Delray Beach moves to annex Marketplace of Delray

The Marketplace of Delray shopping center.

By Palm Beach Business.com

DELRAY BEACH — Delray Beach is about to get bigger. Delray Beach City Commissioners on Tuesday approved first reading of an ordinance that would make the Marketplace of Delray shopping center at the northwest corner of Atlantic Avenue and Military Trail part of the city.

The 30-acre shopping center would receive city police and fire coverage, while Delray would receive about $163,000 in taxes and fees annually. Final reading of the ordinance is scheduled for Dec. 14

Major tenants of the property include Office Depot, Ross Dress for Less and Winn Dixie. AAA also has offices in the center. Wachovia Bank, McDonald’s and Friendly’s restaurant occupy standalone buildings along Military Trail and Atlantic.

The annexation actually dates back to a 2002 agreement Delray Beach had with the shopping center’s owners to provide water and sewer service. As part of the deal, the city agreed to annex the property some time after Jan. 15, 2010.

The Delray Beach Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval of the move back in July, and the state completed its review of the proposal in November.  The City held a special meeting to consider the matter Tuesday in order to complete the annexation before the end of the year and get the property on its tax rolls.

In a related move, commissioners approved first reading of an ordinance changing the zoning of the property from the county’s general commercial designation to the city’s planned commercial.

The city agreed to allow the Ugly Mug bar to continue to close at 5 a.m. as it is permitted to do under county regulations. City rules normally require bars to close at 2 a.m.

Also Tuesday, commissioners approved first reading of a zoning change for a property at the northwest corner of Linton Boulevard and SW 4th Avenue. The property is zoned for residential development; the owners requested that the designation be changed to commercial, similar to nearby properties.

Final reading of all three ordinances is scheduled for Dec. 14.