Last January, Briny Breezes residents voted to sell the 43-acre park to Ocean Land, Inc. for $510-MM. The Treasure Coast Regional Planning council, which covers Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie and Palm Beach Counties is, for the first time, reviewing an entire town and the Department of Community Affairs is reviewing the town’s rewritten comprehensive plan. A digital model was prepared of what a development of the maximium density, 40-60 units per acre, would look like.
With no independent city council, the developer is in charge. Ocean Land has been urged by the council’s staff to be more specific in its plans and to show they were compatible with surrounding development. Ocean Land plans about 900 condo and time-share units and a 349-room hotel in several towers rising above state road A1A.
Ocean Ridge and Gulf Stream, neighboring towns, have opposed plans and mentioned that Boynton Beach could annex the resort, and that the developer could help ensure that enough affordable housing is available there for resort workers.
Hurricane worries for a high-rise have been mentioned for a building so densely populated on a barrier island. Environmental groups have spoken against the project. There is concern that the number of units it would take to reach a standard return on the investment was alarming at best. Cost of insurance could be a problem. Water, sewage and traffic are concerns. Storm evacuation could be a problem.
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