprinted with permission of the artist.

2
Environment
A Magical Place
P
alm Beach County was once quite
different than it is today. The
Everglades encompassed much
more of its area. Early Seminole and
Miccosukee peoples could push their
long dugout canoes across the Everglades
to what is now the Amtrak Station in West
Palm Beach. Continuing their journey on
land, they would cross the Ridge to what
is now Lake Worth.
An 1848 account describes the
Everglades as a magical place of “pro-
found and wild solitude.” It seems that
not much had changed 90 years later in
this WPA Guide to Florida description of
the lush Everglades in Palm Beach
County:
Here, far as the eye can see, the
flatlands are carpeted with waving
sawgrass, of the sedge or bullrush
family, with long folded leaves edged
with sharp teeth. Pale green in summer,
brown in the dry season, the grass
thrusts up a tall stalk, topped with
panicles of brownish flowers . . . Small
animals find refuge in the undergrowth
along the roadside; rabbits vanish at
the approach of automobiles, but
bolder field rats stand still and cock
their heads at passers-by, scurrying for
cover only when a car stops. In winter
months mallards, blue bills, canvas
backs, and other migratory waterfowl
flock to the Everglades, a vast film of
water dotted with miragelike ham-
mocks of cypress and palmetto. During
the summer rainy season the water
often rises as much as 6 feet, but at
other times its depth is from 3 inches to
3 feet.2
One County—Many
Environments
T
oday, the Everglades is confined to
the western portion of Palm Beach
County. This large county has
several distinct regions, each with its own
unique environmental features.
The Treasure Coast. Closer to the
Gulf Stream than any place on the east
coast of the United States, Palm Beach
County boasts 45 miles of coastline and
two barrier islands. The Treasure Coast,
considered a world class diving location, is
a haven for tourists, who help support its
many hotels, motels, and restaurants. The
John D. MacArthur State Park on Singer
Island, with almost a mile and a half of
coastal maritime hammock and golden
beach, hints at what the area looked like
before it was settled by Europeans.
Between these barrier islands and the
mainland is the Intracoastal Waterway,
running north as far as Maine. Locally, a
major portion of the Intracoastal comprises
the Lake Worth Lagoon, a saltwater estuary
spreading from North Palm Beach to
Lantana that is a valuable recreational and
commercial asset. Northern Palm Beach
County is home to the pristine estuarine
environments of Jupiter Sound and the
Loxahatchee River, both now designated as
state aquatic preserves.
The Ridge. Just a few miles wide,
the Atlantic Coastal Ridge was the
prehistoric shoreline. Higher in elevation
than the rest of the county, the Ridge is
better protected from hurricane storm
surges and has been a perennially
attractive area for development. Henry
Flagler laid his railroad on the Ridge to
keep it out of the “swamps” and reduce the
3
 A Rich and Varied Environment

cost of construction. Cities and towns

such as West Palm Beach, Delray Beach,
Wetlands are areas Lake Park and Lake Worth sprang up
along this new transportation line.
covered with shallow, Oak and pine forests once predomi-
nated along the Ridge, with scatterings of
often fluctuating levels
upland tropical hardwood hammocks.
of water and contain a Most of these woodlands have been lost
as the area has become increasingly
variety of aquatic urban in nature. Barely one percent of
the much endangered scrub habitat
plants and animal remains. There are generally fewer parks
and conservation areas in this zone,
species. Uplands are except for in the northern portion of the
county.
predominantly dry Single-family and high rise resi-
dences and commercial and industrial
landscapes buildings in close proximity keep this
area mixed in uses. The Ridge remains
characterized by
attractive for new development, as it is
higher elevations and well drained and has sewer and water
lines, roads, and other needed infrastruc-
plant species such as ture in place.
The Loxahatchee Region. The
pine trees and oak water that flows from the tap of nearly
every home in northern Palm Beach
trees, often with an County has its origins in the watershed
feeding the Loxahatchee River, whose
understory of saw name is derived from a Seminole Indian
phrase meaning “river of turtles.”
palmetto. Designated an Outstanding Florida
Waterway, an Aquatic Preserve, a
Manatee Protection Area, and its
northern part a Wild and Scenic River, it
is one of the last remaining free-flowing
subtropical rivers in the nation. It is also
one of the most natural riverine ecosys-
tems left in southern Florida. Its
500,000-acre watershed, between the
Ridge to the east and the Everglades to
the west, contains uplands, wetlands, and

4
Reprinted with permission of the artist.
marshes, and is home to many endan-
gered plants, birds, fish, and mammals.
Since World War II, development–
both urban and agricultural–has frag-
mented this natural environment, which
is part of the greater Everglades ecosys-
tem. Construction of canals and drainage
systems has lowered groundwater tables
and diverted the flow of surface waters,
disturbing the system’s ability to maintain
the river’s natural quality. Much of Palm
Beach County’s sprawling suburban
growth is taking place in this region,
converting valuable farmland and natural
areas into residential, commercial, and
industrial developments.3
The Everglades. In her 1947 book,
Marjorie Stoneman Douglas eloquently
coined the phrase “river of grass” to
describe the Everglades. This rich and
vast ecosystem historically began
gathering water from just south of the
Orlando area, which flowed along the
Kissimmee River to Lake Okeechobee
and toward the coastal estuaries of Palm
Beach County. During the summer rainy
season, like a sheet of water flowing
through a mosaic of ponds and tree
islands, the Everglades moves smoothly
overland to Florida Bay. During the winter
and spring dry seasons, birds flock to
nesting grounds now available at the
edges of tree islands and prairies.
While it no longer extends as far
eastward, at 4,000 square miles the
Everglades is still this nation’s largest
wetland and the only subtropical wilder-
ness. The Everglades National Park only
encompasses a small portion of this vast
natural system. Florida panthers,
5
The Everglades System and
Palm Beach County

“There are no
other Everglades
in the world.
They are, they
have always
been, one of the
unique regions
of the earth,
remote, never
AT
LA
NT

wholly known . . . .
IC
COA

The miracle of
STAL R
IDGE

light pours over

the green and
brown expanse
of saw grass and
of water, shining
and slow-moving
below, the grass
and water that is
the central fact
of the Everglades
of Florida. It is a
Historic Everglades Flow river of grass.”
Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA)
Water Conservation Areas (WCAs)
Marjorie Stoneman
Palm Beach County Boundary
Douglas, The Everglades:
Everglades National Park Boundary
River of Grass

6

American alligators, Everglades kites,
and 67 other endangered or threatened
species live among its verdant mosaic of
forests, rivers, swamps, and marshes. The
Everglades is one of just three places in
the world designated as an International
Bioreserve, a World Heritage Site, and a
Wetland of International Importance.4
Although it has been seriously injured by
years of damaging activities, residents
throughout South Florida, including those
of Palm Beach County, still depend on
this rich ecosystem for drinking water,
flood control, and many other economic
benefits.
Lake Okeechobee, once an integral
part of the Everglades and one of the
more productive sources for bass and
panfish, is the second largest freshwater
lake in the nation. Comprising 730 square
miles, it was part of the overall Ever-
glades sheet flow. A natural lake, its
wide, gently sloping banks were so thick
with sawgrass that early surveyors had
difficulty defining its boundaries. After
the hurricane of 1928, which pushed the
lake waters into populated areas of South
Bay killing thousands, and prompted
further by the desire to drain land for
agricultural production, the Hoover Dike
was constructed along the southern edge
of the lake to prevent flooding while
promoting year-round crop production.
A Valuable Ecosystem–
Nature’s Free Services
A
side from the obvious economic
and social values derived from
using our natural areas for work
and play, these areas also play a vital role
in our daily lives. A well-functioning
ecosystem supports not only plants and
wildlife but human health: The trees
clean and help cool our air, the plants
play a role in making rain, and their roots
help filter harmful contaminants out of
our drinking water. It has been deter-
mined that one acre of wetland provides
thousands of dollars in water cleansing
benefits.5
This environment supports bees,
bats, and other pollinators necessary for
the production of fruits and vegetables.
Open lands, especially wetlands, can
provide much-needed flood control by
providing natural water storage. They
also support groundwater recharge, which
collects valuable rainwater during rainy
periods that can be made available for
use as drinking water. Natural areas also
ensure continued biodiversity—the
natural interrelationships between varied
plant and animal communities.6 Palm
Beach County is fortunate to encompass
such a wealth of natural resources.
7
 Human Impacts

S
ince the end of the 1800s, a growing population in Palm
Beach County has contributed to increasingly serious
impacts on the land and natural environment. A series of
massive engineering projects aimed at “taming” swamps opened up
more land for development and agriculture. The use of pesticides
and other agricultural practices have had serious environmental

consequences. Finally, development has irreversibly changed the

face of the land–just think of the traffic jams, strip malls, and
monotonous developments that have sprung up since World War II.

It took many years to get to this place, and there are no quick
fixes to remedy all the problems caused by these impacts. But what
is being done now? And what more can we do?
Reprinted with permission of the artist.

8
on the Land
More Than a Century of
Engineering
F
lood Control Takes its Toll. The
Everglades once covered most of
Palm Beach County between the
Atlantic Coastal Ridge and Lake
Okeechobee. Today, much of this acreage
has fallen to the bulldozer and dragline,
part of the systematic “taming.” From the
1880s through the early 1970s, massive
hydrologic engineering projects were
undertaken to alter the Everglades’ natural
drainage regime. In the 1930s, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers began walling in
Lake Okeechobee behind the 143-mile-
long, 34-foot-tall Hoover Dike. Over the
years, the Kissimmee River was
channelized, reducing its 103 meandering
miles to a 53-mile, 300-foot-wide canal.
Nearly 900,000 acres of Everglades were
cut out as Water Conservation Areas. These
were laced with a network of canals and
levees to provide flood control and water
for agriculture and drinking.7 As a result,
the water table dropped six feet, perma-
nently changing the face of South Florida.
This water management infrastructure
dramatically altered the quantity, timing,
and distribution of fresh water throughout
the system, with canals catching millions
of gallons of fresh water each day and
draining much of it into Lake Worth. We
have only now begun to realize that this
drainage system, originally designed to
make land available for development and
agriculture, may ultimately harm the very
people it was intended to benefit.
Restoring the Everglades. The
restoration of the Everglades has been in
the news. Billions of federal, state, local,
and private dollars are being allocated to
correct past engineering mistakes. We have
begun the long process of returning part of
this great resource to a more natural state.
It is hoped that the implementation of the
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration
Plan, which will cost close to $8 billion,
will improve the functioning of more than
2.4 million acres of the Everglades eco-
system. Other goals are to restore water
quality in Lake Okeechobee and to provide
benefits to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie
estuaries, as well as to the Florida Bay,
Biscayne Bay, and other water bodies that
rely on the natural hydrology of this region.
Under the plan, more than 1.5 billion
gallons of water per day from the Ever-
glades will be retained in storage areas, to
be released when needed for environmen-
tal, agricultural, and public water supply
purposes. This water, currently being
dumped into the ocean along Florida’s
southeast and southwest coasts, will be
stored in water preserve areas and other
reservoirs and cleaned in wetlands-based
stormwater treatment areas. The South
Florida Water Management District and
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are also
planning to store water underground, using
an aquifer storage recovery system that
would pump water from storage areas or
the surficial aquifer to wells in the upper
Floridian aquifer for later recovery.
It is important to understand that this
plan, however broad and expensive,
represents an experimental approach. Even
if it is successful, because of irreversible
past changes, the Everglades will be smaller
and function differently than in pre-
drainage days.8 By reversing some of the
damage, however, we hope that the Ever-
glades may continue to thrive and provide
its life-sustaining bounty.
9
 Human Impacts on the Land
Reprinted with permission of the artist.
Agricultural and
Environmentally Sensitive
Lands
A
griculture and the Economy.
While Palm Beach County may
be better known for urban areas
and resorts, with more than 600,000 acres
of working farmland, it ranks fifth in the
nation and first in the state in agriculture
production.9 These areas, in the central
and western portions of the county,
contribute significantly to its economy.
They balance the urbanized east coast and
serve as an important buffer to the
Everglades.
Valued at approximately $1.2 billion
annually—11 percent of the nation’s sugar
is produced here10 —agriculture in the
county ranks behind tourism but ahead of
construction. The agricultural lands are
located in one of three “frost free zones” in
the nation and are a major provider of
winter vegetables, fruits and indoor plants.
10
As Palm Beach County continues its
phenomenal growth, it is of vital concern
to protect these areas from encroaching
development. It is equally important to
continue to protect environmentally
sensitive lands from the negative impacts
of agriculture.
Agriculture and the Everglades.
Much of the county’s most productive
farmland is situated in what was once the
Everglades. The Agricultural (Ag)
Reserve, a 20,000-acre parcel between
the Florida Turnpike and today’s Ever-
glades, has been used for agricultural
purposes, including row crops, dairies,
and plant nurseries, as well as equestrian
activities. There is also the Everglades
Agricultural Area (EAA). Once wild and
natural, this 718,400-acre expanse
(including roughly 615,000 acres in Palm
Beach County) was extensively drained in
the early 1900s to promote agricultural
development and encourage urban
settlement to the east. Situated to the
south of Lake Okeechobee, the EAA is
served by 15 canals and 25 control
structures that are managed by the South
“Floridians just aren’t
Florida Water Management District. Today,
sugarcane covers 575,000 acres of EAA putting together the
land.11
Prior to the construction of the Hoover fact that Florida’s
Dike, seasonal runoff from Lake
Okeechobee enriched the sediment and population growth
helped build up a layer of muck soils, a
natural supplement beneficial to sugar and and subsequent
truck farmers. When the dike ended this
seasonal runoff, farmers began using development are an
fertilizers to compensate. The agricultural
runoff poured phosphorus-laden fertilizer
important cause of
as well as pesticides, cow manure, and
environmental
other waste into the system, upsetting its
delicate natural balance. Mercury and problems in Florida.”
other harmful contaminants have also
contributed to the decline of these
waters.12 Resulting fish kills have harmed 1998 Report prepared for the
both the environment and the area’s Florida Advisory Council on
important recreational fishing and tourism Environmental Education19
industries. Plant life in Lake Okeechobee
has been decimated in the past decade
alone, affecting both underwater and marsh
plants, and destroying important fish
breeding areas.13 In addition, cancer-
causing agents have been found in the
drinking water of communities surrounding
the lake.
These are some of the ways that
human impacts have reduced the size of
the ecosystem, disrupted the natural water
flow, and introduced high levels of harmful
substances.14 In an effort to reduce the
pollution, sugar cane growers in the EAA
were recently required to employ best
management practices. By changing the
way nutrients are managed on their farms,
sugar farmers have reduced the level of
phosphorus coming out of the EAA by 38
11
 Reprinted with permission of the artist.

12
Human Impacts on the Land
to 68 percent.15 While this is an important
start, more steps are needed to lessen the
impact of agriculture on the environment.
Development—Pressures and
Problems
R
eporting the Bad News. In
its1998 report, The Dark Side of
the American Dream, the Sierra
Club found West Palm Beach to be the
nation’s fourth most “sprawl-threatened”
medium-sized city (population 500,000 to
1 million). The report noted that Palm
Beach County’s urban area grew by 65
percent during the 1980s, and by 75
percent between1990 and 1996, while its
density dropped by 25 percent over the
same period. Also during those years,
thousands of acres to the west of the city,
many of them wetlands, were annexed and
developed into gated communities.16
A report by the Surface Transporta-
tion Policy Project identified West Palm
Beach-Boca Raton as the seventh most
dangerous large metropolitan area in the
country for pedestrians. They cited the
area’s sprawling development, “dominated
by subdivisions, office parks, and high-
speed roads that are designed for fast
automobile traffic.”17
A 1997 American Farmland Trust
report identified the Florida Everglades
and associated areas as the sixth most
threatened prime quality farmland region
in the nation, due to the impacts of
sprawling urban development. This figure
was based on the market value of agricul-
tural production, development pressure,
and land quality.18
Among the remaining rural and
agricultural lands in Palm Beach County
being threatened by development are the
farmlands on the eastern border of the
Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.
This area comprises a critical component of
the overall management system of the
Florida Everglades. The challenge is to
preserve these important agricultural lands,
while working to establish more environ-
mentally sensitive farming practices.
Reports such as these confirm that
the kind of development taking place in
Palm Beach County—called sprawl—is a
significant cause of problems.
Sprawl, and the Case for Stopping
It. Ironically, as we prepare to invest
billions of dollars in the Everglades
restoration and take steps to improve
agricultural practices, continued sprawl
threatens to further degrade this national
treasure. Besides degrading pristine
natural areas, fragmenting natural habitats,
and reducing the area’s biodiversity, our
sprawling pattern of growth has caused a
declining quality of life.
There are many reasons for Palm
Beach County to better manage its growth
and development. Simply put, growth
management is essential if we are to
create more vibrant and livable communi-
ties, better protect environmentally
sensitive natural areas and agricultural
lands, and improve our quality of life.
13
 Growth and

A
s sprawling development creeps westward in Palm Beach
County, poorer residents in declining urban areas tend to
be left behind. Forced to spend taxpayer dollars building

new roads, schools, and other needed infrastructure in growing sub-

urbs, local governments focus less on the needs of older, established
inner city areas. But not just the poor are affected. This type of devel-

opment reduces the quality of life of all county residents by wasting

land, money, and natural resources.
If Palm Beach County is to continue to prosper, we need to “grow

smarter” while we also restore our environment and protect our agri-
cultural lands.
Reprinted with permission of the artist.

14
Growing Pains
Remembering the “Good
Old Days”
T
o understand where we are going,
we need to look at where we have
been. We can reflect on the history
and changing patterns of land develop-
ment in the county. Before occupying the
open lands bordering the Everglades, most
people lived in coastal cities, like Delray
Beach, Lake Worth, West Palm Beach,
Lake Park, and Palm Beach.
These communities had several com-
mon characteristics. They were built on
the Atlantic Coastal Ridge (except for
Palm Beach, located on a barrier island),
with streets laid out in a grid. Narrow,
tree-lined streets with sidewalks criss-
crossed to homes, retail areas, schools,
post offices, banks, and other nearby pub-
lic places. Each had a full complement of
public services, including police and fire
stations, and central water and sewer.
While each of these cities (again, ex-
cept for Palm Beach) has undergone a pe-
riod of decline, today their downtowns and
many older neighborhoods are being revi-
talized. Historic buildings are being
spruced up, new businesses are moving in,
and people are once again enjoying the
benefits of their dense, mixed-use urban
environments.
Traditional Neighborhood
Developments–Compact and
Functional
I
t is instructive to compare the scale
and design of such early communities
with those being built today. Palm
Beach, with more than 9,800 permanent
residents—13,000 during the winter
season—is just over 2,500 acres. Lake
Park’s 6,800 residents live on a mere
1,500 acres,20 and the core areas of
Delray Beach, Lake Worth, and West Palm
Beach have similar compact densities.
These relatively small, compact,
walkable communities are what planners
now call Traditional Neighborhood Devel-
opments, or TNDs. Before development in
the county started sprawling west, there
were many of these well-planned commu-
nities dotting the east coast, just off U.S.
1. They had a high quality of life, with
good schools and public services, side-
walks, and community gathering places.
These Atlantic Coastal Ridge towns were
left behind, however, as their more afflu-
ent citizens—and virtually all new area
residents since the 1970s—settled in the
sprawling, single-family residential devel-
opments located west of the Atlantic
Coastal Ridge in the central Palm Beach
County wetlands.
The Far-Reaching Effects of
Sprawl
S
prawling development virtually
devastated the old traditional
downtowns as retail chain stores
sprang up along every major road, drawing
their business away. Decades-old local
businesses failed one by one as the first
ring of new malls sucked away their
customers. Later these too would fail with
the second and third rings of retail and
strip shopping centers that accompanied
the westward sprawl.
Due in large part to this flight of de-
velopment and dollars, the social fabric
began to unravel in Palm Beach County’s
coastal communities. Older schools were
ignored as the school board struggled to
15
 Growth and Growing Pains
build facilities to accommodate the new
communities. Water and sewer services in
the coastal communities were tapped to
serve the new growth areas, but the capital
cost of extending the lines was averaged,
so everyone’s rates rose. As people left and
businesses failed in the older urbanized
areas, land values fell, the tax base fell,
and the rental properties of absentee land-
lords declined.
Development Today—Fewer
People on More Land
T
raditional communities are more
compact and dense, and have a
mixture of uses. This creates a
close-knit town fabric with shops, offices
and open spaces within a walkable
distance from home. New development in
western Palm Beach County is more
homogeneous than in the older coastal
communities. It is also much less dense.
Not only are fewer people living on more
Palm Beach County: Expected Growth
1,600
1,400
Population in Thousands
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
1930 1940 1950
16
land, but they are separated from places
they need to go every day, dumping more
cars on to the roadways. For example,
during the height of the winter season, the
Town of Palm Beach is almost three times
as dense as the Village of Wellington,
which has more than 17,000 acres and a
population of about 30,000, but no shops
or offices. Places yet to build out, such as
the Acreage, promise to be even larger
and less dense.
Still we continue the westward
expansion, building sprawling, low-
density, isolating, residential-only
developments. With no services close by,
the residents have no choice but to get in
their car to buy a loaf of bread or go to
school or work. These communities have
lost that old-fashioned walkability. For
children, this often means that, unless
there is someone to drive them to after-
school activities, they stay at home—
indoors, often unsupervised, playing video
games, watching TV, surfing the Internet.
Credit: Palm Beach County Department of Planning, Zoning and Building
Projected
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Year
 Reprinted with permission of the artist.

17
 Growth and Growing Pains

The Financial Costs of Sprawl in

Palm Beach County
In the late 1990s as a part of a project known as Eastward
Ho!, a detailed study outlined the projected impacts of
sprawl in South Florida, including Palm Beach County.22
According to the study, if current development patterns
continue, by 2020, more than half of the county’s growth
would occur in the outlying rural areas. Additionally, “local
governments would be pressured to expand services to new
areas” rather than repairing and renewing existing
infrastructure.

The study also outlined an alternative development

scenario that would encourage more significant growth and
development back to the more urbanized east coast
(excluding coastal high hazard areas), relieving
development pressures in rural and agricultural lands to the
west. According to this study, following this alternative
development pattern would save the county an estimated
$14 to $22 million annually because of reduced road, sewer
and water infrastructure needs, save 8,096 acres of
agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands, and
consume 5,613 fewer developable acres of land.

18
High Costs of Sprawl—
Everyone Pays
As we sit stalled in

S
ince the 1950s, Palm Beach County
has grown faster than many traffic, send our
counties in the nation. In 1998 alone,
more than 10,600 new residential units were children to
built, worth more than $1.1 billion.21 The
overcrowded schools,
entire community pays for this growth by
subsidizing new roads, sewer systems, watch the clearing of a
schools, and other facilities. Apart from the
rising tax bill, there are many indirect costs. favorite piece of open

Growing Smarter in the Next land, or face the

20 Years
increasing levels of

I
t’s a fact: Palm Beach County will
continue to grow, no matter what we pollutants in our
do. The question is, how can we
accommodate this growth without further drinking water, we are
harming our environment, reducing our
paying indirect costs
quality of life, losing the very character of
South Florida, and taxing ourselves beyond for unmanaged
our means? “Smart Growth” can provide
some answers. growth.

19
 Smart Growth:
New Directions

“S
mart Growth” is a term that is capturing the nation’s
attention. Republican and Democratic governors from

Minnesota to Maryland are singing its praises.

Organizations ranging from the National Association of Home

Builders to the National Governors Association are investigating its

advantages. Communities from Miami to Seattle are attempting to

follow its precepts.
Palm Beach County must learn from the past to brighten its
future. By looking back on how we developed our land and taking

stock of our successes and mistakes, we can put an end to

development practices that are not sustainable. If we have the will,
we can change our ways.
Reprinted with permission of the artist.

20
in Planning
Growing Smarter—Good for
People, Good for the
Environment
B
ut what exactly is smart growth?
A community that “grows smart”
protects its environment,
strengthens its economy, and improves the
quality of life for all of its residents. In
Palm Beach County, it could mean
borrowing some ideas from our earliest
communities:
• Clustering businesses and services
near homes and jobs;
• Providing a wide range of housing
options for people of various incomes
and ages;
• Designing housing and neighborhoods
to promote a sense of community;
• Connecting people with the places
where they work, learn, shop and play;
• Providing a variety of transportation
alternatives and making communities
walkable; and
• Using prime agricultural land for
agriculture, not for housing.
Achieving Smart Growth
P
lanning a community today is
more complex than it was 50
years ago. To help guide commu-
nities toward growing smarter for the
future, today’s planners have defined the
following principles—including some
borrowed from those “good old days.”
They recommend the following actions:
• Protecting environmentally sensitive
lands, agricultural lands, and open
space from inappropriate development,
reducing lands available for sprawl;
• Encouraging revitalization of traditional
downtowns and inner city neighbor-
hoods, which brings new life to
established communities and also
helps lessen the demand for sprawling
new development;
• Promoting infill development which
takes advantage of existing infrastruc-
ture, thus lessening the community
costs of development;
• If new areas need to be developed,
placing them adjacent to and connecting
them with existing communities to take
advantage of nearby infrastructure, and
designing them to be compact;
• Respecting nature by avoiding develop-
ing in areas prone to flood and fire;
• Supporting development which
includes a mix of residential, commer-
cial, and office space, as well as
community schools and parks, to
reduce the distance residents must
drive to work, shop, and play;
• Designing areas to include opportuni-
ties to walk, bike, or take a bus, thus
making our communities more livable;
• Providing a spectrum of housing
opportunities, including those that meet
the needs of the community’s low-
income residents;
• Maintaining a community’s sense of
place by protecting significant historic
and cultural resources and natural areas;
• Providing for citizen participation in
the community’s planning process; and
• Encouraging regional planning to
ensure proper coordination between
adjoining communities and counties.
The question we face is, how can
Palm Beach County integrate the prin-
ciples of smart growth into present and
future development?
21
 Bringing Smart
to Palm

T
he good news is that we have a head start. Many positive
changes are already taking place in Palm Beach County.
From restoring key components of the Everglades ecosys-

tem, to acquiring environmentally sensitive lands, to protecting

farmlands, to revitalizing historic downtowns, important steps are in

the works to help Palm Beach County “grow smart” into the future.
Palm Beach County has a substantial box of “tools” in place

to promote smarter growth. Even the best tools are only effective,
though, if they are used wisely.
Reprinted with permission of the artist.

22
Growth
Beach County
Planning Tools
P
alm Beach County’s planning
tools—some already in place,
others under development—will
shape the future of the county, for better or
worse. Concerned citizens need to know
about these tools, and then work to make
sure they are used effectively to promote
smart growth.
The Comprehensive Plan. By law,
every city and county in Florida must adopt
a comprehensive plan to guide and control
future development. Palm Beach County’s
plan, first adopted in 1980, has been re-
vised and updated several times. The plan
contains “elements,” or chapters, dealing
with such issues as land use, transporta-
tion, conservation, capital improvements,
housing, open space, water and sewer, and
economics. Local governments are required
to follow their plan. This means that every
decision that affects the development of
land must be consistent, or comply, with
the plan. Thus, if the comprehensive plan
compelled the use of smart growth prin-
ciples, by law, development would have to
occur in that manner.
Familiarize yourself with your local
government’s comprehensive plan. The
county’s plan is available online at
www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/pzb. If you live in
a municipality, your city government also
will have a plan that you can obtain
through your local planning department or
view at the library. Local governments may
amend their plans twice a year and must
review and update them every seven years,
preparing an evaluation and appraisal re-
port (known as the EAR process). This pro-
cess provides an excellent opportunity for
citizens to become involved in planning.
You can work to have your local govern-
ment formally adopt smart growth provi-
sions into its plan during these times.
For more information on
comprehensive planning,
see 1000 Friends of
Florida’s publication,
Planning for Tomorrow: A
Citizen’s Guide to Smarter
Growth in Florida,
available on line at
1000friendsofflorida.org.
The Strategic Regional Policy
Plan. Some problems are beyond the abil-
ity of any local government to address, and
sometimes the actions of one local govern-
ment spill over and affect neighboring ar-
eas. For this reason Florida has eleven
Regional Planning Councils (RPCs). Palm
Beach County belongs to the Treasure
Coast Regional Planning Council, head-
quartered in Stuart. An RPC includes
elected officials from every local govern-
ment in the region and has its own plan,
called a Strategic Regional Policy Plan.
Every local plan is supposed to be consis-
tent with the regional plan. The Treasure
Coast plan and other activities also can be
found on the Internet.
The Treasure Coast RPC has identi-
fied a model of development for the region.
It calls for protecting the environment
23
 Bringing Smart Growth to
Palm Beach County
through preservation of complete natural
systems; revitalizing existing urban areas
through compatible infill, and retrofitting
suburban areas into a more cohesive urban
form; creating new towns that are well-
designed and include mixed uses; and,
preventing sprawl by focusing on growth in
ways that create better urban areas.
The Tiered Growth Plan. As a
means of discouraging urban sprawl and
promoting smarter growth, Palm Beach
County has adopted a “tiered” system of
growth management into its comprehensive
plan. The system establishes urban/subur-
ban, exurban, rural, Agricultural Reserve,
and Glades “tiers,” each with an appropri-
ate density and level of public services in
keeping with the area’s unique character.
The tier system protects natural resources
and guides land use, planning, and design
decisions. This will be an important tool
for promoting smarter growth in Palm
Beach County.
The Sector Plan. A Sector Plan is
being developed for a 55,000 acre area
(larger than the City of San Francisco) of
rural land in north central Palm Beach
County around old platted subdivisions
such as The Acreage and Loxahatchee
Groves, as well as large citrus groves.
Thousands of new homes have been built
there in recent years, and development
continues in this wet, poorly drained area.
Taking advantage of recent state legislation
to sponsor innovative land use planning,
the Sector Plan could produce a better
land use pattern than the current one of ad
hoc, parcel by parcel, unintegrated devel-
opment. One hoped-for outcome of this
process will be better coordination be-
tween land and water resource planning.
24
The Agricultural Reserve Master
Plan. In 1980, the 20,000-acre Ag Re-
serve was officially designated for contin-
ued agricultural use in the county’s
Comprehensive Plan. This area is under
increasing development pressure. A Mas-
ter Plan is being created by the county in
cooperation with the South Florida Water
Management District with the goal of ensur-
ing continued agricultural use and limiting
the impacts of urban development here.
Neighborhood Plans. Individual
communities can be proactive by adopting
Neighborhood Plans and getting them in-
corporated into the official local govern-
ment planning process. Several neighbor-
hoods in Palm Beach County have done
just this, including Jupiter Farms,
Haverhill Area and West Boynton Area,
and the Northwood Neighborhood in
West Palm Beach. While not yet adopted
by the county, Loxahatchee Groves and
The Acreage have also developed neigh-
borhood plans.
Other Available Tools
I
n conjunction with the comprehensive
and local plans, a variety of state and
local programs offer effective tools for
protecting and preserving resources of all
types and promoting smarter growth.
Some Tools for Protecting
Significant Natural Areas:
• Acquiring Environmentally Sen-
sitive Lands. In March of 1999,
Palm Beach County voters over-
whelmingly passed a $150 million
bond initiative to purchase recre-
ation, farm, and environmentally
Reprinted with permission from The New Press.
sensitive lands. This built on the suc-
cess of a $100 million bond passed in
1991, which was used to purchase
approximately 24,000 acres of envi-
ronmentally sensitive lands. The
Florida Legislature’s Florida Forever
program further allocated $3 billion
over the next ten years to acquire en-
vironmentally sensitive lands
throughout the state. Local and state
dollars may be combined to acquire
lands that are determined to be inap-
propriate for development.
• Establishing a Network of
Greenways and Blueways.
Greenways are linear parks set aside
(either through public ownership or
easement) to protect important natu-
ral and scenic areas. The goal is to
link these lands like a necklace of
natural jewels to provide corridors
for wildlife and recreation areas.
Initial costs have brought high re-
turns in many areas of the nation
where greenways have been shown
to increase the value of adjacent
lands. 1000 Friends of Florida and
The Conservation Fund helped de-
velop a greenway plan for Palm
Beach County and continue assist-
ing the county in identifying, ac-
quiring, and protecting connecting
lands. Both Palm Beach County
bond funds and Florida Forever dol-
lars can be used to promote these
networks. The City of West Palm
Beach also is developing a system of
Blueways to link water resources.
25

Reprinted with permission of the artist.
• Improving the Transfer of Devel-
26
Bringing Smart Growth to
Palm Beach County
opment Rights (TDR) Program.
Counties can protect environmentally
sensitive and agricultural lands from
inappropriate development and com-
pensate landowners who maintain
open space by transferring their de-
velopment rights to more urbanized
areas. In many TDR programs, sensi-
tive natural lands are designated as
“sending areas,” and urbanized sec-
tions needing redevelopment as “re-
ceiving areas” for more intensive
development. In other parts of the
nation, such programs have been used
effectively as a tool for promoting
smart growth and protecting sensitive
lands. Strategies could be developed
to strengthen Palm Beach County’s
seldom used TDR program by desig-
nating coastal municipalities as re-
ceiving areas.
Some Tools for Promoting
Revitalization and Redevelopment:
• Revitalizing Downtowns. Instead
of sprawling into undeveloped land,
more efforts can be applied toward
redevelopment and revitalization.
Such projects save taxpayers’ money
by using existing roads, sewers, and
other infrastructure, while restoring
vitality to older communities.
The City of West Palm Beach
can boast a successful revitalization
effort. In 1993, its downtown occu-
pancy rates had reached a low of 20
percent and property values had
plummeted. Clematis Street had be-
come a haven for drug dealers and
prostitutes. Today, Clematis Street is
teeming with positive energy.
Nightlife revolves around new res-
taurants and nightclubs. Renovated
residential units and commercial
 spaces are 90 percent occupied and
land values have doubled, even
tripled. A rising tax base confirms that
In addition to
the investment is paying off, and the
change is not only good for business “reusing” older
but for the entire city. West Palm
Beach entered into a “public private downtowns, smart
partnership” to develop a $550 million
project known as “CityPlace” that in- growth also
cludes townhouses, apartments, retail
shops, and places for entertainment, encourages the
following the principles of Traditional
Neighborhood Development. 23 preservation of
• Preserving Historic Resources. In
addition to “reusing” older down-
historic and cultural
towns, smart growth also encourages
resources. Palm
the preservation of historic and cul-
tural resources. Palm Beach County Beach County has a
has a rich history that merits preserva-
tion. Delray Beach is but one example rich history that
of a local community where historic
preservation has been used success- merits preservation.
fully as a tool to revitalize the down-
town and older neighborhoods.
Several programs are available to
assist with preserving historic and cul-
tural resources. Delray Beach, West
Palm Beach, and Palm Beach all have
joined Palm Beach County in adopting
tax abatement programs that offer 100
percent abatement on improvements to
historic properties for up to ten years.
Additionally, to protect the character
of historic districts and neighbor-
hoods, the county as well as the cities
of Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Jupiter,
Lake Worth, Palm Beach, and West
Palm Beach have adopted local his-
toric preservation ordinances that pro-
vide for review of alterations to
designated properties and new con-
struction in historic districts.
27
 Bringing Smart Growth to
Palm Beach County
Reprinted with permission of the artist.

28
 A regional office of the Florida
Department of State, located in Palm
Beach County, can provide assistance
with preservation efforts. Specific as-
sistance is offered in preservation
planning, financial incentives, the
Main Street program for downtown
revitalization, historic properties, heri-
tage education, history museums, and
other areas. Additionally, the regional
office can provide information on state
grant funds available to protect sig-
nificant archaeological sites, survey
historic resources, restore historic
buildings, develop local historic pres-
ervation plans, prepare educational
programs, promote tourism to historic
areas, and support other projects that
explain and promote the preservation
of Florida’s rich heritage.
• Encouraging Infill Development.
Many urbanized areas include vacant
or underutilized parcels of land that
are appropriate for infill development.
In some instances there are impedi-
ments to this type of development,
which need to be identified and re-
solved. For example, former
brownfields—parcels of land that were
contaminated by previous uses (i.e.,
industrial plants, gas stations, dry
cleaners)—sometimes can be cleaned
up (federal funds are available), so
that they can be reused safely for new
development.
Some Tools for Planning New
Development More Wisely:
• Making Smarter Choices about
Placement of New Development.
Where new development is adjacent to
existing communities, it can take ad-
vantage of existing infrastructure. On
the contrary, when new development
is located in the countryside, there
are inevitable costs of extending in-
frastructure, including roads and
sewer lines, great distances—a bur-
den that is shared by all taxpayers. In
Palm Beach County, it makes sense
to locate new development, where
possible, along the Atlantic Ridge.
Besides being already serviced with
extensive infrastructure, its location
outside the coastal high hazard area
makes it less prone to natural disas-
ter than many parts of the county.
• Promoting Traditional Neighbor-
hood Development. The core areas
of Lake Worth, Delray Beach, West
Palm Beach, Lake Park, Palm Beach
and other older communities can
serve as examples for new develop-
ment. Planners can see the advan-
tages of creating walkable, livable
communities that are compact in
scale and include a mix of uses. It is
essential to ensure that zoning codes
and other land development regula-
tions promote Traditional Neighbor-
hood Development. Codes in some
Palm Beach County communities,
which currently do not allow this type
of development, can be revised to
promote smarter growth.
• Providing Affordable Housing.
Smart growth means providing safe,
decent and affordable housing–close
to workplaces, schools and shopping–
for all segments of the county’s popu-
lation. Any plans for redevelopment
or new development should include
affordable housing. Florida is fortu-
nate to have the nation’s largest dedi-
29
Make your presence felt and your voice heard!
Clearly, public participation is a key in every story of smart
growth, economic prosperity, and preservation of natural
resources. Every development needs a permit, and most permit
decisions require hearings. Let appointed and elected officials
at every level know about your positions on encouraging smart
growth. Attend hearings of some of the boards and
committees that decide upon proposals. Here are a few for
Palm Beach County:

• Zoning Commission — makes recommendations regarding

rezonings.
• Board of Adjustment — issues variances to the land
development regulations; considers appeals of decisions of the
Zoning Director on zoning matters and the County Engineer
on subdivision matters.
• Citizen Task Force — makes recommendations regarding
amendments to the land development regulations and the
Comprehensive Plan.
• Land Use Advisory Board — reviews and comments on
Comprehensive Plan amendments
• Board of County Commissioners — approves or denies
amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and land
development regulations, and approves or denies road
projects and applications for voluntary density bonuses for
transfer of development rights.
• Metropolitan Planning Organization – provides
transportation planning for Palm Beach County.
• Water Management Governing Board — issues permits on
large projects involving such things as wetland impacts,
drainage, and stormwater runoff. Other state and federal
agencies, including the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection, federal Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers may also issue permits on projects of
this nature.
• Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council — monitors large-
scale developments and plan amendments, and assists with
neighborhood planning efforts.
• Town Council — In addition to the above county and regional
boards, each of the 37 municipalities has a local council that
makes important planning and land use decisions that should
be monitored.
30
 cated funding source for affordable
housing. Every county (and entitle-
ment city) in Florida has State
Housing Incentive Partnership Pro-
gram (SHIP) monies that are used
in large part to provide down pay-
ment and closing cost assistance to
first time home buyers. Other pro-
grams are also available to promote
home ownership and affordable
rental units. Palm Beach County
receives approximately $8.5 million
annually in SHIP money, with some
of the funds allocated directly to
Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray
Beach, and West Palm Beach. The
county’s Housing and Community
Development Department handles
the SHIP program.
In addition to funding, remov-
ing barriers to affordable housing–
such as exclusionary zoning–is an
important component of any smart
growth program. Local governments
may use increased densities in ur-
ban areas and inclusionary housing
ordinances to produce mixed-in-
come developments. Such develop-
ments may have subsidized units
available for rental or sale as well
as “market rate” units, or they may
have a combination of units afford-
able to the very low, low, and mod-
erate income. Successful
mixed-income developments are
well designed and reflect the local
physical and cultural landscape.
• Understanding Transportation
Planning Decisions. “If we build
it, they will come.” Roads form the
skeleton of a community, and their
placement and design can either
enhance or destroy a community’s
character. New road construction and
widening of existing roads provide an
impetus for new development. Citi-
zens need to pay careful attention to
transportation projects to ensure that
their location and timing do not
stimulate inappropriate develop-
ment. Road projects also should ac-
commodate alternative means of
transportation—public transit, walk-
ing, and biking.
• Thinking Regionally. “Act locally.
Think regionally.” Certainly, promot-
ing smart growth, good environmen-
tal decisions, and social equity in
Palm Beach County begins at home.
It is important to remember, however,
that our development and other deci-
sions can impact neighboring com-
munities and counties. Our roads
and transportation systems link with
theirs. We share economic and envi-
ronmental interests. These are just a
few reasons that make it essential
that we “think regionally!”
31
Citizens: Providing
in

I
n the final analysis, we need more than just plans, laws, and
regulations. While these are essential in any government as a

backdrop to implement public policy, we need to remember

that local citizens can be part of the solution. A million individual

decisions add up to a significant impact.

Active citizen participation is key to developing smart com-
munities. Meaningful change will only come about if you join with

other citizens of Palm Beach County in advocating for that change.

There are many steps to take, and they all start with you.
Reprinted with permission of the artist.

32
the “Smarts”
Smart Growth
Ten Steps to a Smarter Future
1. Attend public hearings to
provide your input on commu-
nity plans and new develop-
ments being proposed;
2. Work to integrate smart growth
principles into your
community’s plans for the
future;
3. Closely monitor proposed
transportation projects that
could stimulate inappropriate
growth;
4. Encourage new development
that follows the principles of
Traditional Neighborhood
Development;
5. Write letters to the editor to
express your views on smart
growth;
6. Invite smart growth supporters
to speak at meetings of organi-
zations to which you belong;
7. Get to know your local elected
officials and planning depart-
ment staff to stay informed
about what is happening;
8. Get appointed to citizen boards
and committees to provide your
input early on in the process;
9. Support professionals who
work day to day on smart
growth. Organizations such
as 1000 Friends of Florida
and The Conservation Fund
need your help!
10.Remember to think region-
ally. What happens in your
neighborhood can affect the
region, and what happens in
the region can affect you!
We are all stewards of our
community. We are all protectors
of our environment. How we
choose to live and the decisions
we make each day not only affect
ourselves and our children, but
in the long run, they affect each
other. Show your active steward-
ship by getting involved.
33
For More Information
Local
1000 Friends of Florida
www.1000friendsofflorida.org
Palm Beach County Office – 561.820.9385
Tallahassee Office – 850.222.6277
The Conservation Fund
www.conservationfund.org
Palm Beach County Office – 561.832.7665
Palm Beach County Government
www.co.palm-beach.fl.us
561.355.2040
Palm Beach County Metropolitan Planning
Organization
www.mpopbc@co.palm-beach.fl.us
561.684.4170
Palm Beach County Office, Florida
Department of State
561.279.1475
The Abacoa Partnership
www.abacoapartnership.org
Regional
Florida Department of Transportation
District 4 Office
954.777.4592
South Florida Water Management District
www.sfwmd.gov
561.686.8800
Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council
www.tcrpc.org
407.221.4060
34
State
Florida Department of Community Affairs,
Division of Community Planning
www.dca.state.fl.us/fdcp/DCP
Florida Department of Environmental
Protection
www.dep.state.fl.us
Florida Department of State,
Division of Historical Resources
www.dos.state.fl.us/dhr
Florida Department of Transportation
www.dot.state.fl.us
Florida Housing Coalition
www.flhousing.org
Florida Internet Center for Understanding
Sustainability
www.ficus.usf.edu
National
American Farmland Trust
www.farmland.org
American Planning Association
www.planning.org
Congress for the New Urbanism
www.cnu.org
Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov
Growth Management Leadership Alliance
www.gmla.org
National Neighborhood Coalition
www.neighborhoodcoalition.org
National Trust for Historic Preservation
www.nationaltrust.org
Sierra Club
www.sierraclub.org
Smart Growth America
www.smartgrowthamerica.com
Smart Growth Network
www.smartgrowth.org
Sprawl Watch Clearinghouse
www.sprawlwatch.org
Surface Transportation Policy Project
www.transact.org
Municipalities In
Palm Beach County
Atlantis, City of Hypoluxo, Town of Palm Beach, Town of
965-1744 582-0155 838-5400
City Hall: 260 Orange Tree Drive Town Hall: 7010 S. U. S. #1 Town Hall: P.O. Box 2029
Atlantis, 33462 Hypoluxo, 33462 Palm Beach, 33480

Belle Glade, City of Juno Beach, Town of Palm Beach Gardens, City of
996-0100 626-1122 775-8250
City Hall: 110 S.W. Avenue “E” Town Hall: 340 Ocean Drive City Hall: 10500 N. Military Tr.
Belle Glade, 33430 Juno Beach, 33408 Palm Beach Gardens, 33410

Boca Raton, City of Jupiter, Town of Palm Beach Shores, Town of

393-7700 746-5134 844-3457
City Hall: 201 W. Palmetto Park Rd. Town Hall: 210 Military Tr. Town Hall: 247 Edwards Lane
Boca Raton, 33432 Jupiter, 33458 Palm Beach Shores, 33404

Boynton Beach, City of Jupiter Inlet Colony, Town of Palm Springs, Village of
375-6000 764-3787 965-4010
City Hall: 100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd. Town Hall: P.O. Box 728 Town Hall: 226 Cypress Lane
Boynton Beach 33435 Jupiter, 33468-0728 Palm Springs, 33461

Briny Breezes, Town of Lake Clarke Shores, Town of Riviera Beach, Village of
276-7405 964-1515 845-4000
Town Hall: 5000 N. Ocean Blvd. Town Hall: 1701 Barbados Road City Hall: 600 W. Blue Heron Blvd.
Boynton Beach, 33435 West Palm Beach, 33406 Riviera Beach, 33404

Cloud Lake, Town of Lake Park, Town of Royal Palm Beach, Village of
686-2815 or 683-8296 848-3460 790-5100
Town Hall: 100 Lang Rd. Town Hall: 535 Park Ave. Town Hall:1050 Royal Palm Beach Blvd.
West Palm Beach, 33406 Lake Park, 33403 Royal Palm Beach, 33411

Delray Beach, City of Lake Worth, City of South Bay, City of

243-7000 586-1600 996-6751
City Hall: 100 N.W. First Ave. City Hall: 7 N. Dixie Highway City Hall: 335 S. W. Second Ave.
Delray Beach, 33444 Lake Worth, 33460 South Bay, 33493

Glen Ridge, Town of Lantana, Town of South Palm Beach, Town of

478-0151 540-5000 588-8889
Town Hall: 1660 C Southern Blvd. Town Hall: 500 Greynolds Circle Town Hall: 3577 S. Ocean Blvd.
West Palm Beach, 33406 Lantana, 33462 South Palm Beach, 33490

Golf, Village of Manalapan, Town of Tequesta, Village of

732-0236 585-9477 575-6200
21 County Rd. Town Hall: 600 S. Ocean Blvd. Town Hall: 357 Tequesta Dr.
Village of Golf, 33436 Manalapan, 33462-3321 Tequesta, 33469

Greenacres, City of Mangonia Park, Town of Wellington, Village of

642-2000 848-1235 791-4000
City Hall: 5985 10th Ave., North Town Hall: 1755 E. Tiffany Dr. 1400 Greenbriar Blvd.
Greenacres, 33463 Magonia Park, 33407 Wellington, 33414

Gulf Stream, Town of North Palm Beach, Village of West Palm Beach, City of
276-5116 848-3476 659-8000
Town Hall: 100 Sea Rd. Town Hall: 501 U.S. Highway #1 City Hall: P.O. Box 3366
Gulf Stream, 33483 North Palm Beach, 33408 West Palm Beach, 33402

Haverhill, Town of Ocean Ridge, Town of

689-0370 732-2635
Town Hall: 4585 Charlotte St. Town Hall: 6450 N. Ocean Blvd.
Harverhill, 33417 Ocean Ridge, 33435

Highland Beach, Town of Pahokee, City of

278-4548 924-5534
Town Hall: 3614 S. Ocean Blvd. City Hall: 171 N. Lake Ave.
Highland Beach, 33487 Pahokee, 33476

35
Notes and References
1 Palm Beach County, 1989 Comprehensive
Plan. Revised 12/13/99, p. 3.
2 Federal Writers Project, Works Progress
Administration, WPA Guide to Florida. New
York: Pantheon Books, 1984 edition, pp. 473-
474.
3 1000 Friends of Florida and The Conservation
Fund, Loxahatchee Greenways Project: Building
a Life-Sustaining Vision for the Future. 1996,
pp. 4-5.
4 South Florida Water Management District and
Florida Department of Environmental
Protection, Everglades Program Implementa-
tion: Program Management Plan. Revision 3,
December 29, 1997.
5 See Robert Costanza, et. al., “The Value of the
World’s Ecosystem Services and Natural
Capital,” Nature. Vol. 387, May 1997, pp.
253-260.
6 The Nature Conservancy, Florida’s Natural
Areas: What Have We Got to Lose?: The
Preservation 2000 Report. November 1991.
7 The Florida Save Our Everglades Program,
Save Our Everglades Report: 10th Anniversary,
1983-1993. pp. 8-12; also, Palm Beach Post,
“Lake Okeechobee: Mystery, mistakes . . . and
desperate measures,” Thursday, September
28, 2000.
8 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and South
Florida Water Management District, Restudy
Questions and Answers. April 1999.
16 Sierra Club, The Dark Side of the American
Dream: The Costs and Consequences of
Suburban Sprawl. 1998, p. 19.
17 Surface Transportation Policy Project, Mean
Streets 2000. 2000, p. 11.
18 American Farmland Trust, Farming on the Edge.
1997.
19 Mark Damian Duda & Associates, A Needs
Assessment for Environmental Education in
Florida, Phase V: Final Report. Prepared for
Advisory Council on Environmental Education,
Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commis-
sion, February 1998.
20 Palm Beach County Department of Planning,
Zoning and Building, Palm Beach County
Profile. Last Update 7/26/99.
21 Palm Beach County Department of Planning,
Zoning and Building, Palm Beach County
Profile. Last Update 7/26/99.
22 Robert W. Burchell, Nancy Neuman, Alex
Zakrewsky, Stephanie E. DiPetriollo, Eastward
Ho! Development Futures: Path to Growth.
Rutgers University, October 26, 1998.
23 Cynthia Pollock Shea, West Palm Beach: The
Resurrection–Why People Return to the
Downtown. Posted October 28, 1998.
Available on-line at http://edesign.state.fl.us/
fdi/fscc/news/local/9804/wpalmbch.htm.

9 Bureau of Economics and Business Research,

University of Florida, 1998 Florida Statistical
Abstract. pp. 308, 311.

10 Sylvia Cohen, Agricultural Preservation in Palm

Beach County. Florida Atlantic University
(Master’s thesis), May 1999.

11 Molly Row, Everglades Agricultural Area. Nova

University Student Paper. Available on-line at
www.nova.edu.

12 South Florida Water Management District,

Everglades 1996 Annual Report. p. i.

13 Palm Beach Post, “Millions of birds, loads of

alligators,” Thursday, September 28, 2000.

14 South Florida Water Management District,

Everglades Best Management Practice Program.
1998, pp. 1, 5.

15 South Florida Water Management District,

Draft 2001 Everglades Consolidated Report, pp.
5-1, 5-10.

36