Since its inception, 1000 Friends of Florida has been actively involved in promoting smarter growth and protected natural areas in Palm Beach County to enhance the quality of life for residents and protect significant natural lands key to guarding the region’s drinking water and sustaining the iconic Everglades.

Over the years, 1000 Friends has advocated for compatible development in urban areas and the protection of rural lands. 1000 Friends successfully led the Palm Beach County campaign to relocate Scripps Florida from an inappropriate rural location on the fringes of the Everglades to a cost-effective urban site close to existing roads and other infrastructure, is a tireless advocate for protecting the Everglades Agricultural Area, and opposes other inappropriately sited sprawling development in rural areas.

The 2016 study, Florida 2070/Water 2070, reveals that if Florida does not change the way it develops, by 2070 more than a third of Florida’s lands could be paved over, with development-related water demand more than doubling. A more sustainable alternative shows that if Florida follows compact development patterns and increases the amount of land conserved, it will save 1.8 million acres of land from development and conserve an additional 5.8 million acres of natural and agricultural land, while still accommodating the same growth in population. Using more compact development patterns and a modest 20 percent increase in water conservation will reduce water demand by more than a quarter in 2070 but, given many areas of the state are already experiencing water shortages, this is clearly not enough.

What are the implications of Florida 2070/Water 2070 for Palm Beach County? Using moderate population growth projections, Palm Beach County will need to accommodate more than three-quarters of a million new residents between 2017 and 2070 through a combination of infill and new development. Given that projection, what we do now to make Palm Beach County significantly more sustainable in 2070?

Palm Beach County 2070: An Overview
What are the findings of Florida 2070/Water 2070 and what are the implications for land development and water demand in Palm Beach County?

• Palm Beach County 2070 — Paul Owens, President, 1000 Friends of Florida

Planning for a More Sustainable Future
What programs are already in place to promote more sustainable planning and how can we enhance them further?

• Complete Streets – Kim Delaney, Director of Strategic Development and Policy, Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council

• Community Resilience – Megan Houston, Director, Office of Resilience

• Comprehensive Planning for Sea Level Rise – Erin Deady, President, Erin L. Deady, P.A.

The Perspective from Municipalities
How does the approach to planning for growth in Palm Beach County’s cities differ from the approach at the county level? Where are they similar? How is the cities’ approach faring?

• Raphael Clemente, Downtown Development Director, West Palm Beach

• Natalie Crowley, Planning Director, Palm Beach Gardens

• Tim Stillings, Planning Director, Delray Beach

Where do we go from here?
What have we learned about the long-term challenges from growth facing Palm Beach County’s environment, economy, and quality of life? What additional information, and additional resources, do we need to lay the groundwork for better policies and programs? What can we do to educate county residents and galvanize elected officials to respond?