Hidden Key Archives

Slow going for legal challenge to Gardens annexation

City argues against motion to speed up the proceedings. Early voting begins March 9.

This story originally appeared Tuesday at StetNews.org.

It’s beginning to look like a lawsuit fil e d Jan. 5 will not stop the March 19 Palm Beach Gardens annexation election.

Quick catchup: Residents of Hidden Key sued to block the election involving the largest of five zones, Zone 1. The court did not issue its first order until Feb. 7, after Hidden Key filed a motion to speed things up.

Zone 1 has more than 7,000 residents. Overall, the city is seeking voter approval to annex dozens of neighborhoods in five zones with more than 8,000 residents, all east of Interstate 95.

In its Feb. 12 reply to the motion to expedite the proceedings, the city argued the issue does not require “immediate resolution,” as the four Hidden Key residents who sued will suffer no harm if the vote is held on March 19.

“However, harm may come … by denying 5,220 of their fellow voters residing in Area 1 the right to vote,” City Attorney Max Lohman wrote in the city’s reply.

Gardens annexation faces court challenge

Hidden Key residents file suit to block annexation, claiming Palm Beach Gardens City Council didn’t follow the law in putting proposal on ballot.

A 70-home gated community at the eastern edge of Palm Beach Gardens’ massive proposed annexation area sued Friday to block the March 19 vote that seeks to add thousands of residents to the city.

The city’s failures at public hearings in November and December are so great as to make a mockery of state laws designed to limit annexations to compact and contiguous areas, four homeowners from Hidden Key say in the suit that aims to block the annexation of Zone 1, the largest of five areas sought by the city.

“This annexation is unwelcome and unwarranted,” Hidden Key resident and petitioner Kenneth Glueck said in a statement. “Hidden Key is no more a fit for Palm Beach Gardens than it is for Miami.”

‘This isn’t us against you’ — Gardens puts annexation on ballot

‘You didn’t tell us you were coming. You didn’t ask if we wanted you to come and now that we’ve told you ‘no,’ you’ve refused to leave.’

Dozens of Palm Beach Gardens neighbors picketed Wednesday outside City Hall and lined up to tell the City Council they do not want their homes to be part of the city.

They object to being part of an annexation of 1,300 acres east of Interstate 95 containing an estimated 8,300 residents.

The City Council told the opponents their messages were heard before voting against them, taking the final steps to place annexation on the March 19 ballot.

“I respect your passion, and I appreciate every one of you and what you had to say and delivered to us,” Council Member Carl Woods said. “You guys are my neighbors. This isn’t us against you, by no means. If you don’t want it, don’t vote for it.”

How one community holds the key to annexation’s ‘Holy Grail’

Whichever city winds up with Hidden Key has the inside path to Lost Tree Village.

Palm Beach Gardens’ massive annexation of 1,350 acres east of Interstate 95 has spawned a fierce competition with neighboring North Palm Beach over a single, critical spit of land called Hidden Key.

Hidden Key holds another key, the key to the greatest annexation prize of them all, the gated, uber-private, golf course community, Lost Tree Village.

Possessing the 70-home waterfront community of Hidden Key brings Lost Tree Village into reach.