The Village Golf Course

122 Country Club Dr, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411

The owner of the Village Golf Course is planning to sell the course to developer 13th Floor Homes.  They intend to close the course and build homes on it. This is the same developer that tried to buy it in 2018.  At that time, they first were to develop the back nine with 400 single families and townhomes.  Then, they had to get the property rezoned which take the RPB Village approval. After a large upheaval of the residents the approval did not even make through the zoning committee. Now imagine developing the entire course and more than doubling the new homes with the added population and vehicles contribution to the traffic.

This time it is different.  The Governor and Legislature passed a bill that heavily favors developers and takes local government out of the picture.  Its called the Florida Infill Redevelopment Act. Section 163.2525, Florida Statutes (2026) The full act is attached to the rear. There are multiple steps that they have to go through to buy and build on it.  There are a couple areas where a large contingent of residents can try to stop this.

·       Petition the local government to intervene. The Village can assess and document the development’s potential environmental impact. Because the golf course has been treated with fertilizer for the past 50 years, disturbing the soil could contaminate nearby lakes, canals, and groundwater. Residents may lack the support or funding to pursue an environmental lawsuit, but the Village of RPB may be able to take legal action. The Village can also ensure compliance with every requirement of the Act. Accordingly, the petition should be submitted to the Village of RPB and signed only by RPB residents.

·       The property values of residential properties surrounding the golf course will diminish significantly.  The remaining residential areas will also be impacted by property values due to the overcrowding of the area, traffic, and less green space.  Making the Village of RPB as less desirable place to live.

·       Another buyer can offer to buy it and keep it as a golf course.  Their offer must exceed the developers by 10%.  There never was the opportunity of anyone else to buy the property.  Also, there may be a group ready to buy and keep it as a golf course.

The parcel or portion thereof must be offered to such property owners for purchase at a price that may not exceed the greater of:

1. An amount equal to the price paid by the property owner plus 10 percent; or

An amount equal to a bona fide offer to purchase the property received by the property owner within the last 12 months.

Florida Infill Redevelopment Act

Section 163.2525, Florida Statutes (2026)

The following is the Act as codified in the 2026 Florida Statutes. See the official Florida Senate statute page⁠. 

163.2525 Infill Redevelopment Act.—

(1) SHORT TITLE.— This section may be cited as the “Infill Redevelopment Act.”

(2) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.— The Legislature finds that this state’s urban areas lack sufficient land for the development of additional residential uses, which has led to a shortage of supply; that parcels of land within or near urban areas are difficult to develop or redevelop because of environmental issues and local regulations; and that facilitating the expedited permitting of such parcels, particularly in areas in which multiple local governments have jurisdiction, serves important public interests in remediating environmentally challenged land and increasing the supply of housing.

(3) DEFINITIONS.— As used in this section, the term:

(a) “Adjacent to” means located next to another parcel of land or portion thereof, including where the parcels are separated only by a roadway, railroad, or other public or private right-of-way or easement.

(b) “Density” has the same meaning as in s. 163.3164.

(c) “Designated agricultural land” means a parcel of land within a zoning district that allows for agricultural uses such as farming, raising livestock, or aquaculture as the main permitted uses and which land is classified as agricultural land under s. 193.461.

(d) “Environmentally impacted land” means a parcel of land:

1. Upon any portion of which a contaminant or pollutant has been detected above the applicable local, state, or federal residential cleanup target levels from Phase II environmental site assessment activities; or
2. Any portion of which is located in a brownfield area designated pursuant to s. 376.80.

(e) “Local government” means a county, municipality, special district, or political subdivision of the state.

(f) “Parcel of land” has the same meaning as in s. 163.3164.

(g) “Qualifying parcel” means a parcel of land to which this section applies under subsection (4).

(h) “Recreational facilities” means one or more parcels of land any portion of which was previously used as a golf course, tennis court, swimming pool, or clubhouse, or another similar use.

(i) “Townhouse” means a single-family dwelling unit that is constructed in a series or group of attached units with property lines separating such units.

(j) “Urban growth boundary” means a boundary established by a comprehensive plan or land development regulation beyond which the provision of urban services or facilities is limited. The term includes, but is not limited to, urban development boundaries and urban service boundaries.

(4) QUALIFYING PARCELS.—

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), this section applies to environmentally impacted land consisting of at least 5 acres adjacent to a parcel of land within the same jurisdiction which is zoned for residential uses as of right and which is within a county that meets both of the following requirements:

1. The county has a population of more than 1.475 million people. 
2. according to the most recent decennial census.
3. There are at least 15 municipalities within the county.

(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:

1. Designated agricultural land.
2. Land owned or operated by a local government for public park purposes.
3. Land outside an urban growth boundary.
4. Land within one-quarter mile of a military installation identified in s. 163.3175(2).
5. Land that is owned, or that was owned at any time within the 15 years preceding May 21, 2026, by a public utility as defined in s. 366.02.

(5) DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS. — Notwithstanding any local law, ordinance, or regulation, a local government shall permit a qualifying parcel to be developed with residential uses.

To ensure compatibility with the character of the local community, the density of development authorized under this section may not exceed the average density of all zoning districts within the same jurisdiction which are applicable to parcels adjacent to the qualifying parcel and which allow residential uses as of right or 25 dwelling units per acre, whichever is lower. The intensity of development must comply with the standards applicable to any parcel adjacent to the qualifying parcel.

(6) SUBDIVISION APPROVAL. — A local government must administratively approve an application for the subdivision of a qualifying parcel if the application satisfies the requirements of chapter 177. A local government may not use the subdivision process to restrict development below the density and intensity authorized under subsection (5).

(7) BUFFER FROM RESIDENTIAL USES. — If a qualifying parcel is adjacent to single-family homes or townhouses on all sides, the developer must provide a buffer of at least 20 feet between the new development and the single-family homes or townhouses. The buffer area must be measured from lot line to lot line and must be maintained as open space or improved with passive recreational facilities accessible to the community.

For purposes of this subsection, swales and water retention areas are considered open space.

(8) RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. —

(a) If a qualifying parcel includes recreational facilities or areas reserved for recreational use and such recreational facilities or areas are adjacent to single-family homes on all sides, the developer must do all of the following:

1. Establish that such facilities or areas, or portions thereof, located on the qualifying parcel have not been in operation or in use for a period of at least 12 consecutive months.
2. Pay double the applicable parks or recreational facilities impact fee that would otherwise apply to the proposed development, to compensate for the loss of open or recreational space.
3. Provide written notice delivered by certified mail to all owners of property adjacent to the recreational facilities or areas, which notice includes all of the following information:
    a. That the developer intends to develop the parcel in accordance with this section.
    b. That the adjacent property owners may elect to purchase the parcel or portion thereof containing recreational facilities or areas for the purpose of maintaining the parcel, or portions thereof, as recreational areas or open space within 90 days after the date the notice is mailed.
    c. The price at which the adjacent property owners may purchase the property.

(b) Property owners who receive the notice required under subparagraph (a)3. and wish to exercise the option to purchase the parcel or portion thereof containing the recreational facilities or areas must exercise the option and close on the property and accept a deed restriction or record a restrictive covenant requiring the property to be maintained as a recreational area or open space for at least 30 years, within 90 days after the notice is mailed or forfeit the option.

The parcel or portion thereof must be offered to such property owners for purchase at a price that may not exceed the greater of:

1. An amount equal to the price paid by the property owner plus 10 percent; or
2. An amount equal to a bona fide offer to purchase the property received by the property owner within the last 12 months.

(9) DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS. — The proposed development of a qualifying parcel which complies with the requirements of this section must be administratively approved, and no further action by the governing body of a local government is required.

However, a local government may administratively require a proposed development to comply with local regulations relating to architectural design if review by a board is not required and if such regulations would apply, and are generally applicable, to comparable residential development within the jurisdiction and do not limit the density or intensity of development below that authorized by this section.

A developer must establish consistency with applicable concurrency requirements at such time as local regulations would require for a comparable residential development within its jurisdiction. Each local government shall maintain on its website a policy containing procedures and expectations for administrative approval under this subsection.

(10) APPLICATION, PREEMPTION, AND CONSTRUCTION.— This section applies to development applications submitted pursuant to this section on or after May 21, 2026. A local government may not adopt or enforce a local law, an ordinance, or a regulation that restricts, prohibits, or otherwise limits the development of a qualifying parcel in accordance with this section. This section shall be liberally construed to effectuate its intent.

History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 2026-84.