Landowner-Initiated Referenda

Petitions are used by landowners requesting capital improvements such as road paving or for requesting a "no-pave" restriction on a roadway. Landowners interested in road or other capital improvements or no paving requests must contact the District office and will be referred to the District Engineer for project review prior to issuing the District's authorized petition form.

 

As of March 16, 2023, the Board of Supervisors has established a Petition Review Fee of $400 for roadway segments 0.5 mile or less and $800 for over 0.5 miles. The fee applies to both road paving and "no pave" petitions. Petitions must be submitted to the District office, along with the review fee, by April 30th of each year.

 

If more than 50% of the landowners on a roadway or roadway segment request a road paving improvement and it is approved by the board to go to referendum, at least 90% of the affected landowners must be in favor for the project to proceed. Landowners would either be assessed on a per parcel bass through District financing, or the estimated costs for the project may be paid in full by landowners prior to the project being added to a Plan of Improvement. Currently District financing of projects is typically from 10 to 15 years depending on market conditions. For Open-Graded Emulsified Mix assessments, costs currently are estimated between $1,100 and $1,800 per parcel per year and for Asphalt, the estimated costs are between $1,800 and $2,500 per parcel per year, depending on construction costs and financing.

 

Please refer to the Enhanced Stabilization Policy below for detailed information.

Current Referenda for Roadway Improvements

Current Landowner-Initiated Roadway Referendum

At the May 19, 2022 Board Meeting Staff presented verified petitions for improvements to the following roadways in Palm Beach Country Estates:

 

153rd Court North between 69th Drive North and 69th Trail North

160th Street North between 72nd Drive North and 71st Drive North (Landowner financed) (withdrawn)

71st Drive North between 160th Street North and 160th Lane North (District financed, contingent on 160th Street North) (withdrawn)

 

The proposed project would include installation of asphalt to approximately (0.1 miles). The Board approved a motion for staff to prepare the referenda.

 

160th Street North and 71st Drive North withdrew their petitions and they did not go to referendum.

 

A referendum was sent out on February 15, 2023, for the application of asphalt to Palm Beach County Standards for 153rd Court North between 69th Drive North and 69th Trail North. The project consists of four parcels and due to the size of the project, the District can not provide financing. The estimated total construction cost including engineering, legal, and contingency is $96,300 or $24,075 for each parcel. Ballots were returned and all parcels were in favor. Landowners have submitted payment to the District for the construction of this project.

 

At their April 20, 2023, Board Meeting, the Board of Supervisors authorized a resolution to approve a water control plan amendment for the District and directed staff to develop the plan. At their May 18, 2023 Board Meeting, the Board approved the draft of the Engineer's Plan, directed them to proceed with the design. Additionally, a proposal was requested for the roadway survey required to use as a base for the construction plans.

 

A Purchase Order was processed for the roadway survey required to use as a base for the construction plans. While waiting on the survey, other plans such as the cover page, typical details and notes were prepared. The surveyor had been delayed getting his required information to the District Engineer because of his workload. While waiting on the survey, other plans such as the cover page, typical details, and notes were prepared.

 

The surveyor, Legacy Survey, started field work on October 18, 2023. Legacy Survey provided the survey Cad file to the District Engineer on October 31, 2023. Construction plans have been prepared by the District Engineer and the project is going out to bid on February 4, 2024 as the 20th Plan of Improvements. Only one bid was received on March 7, 2024, and it was substantially higher than original estimates. The Board authorized a rebid and two Bids were received May 1, 2024. They are both higher than the single bid received March 7, 2024. Staff has had discussions with the landowner, District Attorney, and the contractor.

 

Please refer to the Enhanced Stabilization Policy in the Policies and Procedures Manual..