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| Jim Constantine, of Looney
Ricks Kiss, addresses attendess on the design of Exploration
Pointe. |
An
interested group of North Palm Beach County residents turned
out to learn about Exploration Pointe at
a Community Information Forum hosted by Tech Village
Partners (TVP) at the PGA National Hotel. Residents had the
opportunity to ask questions of the consulting experts behind
the design, and to share their own ideas about the economic,
educational, environmental, transportation and housing aspects
of the community.
For most who attended, it was
their first opportunity to learn in detail about this vibrant
live-work-play-learn community. Others who attended had participated
in last year’s
public meetings, which included a 2-day charette-style design
workshop along with 42 separate visioning sessions and an
online survey, that provided input before the design process,
and they were able to see how their ideas were incorporated into
the design plan. For everyone, it was a chance to engage
is spirited discussions and get new information.
“I remember
saying I wanted to see pathways and walkways and bridges connecting
the community while conserving nature. All this is in place,
and I think its good that areas for preservation have been
solidly identified”, said Suzanne Crowley, who
lives near the site of Exploration Pointe. “Plus,” she
added, “I’m tired of driving five miles to the
nearest Publix”.
Her son Bryan, who did not participate
last year, was also enthused. “I think it’s a
great idea. I could ride my bike to the movies after school,” he
said.
Robert Guzman, a retired superintendent
of roads who lives in Loxahatchee, volunteered that he likes
the idea of alternative methods of transportation within the
community, and would use the restaurants, stores and other services
that would be available at Exploration Pointe.
This Community
Information Forum is the first of several
such meetings, all open and free to the public, which will be
held in upcoming weeks throughout Palm Beach County. The meetings
are part of a larger community education effort for Exploration
Pointe, which will include meetings with area homeowners,
civic, and other groups, as well as print and television advertising.
“We
are creating a continuum of public input. It began with our
pre-design efforts last year and we will keep it going in a variety
of ways as Exploration Pointe becomes
a reality. We want to hear from the people who will be our
neighbors, and we want them to have accurate information. We
want them to know we are part of creating a new economy in
Palm Beach County and will provide services, jobs and schools
as well as homes,” said
Aimee Craig Carlson, project manager for Exploration Pointe. “This
is a continuing dialog between Tech Village partners and the
residents of Palm Beach County.”
The evening forum began
with a videotaped presentation describing the proposed development,
after which Ms. Carlson and members of the team of consultants
hired by Tech Village Partners to create the master plan
for Exploration
Pointe talked
in detail about the specific elements in the plan. Then, attendees
were free to wander among five display areas, staffed by more
members of the team, on topics including Creating Educational
Opportunities, Building A Stronger Economy, Traffic Solutions,
Restoring & Protecting the Environment, and Livable Neighborhoods.
Questions were encouraged and many people took that invitation
seriously.
Jim Constantine, the plan’s
chief architect, staffed the Livable Neighborhoods table and
found that most people “could
begin to see different scenarios for how they can live their
lives.”
The plans for this community were
resubmitted last month when a revised Development of Regional
Impact application was presented to the Treasure Coast Regional
Planning Council. The plans for Exploration
Pointe are now in an extensive agency review
process that is expected to last for more than a year.
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