GL Homes land swap could solve Palm Beach County water quality issues | Opinion

Jeff Koons
·3 min read

Fresh, clean water is the lifeblood of our community. It’s vital for drinking, cooking, recreation, firefighting, industry and so much more. It supports Palm Beach County residents’ daily lives, as well as our thriving tourism industry.

Improving water quality was a top priority for me during my time on the Palm Beach County Commission and West Palm Beach City Commission. Over the years, I worked with my colleagues on a variety of solutions, but due to a lack of consensus or funding, our county has repeatedly gone back to the drawing board in search of a viable way forward.

With every year of delay, the consequences grow more dire.

Enter GL Homes. The developer has offered a solution on its Indian Trails Grove land in Loxahatchee that would solve several Palm Beach County water issues – at no cost to taxpayers. GL Homes proposes to design, permit and build a multi-million-dollar Water Resource Project that would intercept dirty water from Lake Okeechobee and treat, clean and disperse it throughout Central and Northern Palm Beach County. Once complete, GL Homes would convey the project and 1,600 acres of land to Palm Beach County – for free.

This is a true turning point for Palm Beach County water quality, and I was pleased our County Commission voted in favor of the project in May. I look forward to the Commission’s final approval in October.

More: County OKs deal: GL gets coveted land west of Boca; county gets $150 million water project

I personally know the various experts working on the GL Homes water project. They are some of the most experienced water professionals in South Florida. I reviewed the plans, which have already been submitted to South Florida Water Management District, and understand the project could serve three key purposes:

  • Combat saltwater intrusion in the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River, which was designated as a Wild and Scenic River in 1985. This will help restore the river environment — longstanding goals of Palm Beach County and its residents.

  • Treat water before it arrives at Grassy Waters Preserve. That’s an important step as the water is ultimately distributed as drinking water to the City of West Palm Beach and the Town of Palm Beach. Overall, it will improve the health of Grassy Waters and our regional water supply systems.

  • Store water before it reaches the Lake Worth Lagoon, which often receives too much fresh water containing harmful nutrients. The project will release water to the lagoon systematically, helping to stabilize salinity and support healthier, more productive flora and fauna.

People listen to a discussion of the GL Homes of the proposed GL Homes land swap during a meeting before Palm Beach County Commissioners Wednesday, February 2, 2022.
People listen to a discussion of the GL Homes of the proposed GL Homes land swap during a meeting before Palm Beach County Commissioners Wednesday, February 2, 2022.

It’s also important to note that the GL Homes’ water resource project isn’t being built in a vacuum. The Palm Beach County Commission recently approved a massive project to acquire the rights to utilize two deep-water reservoirs near the GL water resource project – an investment fully funded by the Florida Legislature at a cost of $113 million. GL Homes’ water project will complement this investment by filtering the stored water before its released back into the system. One Flow Way 2 is complete, it will also provide a critical, direct delivery route between the reservoirs and the Loxahatchee River – enabling clean, fresh water to reach the River and fight saltwater intrusion.

In addition, the land GL Homes will provide Palm Beach County includes a 725-acre active farm, and the County can use the proceeds from that lease to pay for the water project’s ongoing maintenance.

There are some who are opposed to the “swap” since it will entitle GL Homes to transfer homes from Loxahatchee to the Ag Reserve in west Delray Beach. As a commissioner, I always considered the entire County when making decisions and believe this proposal is a true win-win for all residents – from Jupiter to Boca Raton and in between.

Without clean water, there will be no future for Palm Beach County, and I trust the County Commission to act now before it’s too late.

John F. "Jeff" Koons is a former mayor of West Palm Beach and former Palm Beach County commissioner.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County, Florida development: GL Homes deal good for water