WEST PALM BEACH | Forte (1309 South Flagler Drive) | 300 FT | 24 FLOORS

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Dramatic West Palm waterfront condo gets initial OK; could be tallest building in city

The city commission Monday gave initial approval to a 24-story condo at 1309 S. Flagler Drive, paving the way for more millionaire aeries on the waterfront just south of downtown and dismissing complaints the 300-foot-tall structure would be far bigger than city regulations allow on a site smaller than 1.4 acres.

The commissioners voted unanimously to OK a staff recommendation that the project benefits justified a zoning waiver for a building that would require a lot of at least 10 acres and set backs dozens of feet wider to distance it from surrounding properties.

A final vote will be scheduled in four weeks. But it was clear from the tenor of commissioner comments that approval is in the offing.

“We need this kind of project,” Commissioner Paula Ryan said, adding that it was “my pleasure” to make the motion in favor. “They have done an excellent job.”

Commissioner Keith James, who, like Ryan, is running for mayor in the March 12 municipal election, urged the developers to have a representative meet with him to discuss their plans for including local residents in hiring for the construction project.

The building, with 42 units — only two per floor — would be among the city’s tallest, perhaps the tallest if one counts its pedestal atop two below-surface garage levels that set its ground floor well above flood levels near the Lake Worth Lagoon it overlooks.

The project is proposed by Two Roads Development and Alpha Blue Ventures. They haven’t named the building.

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https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/2...ilding-in-city