What is the Palmetto Bay Partnership?

Ever since Palmetto Bay incorporated in 2002, it has been the dream of some to create a thriving Downtown District for residents to enjoy. The Downtown would also bolster the Village tax base and provide a local destination for food, shopping and entertainment.

Beginning about three years ago, and building on already completed infrastructure work in the Franjo Triangle, the Village formed the Downtown Redevelopment Task Force (DRTF). The DRTF consisted of 40 civically active people who came from all walks of life to discuss and vision what Downtown Palmetto Bay should be. After two years of work, the DRTF wound down operations so that the next stage of thought process could take shape.

[L to R] Palmetto Bay Partnership’s Anthony Gorman, Edward Joffee, Juan Alayo, Eddie Escobar, Dan Yglesias, Peter England, Hal Feldman, Susan Holtzman, Courtney Reeder & Suzanne Gottlieb-Calleja

Early in 2016, the Village Council created and appointed a representative 13-member advisory committee called the Palmetto Bay Partnership Advisory Board. Its mission is to assist the Village in maximizing its economic and social potential. While most of the focus is on the development of Downtown, the Partnership looks at the whole Village picture.

Meeting monthly and operating under Florida’s Sunshine Laws, the Partnership welcomes public comments and expressly welcomes anyone from Palmetto Bay or neighboring areas to voice their ideas, businesses included. Chairman Peter England explained, “We are part of a larger community and understand we need to work with the great organizations that shape our County. Great assets of Palmetto Bay like the Deering Estate, Palmer Trinity School, Westminster Christian School, Alexander Montessori School and Christ Fellowship as well as the Beacon Council and others are our ticket to understanding and cooperation.”

The Partnership believes we are at a critical juncture to create a better quality of life for Palmetto Bay, the surrounding communities and its businesses. “We are irrevocably a residential community and no one wants to change that; however, we should make the best of our commercial opportunities and development,” said England. “The plan is not to intrude into residential neighborhoods, but to buffer with green space and provide supportive businesses to enrich the area.”

In the end, the Partnership provides well vetted ideas to the Village Council so that they can enact zoning, budgets and actions to drive the Downtown development.

You can participate by attending the meetings which occur on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30 PM in the Ed and Arlene Feller Community Room on Old Cutler Road at the Public Library.