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Environmental Concerns
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Save Boca Raton Green Space retained an environmental engineering firm to analyze the safety of the proposed land use change from it's historical use as a golf course to a residential development. This report was completed on 10/22/07 and identified serious concerns about the safety of the land as a result of the numerous third-party reports which cite arsenic contamination as a normal health concern for golf course property. A University of Florida study estimated that over 90% of the golf course in South Florida have arsenic levels exceeding allowed levels by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Arsenic is a very dangerous chemical that has been shown to cause cancer. In August 2009 there are similar concerns about arsenic contamination in an area in western Palm Beach County known as the acreage which has a reported cancer cluster. Water testing is being conducted in order to determine if arsenic in the water supply could be a reason for this cancer cluster but it has been reported in the media that environmental concerns are expected to be cause of this public health concern. Upon providing our environmental report to the Palm Beach County Health Department (PBCHD) a recommendation was made the PBCHD to obtain pase 1 & 2 testing of the ground water and soils on the site of the proposed development (see 11/19/07 below). In spite of this recommentation and the public health requirement in the Boca Raton comprehensive plan, the city council approved this development with a provision that the developer must obtain these environmental tests prior to obtaining a building permit. Hence, the city approved a develoment on land without knowing whether or not the land was safe for the intended residential use. Nearby Broward county conducted a golf course conversion study in July 2007 which cited these environmental concerns and recommended a phase 1 & 2 study prior to any consideration of a development on land that has a historicla use as a golf course. This study led to the Broward county commissioners approving a comprehensive plan amendment that follows the recommendations of this study which was provided to the city of Boca Raton prior to their approval. Why hasn't the city of Boca Raton moved to protect their residents by following these established public health policies of neighboring areas? If this development is allowoed to proceed, is there a potential for Boca Raton residents to be the next cancer cluster? Environmental Concerns
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