By Bill DiPaolo | Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Friday, April 2, 2010

PALM BEACH GARDENS — After five years of promises and protests, city council members unanimously approved developing the Briger property into what they say will be a biotech hub in north county.

"This property was always planned to be our economic engine. This creates jobs in a county that desperately needs them," said Councilman Joe Russo.

The 20-year plan calls for transforming about 1-square-mile of vacant land to include 170 acres for Scripps Research Institute and other biotech companies. The rest of the 681-acre property would be offices, retail, a 300-room hotel and about 2,700 homes, townhouses and apartments.

Saying that the development would destroy a forest filled with rare plants and wildlife, about two dozen opponents from Everglades Earth First! gathered outside City Hall to oppose the project. They stood on Military Trail waving signs showing caged monkeys and rats about to be injected with needles, alleged Scripps is unnecessarily endangering animals in its product testing.

"I think all green space in Palm Beach County should be preserved," Christian Minaya told the council.

The current sagging economy is not the time for more new construction, said Panagioti Tsolkas, a member of Everglades Earth First!.

"The last thing we need is more empty stores and homes," said Tsolkas.

Planners countered claims that extensive damage would result to endangered plants and animals. There are no bald eagle nest sites on the Briger tract, no endangered indigo snakes, said Ken Tuma, a planner with Urban Kilday Design Studios.

"The Nature Conservancy even brought out their indigo snake sniffing dog CJ to the site. CJ found no indigo snakes," said Tuma.

Briger brings a "shovel-ready" parcel the county needs to attract more biotech firms such as Scripps Florida and Max Planck Florida Institute, proponents said. The property is on both sides of Interstate 95, between Donald Ross and Hood roads.

No construction can begin until the city council approves site plans for buildings, which isn't likely until next year, according to city planners.

"The next generation will thank us for approving this project," County Commissioner Karen Marcus said. Attorney Barry Silver, representing the Everglades group, said opponents will add Palm Beach County to its lawsuit opposing Scripps site in Palm Beach County. The suit charges Scripps has violated the Sunshine Law and the approval of the projects favors special interests, Silver said.

"What Scripps does to animals in testing is hideous," Silver said.

Mayor David Levy said he has received about 150 e-mails opposing Briger.

"About half were from out of the country, the rest from in the United States. None were from Palm Beach Gardens," Levy said.

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