West Palm Beach Achieves Favorable Legal Ruling Over Okeechobee Business District

Press release from City of West Palm Beach:

July 6 2020

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.– The City of West Palm Beach, Related Companies, and First Church of Christ Scientist West Palm Beach were awarded a judgement in their favor over the City’s establishment of the Okeechobee Business District (OBD). The OBD paves the way for a new era of growth in Downtown West Palm Beach.

In the 15th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Judge James L. Martz entered a judgment in favor of the defendants stating:

• the City took appropriate legislative action,
• the OBD was not ‘spot-zoning’, and
• the plaintiffs were not entitled to relief under the Florida Growth Policy Act.

The OBD was challenged by 222 Lakeview, LLC.

The OBD is a dedicated district within the downtown core, which incentivizes Class-A office construction while, simultaneously, implementing transportation demand management strategies to reduce future traffic on Okeechobee Boulevard.

“This is another victory for the City of West Palm Beach and its Okeechobee Business District,” said West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. “The order provides even more evidence that the City took all the necessary steps to properly establish the district and ensure its compliance. The district paves the way for a new era of growth in our city.”

“We have been proud partners of the City of West Palm Beach for more than 20 years, and remain committed to the growth and development of our vibrant downtown,” said Gopal Rajegowda, Senior Vice President of Related Companies. “West Palm Beach’s unrivaled location and lifestyle has long attracted global companies, and the OBD will further cement the City as the premiere commercial center of South Florida.”

A copy of the order may be read here: https://www.wpb.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=2308

This press release was produced by the City of West Palm Beach. The views expressed are the author's own.