Kolter Homes revises plans for development adjacent to Arden; cuts number of units by 40%

LOXAHATCHEE — When Kolter Homes appeared before the county commission a year ago to seek approval of an 892-unit development adjacent to Arden, Commissioner Maria Sachs, upset with the density, remarked the project looked like a Disney Cruise ship.

Sachs and other commissioners called on Kolter to revise its plans. Its agent, Ken Tuma, returned this month with new plans, cutting the number of units to 534, a reduction of 40%. The changes were enough to persuade commissioners to transmit the plans for state review. Once the review is completed, Kolter will return to seek final approval.

But a critic referred to the new plans as "a river cruise ship" that was still incompatible with rural developments in the region. Kolter also changed the name of the project from Cresswind to Lakehaven.

Tuma noted that Kolter worked for nearly a year to redo its plans so it would meet with the approval of county planners and county commissioners. He added that buffers will be created and the developer will provide a civic site for county use. Ten percent of the homes will be set aside for workforce housing.

Fox Trail, Deer Run residents not happy with Kolter Homes' adjacent development plans

Nancy Gribble, president of the property owners association at nearby Fox Trail, said her community consists of five-acre lots that are incompatible with the density sought by Kolter.

"We are the forgotten lifestyle," she said, noting that Fox Trail is a rural and equestrian community. "We are getting squeezed and squeezed."

Gribble said the region already has failing roads, including three sections along Southern Boulevard. She said a traffic study shows that more than 5,000 trips a day will be created if Lakehaven is approved.

'A bridge too far': 892-home plan paused as county balks at Kolter's Loxahatchee proposal

"And how long before these neighbors begin to complain about roosters and chickens squawking, peacocks screeching and the smell of horse manure?"

Commissioners instructed staff to include notices to buyers that they will be residing in rural area and that an ATV park might be built as well. Tuma agreed to the condition.

To the north is Deer Run, a rural development that like Fox Run has five-acre lots. A resident of Deer Run also complained about the impact of Lakehaven on the lifestyle of her community.

The Lakehaven 466-acre site is in an unincorporated area on the north side of Southern Boulevard, about 2 miles west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. Known as the Fleming property, it was a major farming operation for decades. It is directly east of Arden.

The project will also have 47,000 square feet of commercial space.

County Mayor Gregg Weiss called on Tuma to address the issue of whether the workforce housing units will be affordable to workers. He was concerned that with taxes, HOA fees and mortgage rates at over 7%, it could be difficult for them to make their payments.

Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Kolter Homes reduces size for Palm Beach County development