West Palm Beach residents are pushing back against rapid development as the Downtown Master Plan nears a vote. New citizen groups, a petition with over 3,000 signatures, and calls to pause the plan highlight growing concerns over traffic, infrastructure, and the future of the city.

Concerns Over Development

As luxury towers and construction cranes transform the city’s skyline, residents are urging city leaders to slow down before approving additional projects. They say the city’s infrastructure may not be able to keep pace with the rapid development.

An investigation identified 44 major developments that are completed, under construction, proposed, or awaiting approval across West Palm Beach. Nine of those projects are located along Flagler Drive, where city commissioners are considering changes to the Downtown Master Plan that could allow buildings up to 25 stories along portions of the waterfront.

Residents say the debate is no longer about a single building, but about the character of the city. ‘It’s like a punch to the gut,’ said Save West Palm Beach co-founder Fatima Sanandaji. ‘What’s going on? Why are we losing the character?’

Community Response

Community organizer Catherine Adler said she cares enough about the issue that she spoke with a reporter while working in Austria. ‘We are really afraid,’ Adler said. ‘We don’t want to look like Fort Lauderdale. We don’t want to have a Wilshire Corridor.’

Adler and Sanandaji founded the nonprofit Save West Palm Beach and launched an online petition that has collected over 3,000 signatures. Two other citizen organizations have also formed, calling for city leaders to pause the proposed Downtown Master Plan until independent traffic, infrastructure, water, and sewer studies are completed.

‘We’re not anti-growth,’ Sanandaji said. ‘We’re pro-growth. Thoughtful, balanced growth.’

Developer Response

Related Ross, the company behind some of the developments, declined an interview but said in a statement that it has worked with the West Palm Beach community for over 30 years, supports responsible growth, and agrees that infrastructure and resources must be in place to support it.

Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.