It wasn’t unanimous, but Palm Beach County commissioners approved the massive Minto West development on farmland near the Acreage community.
The commission – by a 5-2 vote – allowed Minto Communities to construct about 4,500 homes and 2 million square feet of commercial space on a large chunk of the former Callery-Judge citrus grove during Wednesday’s meeting. Commissioners Steven Abrams, Mary Lou Berger, Priscilla Taylor, Hal Valeche and Shelley Vana voted in favor of the project. Commissioners Paulette Burdick and Jess Santamaria cast no votes.
Concerns about traffic congestion were outweighed by the prospects of substantial job creation, roadway improvements and new parks.
“This is so much of an improvement,” Valeche said, as cited by the Palm Beach Post. “It is changing [the area] in a much better way.” [Sun-Sentinel] — Eric Kalis