POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – The greenspace is expansive inside the Palm Aire community of Pompano Beach.
There are three golf courses, parks and open trails.
It’s a quiet community that is also made up of thousands of condos, apartments and single family homes.
Roger Maister has lived there for nearly 50 years.
“Every bit of green space that can be built on has been built on,” he said.
But a developer has stepped in with a proposal to build hundreds more new units there, to include rental apartments.
Pompano Beach city leaders received an earful Wednesday night at a packed informational meeting that was standing room only.
Commissioners are now faced with a major decision that could divide the community.
“You don’t want the government overstepping its boundaries and using creepy tactics to push people out of their neighborhoods,” said resident Anne Bosworth.
Added resident Carl Guveri: “Nobody will accept it because even for a small pact, small development around Palm Country Club, it would set a precedence and then the gates of hell would break loose.”
The issue is a standing legal agreement made years ago to cap the number of units at Palm Aire to its current 10,000-plus units.
Amending that land-use measure takes court action.
City Commissioner Darlene Smith on Wednesday tried to calm concerns from weary residents.
“I’m out for you. I’m not doing anything behind your backs,” she said. “Some of you said you’ve had a hard time finding me. I’m right here. I walk the trails every day.”