Boynton Beach Florida is again the subject of controversy regarding land use and zoning. This time the city commission is requesting a Brownfield Designation for the Boynton Beach CRA area in hopes of reviving the opportunity for development there.

A Brownfield is a site of actual or perceived environmental contamination. Typically Brownfields are found at the locations of former gas stations, dry cleaners or industrial plants where contaminants may seep into the soil. Developers usually stay away from the cost and the potential liability of environmental clean-ups or EPA fines… but a Brownfield Designation incents Developers to clean up or even gives tax credits to a Developer that has already cleaned up a Brownfield area.

While most do not like the “stigma” created by the Brownfield Designation, the Boynton Beach Florida City Commission believes that the incentives that go along with the designation thanks to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will help developers and businesses choose to move into the area rather than chasing those that are there away.

The Boynton Beach Florida City Commission wants to designate all 1650 acres in the CRA’s footprint but property owners in the CRA objected. Upset homeowners and businesses believe that this designation is tantamount to declaring their land contaminated and that the Brownfield Designation will damage their property’s value and marketability.

The city commission sees the value of the incentives as more potent to revitalize an area that has been forgotten in the market downswing.

The incentives for redeveloping in a Brownfield are:

• Businesses can get $2,500 from the state for each job they create.
• Sales tax exemption for building material used when a project has at least 20 percent affordable housing.
• Lenders can get loan guarantees and protection from liability from future EPA claims.

Thus far, there are 172 Brownfield Designations in the State of Florida which have drawn nearly $884Million of capital investment.

In Palm Beach County Florida, there are currently 7 Brownfield Designations comprising 3000 acres:

• Belle Glade CRA
• Carver Square in Delray Beach
• the former Palm Beach Lakes Golf Course
• Lake Worth’s closed municipal landfill
• Lake Worth CRA
• the downtown Northwood/Pleasant City CRA
• Westgate/Belvedere Homes CRA in West Palm Beach.

In these Brownfields, more than 1000 homes have been built and 2000 jobs have been created due to businesses moving into those areas.

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David A. Podgursky, MBA
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