Minto Communities Inc. announced last week that it has submitted revised plans for its proposed Minto West development that reduces the number of homes from approximately 6,500 to 4,549, but increases the non-residential space from 1.4 million to 2.1 million square feet.
Minto officials announced the changes Thursday, June 26, adding that new plans had already been submitted to Palm Beach County. The company explained that the revisions to the master plan were based on a balance of input from the community, stakeholders and various interest groups during a 10-month community outreach campaign.
Minto Florida Vice President John Carter said the decision to revise the master plan is an important step in its community outreach process. “Creating much-needed jobs, bringing a balance of sustainable land uses to the western region of the county and providing additional housing options is still our focus,” Carter said.
Development rights for the property already include land use approval to build 2,966 homes and 235,000 square feet of commercial and retail. The revised master plan still calls for far more than that, but there were a number of other significant changes.
“The revised plan eliminates the proposed spring training baseball stadium and all rental apartments in direct response to input we have received,” Minto Florida President Mike Belmont said. “Building relationships with our supporters and community members has been beneficial in this process to achieve a consensus on a community plan that provides opportunities, achieves economic benefits and addresses concerns expressed by all stakeholders in the community.”
The Minto officials said the company’s vision for the 3,800-acre property formerly known as Callery-Judge Grove remains the same: to design a sustainable community while complementing the surrounding environment.
Indian Trail Improvement District Supervisor Michelle Damone, also a member of the Western Communities Council, said the announcement is encouraging, but serious concerns remain.
“I believe the reduction in residential and the removal of Citrus Grove Blvd. is huge,” Damone said. “Just those two things alone mean that they’re listening. I expected that if they reduced the residential, they would increase the commercial, so I think that really depends on what type of commercial.”
She also pointed out that a 400-foot buffer is proposed around the entire property.
“There is about an 11 percent increase in green space,” Damone said. “They have also dedicated land for a permanent fire station, which is something that many Acreage residents have wanted for more than a decade.”
The current fire station for that area is in rented space in the former Winn-Dixie shopping center on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.
The plan also has dedicated land for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Currently, the Acreage/Loxahatchee substation is based out of office space in Royal Palm Beach.
“Those are all positives,” Damone said.
While the removal of Citrus Grove Blvd. was helpful, Damone said, she is still concerned about Persimmon Blvd., which is shown in the development as a rural parkway access point for the development.
“They are proposing it as a two-lane road, but I’m still concerned about the impact on the neighborhood over there,” Damone said. “I do believe that this is a step in the right direction, and that they’re trying to work with the community. I can also tell that Palm Beach County has had its influence in it.”
Damone said the expanded buffer will also serve as some protection for residents near the proposed development.
“I’m most pleased about a 400-foot buffer,” she said. “This proposal has them building the lower-density homes on the boundaries of The Acreage and Loxahatchee Groves and keeps the [higher] density internal, so that’s also a step in the right direction.”
Damone added that while people are focused on what is happening at Minto West, they are not paying attention to other large projects waiting in the wings.
“We need to be paying attention to what happens at GL homes,” Damone said, referring to a development planned west of The Acreage. “Obviously, they are looking at 60th Street. GL Homes needs a way out. I’ve got residents up there, and I’m concerned about that impact.”
The proposed Minto West development plans will be considered by the Palm Beach County Commission later this year. If approved, build-out of the community, including residential, recreation facilities, a town center, office and retail, is expected to take more than a decade.
Wellington will be the cut-through to be used by vehicles heading east and wanting to avoid traveling along Southern Blvd and the hectic interrsection of 441 (with just 1 turn lane south).
Everyone’s focus seems to be on Forest Hill Blvd as the main cut-through, but Big Blue Trace is a straight shot to South Shore Blvd, and a nifty quick access to Forest Hill Blvd. and then onto Stribling.
When PB State College is built and the adjoining Jacob’s shopping center built, Bink’s Forest to Greenview Shores will be utilized as the cut-through.
That’s ‘progress’. We, as a district, can only elect 1 county commissioner, the other commissioners have no ‘election consequences’ if they approve the many future growth plans along Southern Blvd to the West. It’s the only land area available for growth.
All western communities need to ban together and do something.
Time to form our own county and secede from the ‘rest of the county.