Commission approves variance to relocate Johns PUD buffer, contingent on county maintenance agreement

The Zoning Commission recommended approval of a Type II variance for the Johns Planned Unit Development that would relocate the required 25-foot perimeter landscape buffer to wrap the county‑owned retention pond and substantially increase the amount of planting material.

Kevin, vice president with GL Homes, told commissioners the variance would allow new townhomes to have lakefront views by shifting the perimeter buffer to the west and south sides of the county retention pond. The developer said the relocated buffer will include substantially more plantings than the code perimeter in some areas — for example, increasing canopy trees, palms and shrubs by roughly two to three times in certain buffer zones.

The plan depends on a maintenance agreement with Palm Beach County because the retention pond is county‑owned. Kevin said the maintenance agreement is under county engineering review and that the Board of County Commissioners is anticipated to consider the agreement in July. If the county does not approve the maintenance agreement, GL Homes said it would revert to installing the code-required perimeter buffer around its project.

Commissioners asked about a proposed six-foot chain‑link vinyl fence and how maintenance obligations would transfer to a future homeowners association (HOA). Kevin said the maintenance agreement requires GL Homes to install and maintain landscaping until turnover to the HOA and that the agreement includes provisions to restore the code-required buffer if the HOA fails to maintain the plantings.

A motion to adopt the resolution approving Item 5A passed on the record. The variance and the developer’s landscaping plan remain dependent on the county’s maintenance agreement and any related BCC action.