Loxahatchee Groves accepts $75,000 state planning grant for Southern Boulevard study

Loxahatchee Groves — The Town of Loxahatchee Groves on Feb. 3 approved resolutions accepting a Department of Commerce planning grant that will fund a study of the Southern Boulevard corridor aimed at preserving the town’s rural identity.

The council voted 5–0 to authorize the town to accept the no-match $75,000 Community Planning Technical Assistance grant and to proceed with an interlocal agreement with the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council to carry out the work.

Treasure Coast staffer Kim Delaney told the council the grant funds a short, public-facing planning process that will include due diligence on land use, zoning, traffic and infrastructure; outreach with residents, property owners and neighboring jurisdictions; and a report of options and recommendations. “It’s a really compressed schedule,” Delaney said, noting the deliverable schedule is aimed at producing a report for council consideration this spring. She stressed the study is advisory and nonbinding: the town may accept, modify or reject any recommendations.

Jessica Seymour, an architect on the Treasure Coast team, said the work will translate community input into concrete design options and regulatory tools, including how development along Southern Boulevard could be designed to protect residential neighborhoods and the town’s rural character. Councilmembers repeatedly pressed that any outcome must preserve two-lane, low-speed attributes where possible and explore design treatments—such as roundabouts and buffers—to reduce cut-through traffic.

Town staff clarified the grant requires no local match and does not compel the council to adopt land-use changes; it only requires the public outreach and presentation of findings. Council members asked for copies of the presentation slides and for a schedule showing public workshop dates and the expected delivery timeline to ensure council and residents can participate.

The council’s vote to accept the grant followed Delaney’s presentation and a formal motion to approve "resolution number 6-07 and resolution 2026-08," which passed unanimously. Town Manager Francine Romalia and staff will work with Treasure Coast to finalize the scope and public-engagement plan, and the council will review the draft findings when returned.

What happens next: Treasure Coast will begin the compressed schedule of data review and public outreach; staff said the work will include traffic and infrastructure analysis and a series of workshops. The town may receive the draft report before the June presentation deadline and will decide whether to act on any recommendations.