Who:

Palm Beach County residents voted to tax themselves $150 million to save the Agricultural Reserve.  In direct violation of the will of the people and their duty to the public, our County Commissioners are selling off our open space to the highest bidder to be paved over and lost forever, in exchange for generous campaign contributions.

What: 

The Agricultural Reserve’s purpose is to preserve unique farmland and wetlands and to enhance agricultural activity- agricultural jobs. It preserves the environment, water resources, and open space. Provides a buffer to the Everglades, enhances the quality of life and the beauty of this county, preserves our tax base, fights climate change by remaining green.  The Palm Beach County Agricultural Reserve is uniquely situated due to soil conditions, climate, water, labor, and transportation resources. The Agricultural Reserve feeds our local area and much of the United States during the winter.

Where:

The Palm Beach County Agricultural Reserve is 22,000 acres located on the western edge of the urban corridor, adjacent to the Arthur Marshall Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge, the only remnant of northern everglades ecosystem.

The Indian Trails Grove Agricultural Reserve “Land Swap” proposes to modify the comprehensive Plan to allow density to be transferred into the Agricultural Reserve to allow development on preserves already committed and abutting conservation land adjacent to the Arthur Marshall Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge by transferring out preserve acreage.

https://www.sierraclub.org/florida/loxahatchee

Why:

The Palm Beach County Agricultural Reserve is under pressure from developers to change existing well thought out zoning regulations. These regulations have been revised by privately initiated text amendments. The GL Homes Indian Trails Grove Agricultural Reserve Exchange is the most hideous to date. It will destroy the last of the preserved areas. The increased development will disturb the integrity of the Everglades and conservation of area wetlands. Every landowner will follow GL’s lead and ask for the same exchange. GL Homes had previously promised to preserve acreage in their development and now they want to develop it to reap a huge profit.

What to do:

Please email or call your County Commissioners to tell them that if they vote for the 1000 home GL project, THE SWAP, you will Swap them out of office come the next election.

Tell these 5 Commissioners to oppose this project—you can email all of them at:  BCC-AllCommisioners@pbcgov.org

Individually:
District 1 - Commissioner -  Maria Marino 561-355-2201
District 2 - Commissioner - Gregg Weiss 561-355-2202
District 3 - Commissioner - Michael Barnett 561-355-2203
District 4 - Commissioner - Marci Woodward 561-355-2204
District 5 - Commissioner - Maria Sachs 561-355-2205
District 6 - Commissioner - Sara Baxter 561-355-2206
District 7 - Commissioner - Mack Bernard 561-355-2207

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