July 19, 2005
Push Scripps, not sprawl
The county pledged that it would not let the decision to build The Scripps Research Institute on a rural citrus grove change plans for the land around it. On Wednesday, commissioners have a chance to make good on that promise.
The coming of Scripps is not a strong enough justification to give a Northlake Boulevard landowner a 10-fold density increase from nine homes to 97. Even though the 97-acre property is outside the Palm Beach Gardens city limits, the increase could provide justification for similar giveaways when the 4,000-plus-acre Vavrus Ranch seeks increases. Palm Beach Gardens, which blocked a similar request from a 60-acre landowner on Northlake, refused to take a strong stand on this proposal, even though the decision will affect the city.
The property, carved years ago from Vavrus, hugs the ranch's southeast corner just west of the Palm Beach Gardens golf course and Menorah Gardens cemetery. While county staff recommended against the proposal, the county's land planning agency voted 6-4 in favor, with one supporter citing the lack of opposition from Palm Beach Gardens as the deciding factor.
Commissioners, however, cannot let the proposal's hollow arguments set precedent for much bigger properties. For instance, the landowner claims that the widening of Northlake Boulevard justifies more density, even though the road is being widened to meet existing needs -- plus Scripps, not new proposals. Additionally, the landowner relies on an obscure formula to argue that housing demand for Scripps-related employees can't be met without the project, ignoring the huge numbers of existing houses in the area.
Applications such as this test the county's Scripps-at-Mecca argument. The county said Scripps would not be sprawl because it would be a self-sustained community, even though Scripps is farther west and more remote. The county also argued that its land-use rules were worth changing for Scripps' potential economic gains. This proposal doesn't have the same allure.
Instead, the proposal would set a bad precedent already reflected in the broad density increase granted in the so-called "sector" that includes large undeveloped tracts west of Royal Palm Beach. That plan, which comes up for a final vote in August, grants one home on every 1.25 acres. County commissioners can stick to their own plan by refusing this landowner.
Posted by Opinion staff at July 19, 2005 6:25 PMDear opinion Staff of the Post,
"Push Scripps,not Sprawl" From the front or the back? When Staff gives a directive it could be a little clearer? The Staff might consider other euphemism's other then "Push" this is all about being pushed and pushing, what ever happened to good old fashioned "pulling"? Sprawl? undefined, how about "Cannot live within the natural setting"? The opinion Staff needs to read the Counties contract with Scripps, we are contractually bound to develop Vavrus or make every effort too, and if you go all legallestic, collectively, think "Karl Rove." If Scripps doesn't achieve all the Great and Wonderful things its World class reputation have us believe and they have fulfilled all aspects of that contract, and the County fell down on their end, who would be sued, and probably lose, ugly?(not the Staff, the loss) As long as the County marches to Mecca or unless the contract has been amended, even if the county said no to this 90 home development it would only forestall the inevitable.
