Village of Palm Springs: Land development, population growth, housing, and canals.

There was a very interesting item in The Lake Worth Herald recently about our neighboring Village of Palm Springs (see below). Like the City of Lake Worth and the Town of Lake Clarke Shores there is a big change afoot: looking at our canals and waterways in a whole new way.

The future of our canal and waterway networks will no longer be just for excess water drainage into the Intracoastal. The future is making these waterways — and the land along these canals — open for economic development, recreation, transportation, ecotourism, and a multitude of other public uses.

Whereas for decades the public paid little heed to the Lake Worth Drainage District system of canals (except during storm events or when the bill arrived), and the public hardly noticed the Keller Canal north of Lake Osborne, and how this all fits in with C-51 Canal operated by the South Florida Water Management District. . . well, that’s not going to be the case for very much longer.

At the same time there is another major transformation happening near and along the coast in Central Palm Beach County (CPBC) and it’s undeniable: western sprawl in the County is winding down. Now many developers are getting creative and looking at places like Lake Worth, West Palm Beach, Greenacres and other areas in CPBC for vacant and under-utilized land.

For example, have you ever heard of Canal 8 Road in Palm Springs? In The Lake Worth Herald recently was this:

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that public hearings
will be held on:

• Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. by Land Development Board
• Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. by the Village Council

In the Village Hall Council Chambers at 226 Cypress Lane, Palm Springs to consider:

Site Plan

An application submitted by Raul C. Perez, agent for the owner, Valmel Investments, LLC. (“Applicant”), for a Site Plan (SPR 17-06) for construction of thirty-two (32) 2-story fee-simple townhomes, to be located on 3.20 acres vacant lot at 4234 Canal 8 Road.

All persons interested in these matters may appear at the times and place aforesaid and be heard. Prior to the meeting, the application may be reviewed at the Village Clerk’s Office.

Now imagine this.

The future residents of Canal 8 Road in Palm Springs get in their boat one day and go east to the Keller (E-4) Canal, then head north toward the C-51 Canal, and shortly thereafter head east once again to the boat lift at Spillway Park in the City of Lake Worth.

After bypassing the S-155 Spillway structure (being careful and watch for manatees!), head out into the Intracoastal and then over to the boat dock at Old Bridge Park in Lake Worth. Dock the boat and stroll over to Benny’s on the Beach for lunch.

Imagine that.

That’s why there’s so much interest in the Blueway Trail project. It’s not a “Lake Worth” or a “Lake Clarke Shores” project. It’s a regional project that benefits all of coastal Central Palm Beach County.

Whilst on the subject of Palm Springs, Village Manager Richard Reade gave a spectacular presentation to the Lake Worth City Commission last June on behalf of the Florida City & County Management Assoc., and last March at the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council meeting, Reade addressed the issue of enclaves and annexations:

Mr. Reade indicated because his community is built-out and there has been a large population growth they do a lot of infill redevelopment and annexation. He stated there are a number of ways to annex property that are allowed by statute, but in areas that are more developed the involuntary annexation process is a key economic development tool.