Editorial: Nostalgia aside, plans for Panama Hattie’s site... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

You know, they are right. This is not your father or mother's Palm Beach County. When I moved here from Michigan 25 years ago, Palm Beach County's population was a touch under 1 million people. In fact, there was a lot of political pressure later about admitting that the county had over 1 million people. That realization came after the 1990 Census. Now, we are quickly approaching 1.5 million. In comparison, Lake Worth's population has risen, but not at the multiples of the surrounding area. Check out this Population Clock webpage put out by the Census Bureau. It is a grim reminder that we do not live in a static world and the forces of population growth cannot be overcome. But they can be channeled into areas that need revitalization and have already been disturbed ecologically. This is a better choice than greenfield, sprawl like development patterns. Lake Worth can benefit from more infill development. Click title for link. Here are the last few paragraphs.

State and county planners have long pushed for more focus on so-called “in-fill” development in the eastern county, rather than additional suburban sprawl farther west. As a representative for the developer, Nicholas Mastroianni, pointed out at a recent public forum, the planned project is in line with this long-standing “Eastward Ho!” movement.
That does not mean there are not real concerns. Traffic along PGA Boulevard by the restaurant is often already problematic, compounded by the drawbridge spanning the Intracoastal. In a nod to traffic concerns, the developer has already scaled back his plans, and more adjustments will likely be needed.
But the north county is booming, with more and more people wanting to live there. This inevitably means more development, and that growth is best when it happens in the right places.