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By Joe Capozzi

Town officials are taking another step in a long-term plan to preserve submerged land in the Intracoastal Waterway.
On Oct. 3, the Town Commission endorsed zoning changes that will convert 36 acres from a residential use to conservation/preservation. A public hearing and final vote are scheduled for Dec. 5.
“I’m so proud of everybody. This is a really big kudo for us,’’ Mayor Susan Hurlburt said after the commission unanimously approved the changes on first reading. 
The 36 acres are located in two general areas of the waterway: northwest of Town Hall and north of Harbour Drive North.
The land includes 9 acres purchased by the town in April for $1.5 million and 27 acres on five parcels owned by Palm Beach County and associated with the county’s Ocean Ridge Natural Area, home to manatees and green sea turtles. 
Eventually, the town hopes to open the areas for recreation. Preserving the land through the zoning changes, a process that started in April, has won praise from other municipal leaders in Florida, town officials said. 
“We’ve actually been talked about quite often in Florida League of Cities meetings as a good example of what a town can do when it really wants to be environmentally sound and sustainable for the future,’’ said Vice Mayor Kristine de Haseth.
“I think it’s very forward thinking of the town and the commission to have made this happen.’’

In other business:
• The town announced the qualifying period for the March 14 municipal elections will start at noon Nov. 7 and end at noon Nov. 18. Two Town Commission seats, for three-year terms, are up for election: those occupied by Hurlburt and Martin Wiescholek.
• The Florida Department of Transportation’s drainage project on Ocean Boulevard/A1A at Anna Street began Oct. 3. The work is scheduled to last about 90 days.
• The Town Commission started its Oct. 3 meeting with a moment of silence for former Commissioner Nancy Hogan, who died Aug. 31.

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