Deborah Searcy, Mayor, Village of North Palm Beach

Deborah Searcy, mayor of the Village of North Palm Beach, described to Invest: how the town continues to grow despite its small size. She explained the myriad amenities the North Palm Beach offers, and why it’s an exciting center of growth and change while retaining its small-town charm.

What are the most significant recent milestones and achievements for North Palm Beach?
We are a small residential community with a population of about 13,000. Our milestones may not seem significant compared to a bigger community like Palm Beach Gardens, but we continue to have many new homes being built. We’re constantly having residential construction, which is both a blessing and a challenge. Our days-on-the-market of residential properties are shorter than the national average. We’re excited that our small commercial corridor is being revitalized. We’ve had seven ribbon cuttings in the last six months, a record for us. A new, award-winning pizza restaurant opened in town. People and businesses are moving here, businesses that appeal to a residential community. We are moving forward on a project that will completely revitalize North Palm Beach called Village Place, which promises to have a $700 million impact on our town.

What unique amenities does North Palm Beach offer, and how do they enhance community engagement and quality of life?
North Palm Beach offers more amenities per capita than anywhere else in the county, making it a full-service community. We have a municipal golf course that is ranked No. 1 in Florida, a nationally recognized country club, pool that has produced Olympians, and tennis courts, all of which are completely open to the public. We have a public marina and more waterfront canals per capita than anywhere else in the county. We have a dog park, pickleball, squash and racquetball courts, basketball courts, and a community center. We offer everything. We have a library, our own police force, and our own fire department. No other city in the region manages such a comprehensive suite of amenities. North Palm Beach has the county’s only state park, MacArthur Beach State Park, which was voted the best beach in Palm Beach County.

What are some of the biggest challenges for businesses operating within North Palm Beach, particularly in light of the uncertainties of the current economic landscape?
One of the biggest challenges businesses face in a small town like ours is navigating planning and zoning regulations, and trying to open a business that meets all of the rules set by the State of Florida. Opening a business requires compliance with stringent rules, such as ensuring a restaurant has a sufficiently large grease trap based on square footage. To have a safe building, it has to meet certain fire and safety regulations set by the building code of the state of Florida. There’s a lot of red tape to opening a new business, and can be frustrating for business owners.

What are some of the opportunities you see of businesses expanding in the area?
The world has changed significantly in the nearly five years since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Generational shifts have also had a major effect. It doesn’t mean older generations are wrong and younger generations are right, it just means they are different. Millennials are now in their early 40’s and they are the largest buying demographic. The things they care about are shifting how businesses operate. Millennials care more about healthy food options, walkability, sustainability and green initiatives. Even though North Palm Beach is older than the national average, we still see these generational shifts happening. We updated our zoning codes to meet the visual appeal of younger generations. Past zoning rules, influenced by values of the 70s and 80s, prioritized large setbacks and expansive parking lots. Within the last three or four years, we updated our zoning codes so that new construction puts parking behind the building, encouraging engagement with businesses and creating a more inviting main street experience.

What initiatives and plans are in place to ensure environmental stewardship in the village?
We have conducted a massive stormwater study and are updating our stormwater system. We’re installing filters in our stormwater system to make sure there is less debris and runoff into the ocean. Many of our residents are on the water, and we have rules such as not being allowed to use fertilizer during the rainy seasons. We try to protect our water because it’s our biggest resource and most important amenity. We’re trying to mitigate sea level rise by updating all of our sea wall regulations so that their minimum height will withstand the higher sea levels.

Looking ahead, what are the top priorities for North Palm Beach over the next two to three years?
We want to keep North Palm Beach charming. Village Place, a reimagining of our town’s opening gateway, is expected to break ground in the next year. Over the long term, we recognize that infrastructure, like the central bridge in our town, will need updates to meet modern demands. Our goal is to grow thoughtfully while maintaining the community’s unique character.