The Royal Palm Beach Village Council meeting on Thursday, Jan. 16 began on a somber note with a proclamation honoring the memory of Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Ralph “Butch” Waller Jr.
Waller, a longtime Royal Palm Beach resident, died following a tragic accident on Southern Blvd. on Thursday, Nov. 21. Two other PBSO officers, Corporal Luis Paez and Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz, also died as a result of the accident, when they were fatally struck by a driver traveling eastbound as they were conducting traffic enforcement.
The proclamation named Jan. 16, 2025, as Deputy Sheriff Ralph “Butch” Waller Jr. Day in recognition of his ultimate sacrifice. A large group of deputies and officers were in attendance from the PBSO. Mayor Jeff Hmara presented the proclamation to Waller’s widow, Denise Waller.
“He was a man who dedicated his life to protecting and serving others with unwavering courage and commitment,” Hmara said. “We want to express our deepest gratitude and heartfelt condolences. Your loss is profound, and we know that words alone cannot ease your pain. Please know that the Village of Royal Palm Beach stands with you, not only on this special day, but well beyond it.”
The key action item on the council’s agenda was the approval of a final plat for the 12.28-acre Lakeside Landings development, located at the northwest corner of Okeechobee and Royal Palm Beach boulevards.
It was the final step in a process that began in 2019 for an awkwardly shaped piece of land located behind the Village Royale (Winn-Dixie) shopping center. After a comprehensive plan change, a rezoning from commercial use to multi-family residential use was approved in July 2021. The site plan approval and preliminary plat approvals were granted in 2023, setting up the final plat requirement.
The previously approved site plan calls for 100 townhouse units.
Doug Murray with the engineering firm WGI spoke on behalf of the developer. He noted that the project has been under discussion for more than five years. It included a number of changes requested by the village before the site plan was approved in 2023.
“Since that time, we have been going through the permitting process and the final engineering process,” Murray explained, noting that the site is currently under construction.
There were no comments from the public or the council before the item was approved unanimously.
In a somewhat related item, the council approved the second and final reading of a village ordinance that eliminates perimeter landscape setback requirements when certain conditions are met in villa and townhouse zoning districts.
With Lakeside Landings, the developer needed a waiver from the current setback requirements. The change eliminates the need for such a waiver, as long as the developer is providing enough yard space behind the townhouse or villa units.
In other business:
- Both Hmara and Vice Mayor Selena Samios noted that they attended Sheriff Ric Bradshaw’s swearing-in ceremony at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park on Sunday, Jan. 12, adding that it was a great honor to have the event hosted in the village.
Hmara noted that he also attended new State Attorney Alexcia Cox’s swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at the Palm Beach County Courthouse. He added that she is from Royal Palm Beach, and her parents still live in the community.
- During public comment, Carl Silverman, a resident of Greenway Village South, asked the village to avoid allowing golf carts and other motorized vehicles, like scooters, on the pathways in Commons Park, which he feels should be for pedestrians and bicyclists. “There needs to be better enforcement of this,” he said.
- On its consent agenda, the council approved an agreement with the Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival in the amount of $20,000 for the production of four performances of William Shakespeare’s comedy As You Like It in Commons Park from Thursday, Jan. 30 through Sunday, Feb. 2. A special event permit was also approved for the shows, which will include food trucks, with the free Shakespeare play from 8 to 10 p.m.
- A special event permit was also approved for the village to host its annual West Fest celebration at Commons Park from Friday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 2.
- After a presentation by Finance Director Sharon Almeida, the council approved changes to the limits on what department directors can approve without going through a more in-depth process. Department directors can now approve purchases up to $5,000, up from $3,500. Similar changes were made for field purchase orders and also to determine when verbal quotes and/or written quotes are required. These changes were mostly due to the increasing costs of goods and services over the past several years. The numbers were last updated in 2017.
- Finally, the council approved several appointments to boards and committees.
On the Planning & Zoning Commission, Andrew Alba, previously a commission alternate, was moved to a permanent seat, and Christopher Butler was appointed to fill the alternate vacancy.
Alfred DePaola was moved from an alternate seat to a regular seat to fill a vacancy on the Recreation Advisory Board, and then Mike Louramore was added to the board as an alternate.
Sergio Herrera, previously an alternate, was appointed to a vacant seat on the Education Advisory Board.
