The Acreage Landowners Association (ALA) has just learned that federal guidelines designed to protect children recommend that gas stations not be located within 1,000 feet of school facilities.
Specifically, this recommendation is part of the school siting guidelines of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a federal government agency.
Here’s the problem: The West End Crossing plaza supported by Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter would include a 7-Eleven gas station and convenience store. The intended location of that gas station — the southeast corner of Northlake Boulevard and Seminole Pratt Whitney Road — is well under 1,000 feet from Planet Kids’ Loxahatchee facility. according to Google Maps.
Technically, Planet Kids is not a grade school, but who wants to split hairs over guidelines designed to protect the health and safety of the most vulnerable members of society? This is not a time to argue semantics.
In fact, one could argue that building a gas station 700 feet from Planet Kids is even worse than building one near a grade school. Some of Planet Kids’ charges are even younger than grade-school children. According to its website, this multipurpose child care facility takes care of toddlers and infants.
“I have been highly concerned about the location of West End Crossing and its proximity to a day care,” ALA president Bob Morgan said. “A local resident brought it to my attention in January, and I began researching it. But I was told it was not a concern as determined in statutes. I found that argument to be disturbing but figured the source knew more than I did.”
Now that Morgan has learned of the EPA recommendation, he is urging residents to band together and fight for the children of The Acreage/Loxahatchee because these innocents cannot defend themselves.
The Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners will vote on West End Crossing on Thursday, Aug. 28. So there are only two ways residents can fight it at this point:
- Sign the ALA’s West End Crossing petition by clicking HERE if you haven’t already done so.
- Attend the commissioners’ Aug. 28 meeting and speak your mind during the public hearing about West End Crossing. Instructions are below.
You can also learn more about the dangers that gas stations as well as convenience stores pose to children on the website of Community and Developmental Defense Services.
How to speak at the Aug. 28 public hearing
To comment in person during the public hearing for West End Crossing, you must attend the commissioners’ meeting.
We ask that you wear a WHITE shirt. We will be sitting together to show solidarity.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. and take place at Palm Beach County’s Governmental Center, which is located at 301 N. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Go to the commission chambers on the sixth floor, and be prepared to wait while the commissioners address other meeting agenda items.
The meeting will likely go on for the better part of the day, but the only way to know when the commissioners will discuss the West End Crossing agenda item is to sit and wait until they get there. (Yes, sadly, that is the anti-resident nature of the Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners: In order to participate in the governmental process by speaking for a mere three minutes, you must sacrifice a day of your time.)
Slightly more information, as well as the meeting agenda, is available at https://discover.pbc.gov/pzb/zoning/Pages/BCC-Hearings-Meetings.aspx.
Fight the good fight with us
The ALA is devoted to defending the community’s quality of life, but this grassroots nonprofit organization can’t do it alone. So consider joining forces with us by:
- Becoming a full member ($20/year) or a free member (no cost).
- Following us on Facebook.
- Donating to our cause.
- Becoming a sponsor.
