West Palm Beach Commission Takes Up Downtown Height Plan Tonight, With the Flagler Waterfront Back in Debate

Oct 26, 2026 1 min read Palm Beach Local News & Politics

Quick answer

The City Commission meets at 5 p.m. Monday for the first reading of the Downtown Master Plan update; staff say the 25-story Flagler Drive incentive was removed and the five-story waterfront limit kept, but the Planning Board has asked the Commission to reconsider taller waterfront heights.

Key facts

The meeting is Monday, October 26 at 5:00 p.m.; item 7.1 is the public hearing and first reading of Ordinance 5185-26, the Downtown Master Plan update — the first full update since 2007-2009. The agenda reviewed was marked draft as of October 22, so check the final agenda on wpb.org.
Per the city staff report, an earlier draft incentive allowing up to 25 stories in the Flagler Waterfront District was removed after community feedback, and staff intend to keep the district's current five-story height.
Stet News reported October 21 that the Planning Board voted October 20 to recommend the Commission reconsider the dropped waterfront heights; the city said the plan would not change before Monday's meeting.
Incentive heights up to 25 stories are still proposed elsewhere downtown, near the Tri-Rail and Brightline hubs. If approved on first reading, the plan goes to FloridaCommerce for state review, with tentative final approval in January 2027.

West Palm Beach decides a first, consequential step on its downtown future tonight. The City Commission meets at 5 p.m. for the first reading of Ordinance 5185-26, the Downtown Master Plan update that sets how tall and how dense downtown can grow — the first full rewrite since 2007-2009.

The waterfront is the flashpoint. City staff say a proposed incentive for buildings up to 25 stories along Flagler Drive was removed after community feedback, leaving the Flagler Waterfront District at its current five-story limit. But the Planning Board last week recommended the Commission reconsider those taller waterfront heights, so the question is live again tonight. Taller incentive heights, up to 25 stories, remain in the plan for districts near the downtown transit hubs.

Why it matters: this plan will shape the Flagler Drive skyline, views and development pressure for decades. Tonight's vote is only a first reading — state review and a tentative final vote in January follow — and residents can still speak at the public hearing. Confirm the final agenda on wpb.org before going.