In a fast-growing corner of Boynton Beach, a group of neighbors is trying to stop a familiar Florida story from playing out: a wooded patch of land turned into rows of townhomes. Residents are rallying to save a nearly 10-acre stand of trees known locally as Nickels Forest after a developer revived plans to build 72 townhomes on the site near Quentin Avenue and Nickels Boulevard. Locals say the parcel shelters gopher tortoises, grey foxes and one of the last mature canopies in their neighborhood. For now, city leaders have hit pause on negotiations and agreed to revisit the issue at a later meeting while county planners continue reviewing the application.
Developers with Mizner Global bought about 10 acres of county land in March 2025 and were reportedly eyeing a $5 million purchase of the adjoining city-owned piece before the city halted the sale, as reported by WPTV. The firm reworked an earlier concept for 34 single-family homes into a denser 72-townhome proposal, a shift neighbors argue would clog nearby streets and stress local infrastructure. Residents also point to stop-work-order signs and recent tree disturbance on the property, fueling worries that site work is inching forward before all permits are in place.
Where the project stands with county review
Palm Beach County’s development review records list the project as Turtle Square (CA-2025-01327), still waiting for certification for public hearings, according to the county’s DRO result list. Palm Beach County files show the case moving through the county pipeline with environmental and access issues still unresolved. A resident-run tracker that compiles filings and agency feedback notes that county ERM staff have called for correspondence from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and that traffic and access analyses remain incomplete. Save Boyntons Forest has posted tree surveys, early site plans and staff comments so neighbors can pore over the paperwork themselves.
Neighbors organize and press officials
Locals say they are meeting weekly to watch the property and lobby officials. Michael Zwierzyna told WPTV that “my children love being able to see a tortoise” and that the forest has become part of their daily routine. Organizer Susan Oyer has said commissioners voiced support for preservation even as they juggle legal and jurisdictional complications. Residents have filled recent commission meetings and point to a long-running petition as proof that concern stretches well beyond the immediate block.
Legal wrinkle: a 1961 deed
Adding to the uncertainty is a decades-old document that has suddenly become very relevant. Investigative reporting last year uncovered a 1961 deed that transferred portions of the land to the city for “public purposes,” a condition that County Commissioner Gregg Weiss says would require a formal release from the county before any transfer to a private buyer. WPBF reported on the deed and on Weiss’s letter to city officials, which city leaders have cited as a reason to stop negotiations and order an independent environmental study. That legal cloud could block a sale even if planners eventually sign off on the developer’s application.
What’s next
Officials say the city commission will take up the issue again at a future meeting while county staff continue gathering technical reviews and public input, leaving the project in limbo for now. The petition to “Save The Last Forest In Boynton Beach” has drawn thousands of verified signatures, according to Change.org, and residents say they are planning more meetups and formal filings to push for a permanent preserve or deed restriction. Those who want to track the case directly can follow county postings on Palm Beach County and check the local resident hub for updated documents and contact information.
