There seems to be a disconnect between stated climate change concerns of the City of West Palm Beach and its recent bayside development actions. The City Commission granted approval on first reading to three high-density projects east of Flagler Drive - the Rybovich village, Palm Harbor Marina Hotel, and the Chapel-by-the-Lake "Bristol" condominium.
Both the NOAA "Sea Trends" study and a recent University of Florida report confirm South Florida can expect its estuaries to rise about two feet by the year 2060. Land east of Flagler Drive is already a designated FEMA flood zone, hurricane evacuation area, and within the county's hurricane storm surge zone.
Many progressive cities facing sea-level rise are opting to zone flood-prone waterfronts for civic park or low-density uses. Unfortunately, development dollars trump common sense in the City of West Palm Beach.
The City Commission is in a state of denial about future flooding along the Lake Worth Lagoon. The city needs to thoroughly examine future public safety and property risk management issues before approving additional projects east of Flagler Drive.
Note: The updated 2014 FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for Palm Beach County confirm properties located east of Flagler Drive are at risk of flooding.
(c.) Davidsson, 2014
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