Give the Groves a vote

Leaders of the effort to incorporate Loxahatchee Groves believe that they can find a defense against the rapid suburban growth of Palm Beach County by becoming a town. Since they have done what state legislators asked by compromising their original vision to satisfy opponents, the Legislature needs to let them go forward.

If House Bill 1339 passes, the community's 3,000 residents will vote on incorporation in November. Supporters argue that it's the only way to keep a mostly rural community of homes and small businesses -- built on 5-acre lots along dirt roads -- from becoming paved over and looking like the area around it. Founded in 1917, Loxahatchee Groves includes two main thoroughfares -- Southern and Okeechobee boulevards -- with obvious commercial appeal. If incorporation passes, development decisions now made by the county commission would be turned over to elected town officials.

While fears of what the county would allow prompted the incorporation effort, opposition from neighboring Royal Palm Beach dredged up old fears of a village land grab. But the opposition went away after Royal Palm Beach negotiated a concession: Instead of land-use decisions being governed by voter referendum, the new town of Loxahatchee Groves would rely on a supermajority of its board. Royal Palm Beach argued that the referendum rule was not legal and could be stilted by low voter turnout.

Incorporation backers also signed off on changes that would allow landowner Ernest G. Simon to build 77 homes on 97 acres, a move endorsed by county commissioners this month. Legislators can't let Mr. Simon's desire for even more development block progress for the entire community. As development consumes the lands around it, Loxahatchee Groves is uniquely positioned by its history and geography to defend itself. It would be harder, for example, for residents of The Acreage, a sprawling community of homes on 1-acre lots north and west of Royal Palm Beach, to make the same argument.

Loxahatchee Groves has the support of the local legislative delegation and has worked to satisfy opponents and skeptics, including this newspaper. Legislative approval does not guarantee that the county's 38th municipality will form. For that, advocates must convince a majority of residents that self-determination -- and the accompanying increase in taxes -- is the best way to preserve the area's character. They deserve that chance.