Palm Beach County commission initiates countywide review to raise fitness-center cap in commerce zones

Palm Beach County commissioners voted unanimously to initiate a countywide review of the Unified Land Development Code that would raise how much of a commerce-designated development can be occupied by fitness centers.

Jennifer Morton, agent for the BC Commerce project, told the board the request is narrow and urgent: the 47-acre, under-construction project is approved for roughly 661,611 square feet and leasing activity is underway. "We are asking the board to initiate phase 2 of a text amendment that applies only to the commerce future land use category and is a simple increase from the fitness center cap to go from 20% to 35%," Morton said, adding that several youth-sports tenants were ready to sign leases if the additional allocation is available.

The board heard support from multiple tenant and community speakers, including Jesse Odom of Wellington Volleyball Academy, who said raising the cap would allow the club "to provide our athletes with a permanent home where they can flourish." Clayton Kent, managing partner of Twisters Gymnastics, and developer Zach Channing described high demand and long waiting lists for indoor sports facilities.

Commissioner Maria Sachs said she supports more recreation but warned against mixing children's recreation with industrial activities and certain entertainment uses. "What we don't want is children's recreation with warehouse distribution centers and a brewery," she said, pressing the applicant and staff on site circulation and how trucks would be routed. Applicant and developer representatives showed the board how the site plan separates pedestrian entries and parking from the truck court and said distribution as a use is distinct from the warehouse/flex uses approved on the site.

Vice Mayor Woodward moved to initiate the amendment and give staff authority to study language up to a notional 100% cap so the board could consider a range of alternatives; Commissioner Sachs seconded. The motion passed 7-0. Staff noted the county received 44 emails in support filed with the clerk.

What happens next: staff will take the board's comments into account, coordinate divisions and departments in Phase 2, draft proposed code language and return to the board for subsequent hearings (a first and second reading). Morton estimated the applicant hopes to be back in mid-summer, roughly four months from initiation, to meet the project timing needs of prospective tenants.

The initiation does not itself change the code; it directs staff to study and draft amendments to be considered at later hearings. The board emphasized that safety, parking and separation of truck circulation from family-oriented spaces must be addressed in the Phase 2 language.

Action: Motion to initiate a countywide ULDC text amendment for fitness centers (mover: Vice Mayor Woodward; second: Commissioner Sachs). Outcome: carried 7-0.