Petition to the City of Boynton Beach: Boynton Beach residents want to keep our sky in view without obstruction. We want to enjoy the clouds, the sunsets, the sunrises, the stars, and the moon. We Reject Oversized Development Projects such as "The Dune" because they are inconsistent with the character, quality, and culture that define our community.

Our Core Objective in Solidarity: To compel our city government to support the collective voice of our local community against oversized building projects.

We implore our elected representatives to approach the matter of oversized development as ONE community issue rather than on a project by project basis. 

We implore our elected representatives to stand up against The Live Local Act and restore our control over the design, development, and culture of our community. Please put a stop on all mid-rise building projects until the matter can be addressed to the satisfaction of the local residents.  

To the Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners of Boynton Beach,

We, the undersigned residents and concerned citizens of Boynton Beach, hereby express our strong opposition to the proposed development located at 2703 S Federal Highway, 2617 S Federal Highway, & 2755 S Federal Highway, often referred to as "The Dune" development. We are deeply concerned about the project's excessive size and the irrefutable negative impacts this will have on our community.

The negative consequences of this development outweigh any of the alleged "positives". This development is not for us, the people who've built, maintained, nurtured, and grown this community. High-capacity living spaces destroy neighborly culture and create a collection of strangers. These buildings fundamentally destroy our city solidarity through crowded living spaces and impede upon the beauty of our natural environment.

The proposed development, reportedly consisting of 298 dwelling units, far exceeds the current zoning regulations for this area, which we understand allows for a maximum of 20 dwelling units per acre and a building height of no more than 3 stories or 150% of the tallest building in the area (possibly with a few specific exceptions).

While we understand the developer is attempting to exploit the Florida Live Local Act to override local zoning, we believe the scale of this project is inappropriate and does not serve the best interests of our city.

Our specific concerns include, but are not limited to:

Over-Density: The significant increase in the number of dwelling units will place an undue burden on our existing infrastructure, including roads, traffic flow, water and sewer systems, and public safety resources.

Excessive Height: The proposed building height significantly exceeds the current zoning limit of 3 stories and is out of character with the surrounding neighborhood, negatively impacting the aesthetic appeal, safety, and quality of life for residents.

Questionable Affordability: We are concerned that the "affordable housing" being proposed may not genuinely address the needs of our community and could be a loophole to circumvent local zoning laws for a market-rate or near-market-rate development. The Dune will be 8 stories in order to allow for units with premium ocean views and ocean view pricing. This comes at the expense of the adjacent single family homes whose eastern rising sunshine and view of the sky will be replaced with this unwanted obstruction.

We, the citizens of Boynton Beach, are not fooled by the strategic marketing campaign in which the term "affordable housing" is used to gain support from well-meaning citizens. We know this is an outright lie. We know that no school teacher would even qualify to live in this building based on their salary, let alone be able to afford the rental premiums. If a school teacher can't afford it, it's not affordable. It's a lie and the People of Boynton aren't going to look the other way so some developer can pretend to do something good while growing deeper pockets.

Negative Impact on Property Values: The sheer size and scale of this development could negatively affect the property values of existing homes in the surrounding area, impacting the investments of long-term residents. Some homes in Los Mangos will lose a substantial amount of natural light in their homes as the 8 story building will completely block the eastern sunlight from reaching several homes. This residents will no longer be able to enjoy a bright home with lots of light as their primary windows face the east. Casting a shadow over their homes, blocking their rightful view of the sky with an oversized reminder of our powerlessness to control what happens in our community is unconscionable. Those resident who wish to take advantage of solar power benefits will have substantially fewer hours of sunlight.

Strain on Public Resources and Increased Costs: The increased population density will strain our public resources, including our schools, parks, and emergency services, potentially leading to higher taxes and a diminished quality of services for all Boynton Beach residents.

Increased Traffic Congestion: The addition of hundreds of new households will significantly increase traffic in our already busy areas, leading to longer commute times, increased pollution, and an increased risk of traffic-related injury and death.

Damage to City Character and Feel: This massive development threatens to fundamentally alter the cherished character and feel of our city, which is currently known for its relaxed coastal atmosphere and close-knit community. The introduction of such a large, out-of-scale building will detract from the unique charm and identity of Boynton Beach.

Unfair Developer Benefits: The developer stands to gain significant financial benefits, including potential tax-free building materials and a substantial property tax exemption (75% exempt!) on the "affordable" housing units, while the community bears the long-term costs and consequences. Where is our tax exemption for keeping our homes affordable for others in our community? Where's our tax exemption for having to deal with the consequences of this 8-story nightmare?

Risk of Unfulfilled Affordability Promises: There is a concern that the developer may choose not to honor the affordable housing guidelines for the full 30-year term required by the Live Local Act once the development is completed, leaving the community with an oversized, market-rate apartment complex.

Setting a Dangerous Precedent: Approving a development of this scale would set a dangerous precedent, signaling to other developers that they can exploit the Live Local Act to bypass our local zoning regulations and build oversized projects that do not align with the community's vision for responsible growth. This could lead to a cascade of similar inappropriate developments, further eroding our city's character and straining our resources.

Reduced Quality of Life: The combination of increased traffic, strain on infrastructure, and the sheer size of this development will inevitably lead to a reduced quality of life for the residents of Boynton Beach.

Environment: This building will sit upon a water system critical for storm drainage. The building's large capacity will maximize the amount of natural ground where water would typically absorb and drain. Water will no longer have this green area to flow into and return to the ground as it will be replaced with concrete, chemicals, rebar, and nonsense. The construction of this building will create health concerns for the surrounding community as we inhale the chemicals brought in with the building materials. The rain will carry these chemicals into our environment, contaminating plants, animals, and living spaces for the long term. This building will exacerbate an already disastrous light pollution problem, further jeopardizing the health and safety of sea turtles and nocturnal creatures.

WE DO NOT WANT TO BECOME ANOTHER FORT LAUDERDALE, overdeveloped and in constant battle with an inadequate sewage system. We don't want sewage flooding our roads. We don't want our water supply contaminated. We don't want high-density housing in locations for which it is not zoned, period. We don't want this mess.

We urge the City Commission to carefully consider these significant concerns and to reject the current proposal for the development at 2703 S Federal Highway, 2617 S Federal Highway, & 2755 S Federal Highway. We demand a development that is more appropriately scaled to the existing zoning and infrastructure capacity of our community and one that genuinely addresses the affordable housing needs of Boynton Beach residents without sacrificing our quality of life and the character of our neighborhoods.

We respectfully request that the City Commission prioritize the well-being of its citizens and uphold the principles of responsible development.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned Residents and Concerned Citizens of Boynton Beach