Well, it’s official. A new surf ranch by the World Surf League and the Kelly Slater Wave Company is in the preliminary stages of approval. Today in Palm Beach County, Florida, at a zoning meeting, the board of county commissioners voted unanimously in favor of hearing alteration proposals in the zoning rules to allow for a recreational facility in an industrial park just outside Palm Beach. The request is to initiate an amendment, “…to enable the development of an outdoor entertainment venue to be known as “Surf Ranch Florida”, on an 80-acre parcel within the Palm Beach Park of Commerce.” The proposal includes a 50 million dollar capital investment, the creation of 322 jobs, and to have a 33 million dollar annual economic impact. It has been proposed as a WSL training facility, surf school, and tour event site. It could likely be a qualifying series (QS) event site at the very least. There are many environmental concerns brought forth by the community, but the proposal plans include extensive environmentally conscious features including sustainable development, being built with recycled materials, shell rock paths and driveways where possible, preservation of natural vegetation, water collection and reuse, waste management/recycling program, and being 100% powered by solar energy.
The hearing today was only a preliminary hearing. It was a hearing so that the commissioners could begin the review process for this wave pool. At this preliminary stage, the board found no reason to deny the request. This appears to be just the beginning of the negotiations process, and it looks like another meeting may occur around August, 5 months from now.
Ever since the the Kelly Slater Wave Company showed the world their astounding results, the surfing world had been waiting to see what’s next for the world of wave pools. And while we are still a long way from seeing the groundbreaking of this pool in Florida, this is a big announcement, and a Kelly Slater Wave Company pool may soon have another home, a home in Palm Beach.
The Palm Beach County Commission zoning hearing sound file(1h:12m:57s):
Pictures presented at the hearing:
