Future access desire creates easement

By John Johnston
Managing Editor

Palm Beach County Commissioners have approved a declaration of cross access easement for the about to be expanded Royal Palm Beach Library and the adjacent Mid-Western Community Center.

Located near the southwest corner of Okeechobee Boulevard and Royal Palm Beach Boulevard in Royal Palm Beach, the move comes because the county is planning to expand the heavily used Royal Palm Beach Library, said commissioners. At the same time – and given the proximity of these two county owned facilities -- commissioners said it’s reasonable to assume that customers of either the community center or library would seek the closest available parking.

The existing 7,955 square foot library will be expanded to 12,530 square feet, along with 112 total parking spaces added to meet code, said commissioners.  As part of site plan approval, and to insure free and easy future access between two properties, the village imposed a condition of site plan approval requiring the county to establish a cross access easement.

Commissioners said the easement provides for access between the community center and library at three separate points for smooth ingress/egress.

Separately, commissioners have received approval of a $2.25 million County Incentive Grant Program (CIGP) agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

The money will be used to widen and reconstruct Hypoluxo Road from Jog Road to Military Trail, commissioners said.  The grant requires that the county match the grant amount, and also be responsible for all costs above the grant. 

Commissioners said this widening and reconstruction program is part of the county’s five-year road plan, and that the matching requirement is included in the current budget.

Other Business

In other recent business commissioners:

• Amended the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) for fiscal years 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010; and authorizing various technical revisions to the LHAP for Florida Housing Finance Corporation compliance for the multi-family rental program, the special needs barrier free program, the special needs replacement housing program and the Palm Beach County housing lien policy.  The SHIP program provides funding to the Commission on Affordable Housing for various programs designed to assist in the development and preservation of affordable housing. The programs will provide financial assistance to eligible extremely-low, very low, and low-income households to make needed repairs to individually owned residences, said commissioners.