A plan to build 48 townhomes on a former church property along Prairie Road just hit a major roadblock. The Palm Springs Planning and Zoning Board voted to recommend denial of the annexation, land use, rezoning and site plan applications tied to the project, siding with neighbors who say their unlit, sewerless streets simply cannot absorb the added density.
The proposal centers on the 3.57-acre site at 1580 Prairie Road, the former home of the West Palm Beach Community of Christ Church, which included a 2,880-square-foot sanctuary built on the lakefront parcel in 1961. Applications tied to the proposal seek approval for 48 townhomes, according to official public hearing notices published by the Village of Palm Springs. Urban Design Studio, a West Palm Beach planning and landscape architecture firm, submitted the annexation, land use, rezoning and site plan applications on the developer's behalf, as reported by WPTV.
Each of the proposed three-bedroom townhomes would include a one-car garage plus driveway space for two additional vehicles, per the station's report. A traffic study tied to the application found the development would generate 324 average daily trips. Resident Carol Tognacci told the outlet that “the infrastructure will not handle many more people,” adding that the neighborhood's aging infrastructure cannot support the added density.
Septic Tanks, No Sidewalks, No Streetlights
Residents opposed the annexation and townhome development largely over traffic, density and infrastructure concerns, the same account notes. The surrounding neighborhood lacks street lights, sidewalks and a sewer system, with properties instead relying on septic tanks.
In a separate Canal Point project, a June 10, 2025 Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners agenda says the project will convert approximately 15 septic systems to a centralized wastewater collection system. The issue also raises broader questions about septic-to-sewer conversion and water quality.
Resident Michael Watson said the scale of the project is out of step with the surrounding community, per the same account. The Palm Beach County School District weighed in as well, saying the project could strain nearby schools, and it requested a $106,399 voluntary contribution before building permits could be issued. The request was tied to the project's school-capacity review.
Developer Says Project Falls Short of Max Density
Not everyone at the hearing was opposed. Bradley Miller said the project is designed at roughly 78% of the allowable density for the site, and argued it would be a good addition to the community on a property that has sat unused for a long period, per the outlet's reporting.
This is not the first high-density proposal aimed at the site. Land use records show the same 1580 Prairie Road parcel was previously targeted in 2025 for “Boucher Apartments,” a proposed 69-unit, three-story rental complex that sought density bonuses under Palm Beach County's Workforce Housing Program before the developer shifted to the current 48-unit townhome plan. Townhomes and multifamily infill options can carry lower price caps, as Hoodline previously reported.
What Happens Next
Annexations of unincorporated pocket parcels are nothing new for Palm Springs. Elsewhere in the village, Hoodline has covered a housing project as it neared completion.
Despite the Planning and Zoning Board's recommendation for denial, the fight over 1580 Prairie Road is not over. The proposal is tentatively scheduled for another advisory-board hearing on October 8, followed by the Village Council, per WPTV's report. Final approval rests with the Village Council. The matter will continue through public hearings.
