WPTV is working to get answers from residents of the Arden community in Palm Beach County as they propose a northern exit from their development.

“I will push for this project as long as it takes,” said Arden resident Ben Brown. “This is a foregone conclusion for the households and residents who are already here. Now is the time for county leaders to support the people who are already here.”

Brown advocated for extending Okeechobee Boulevard west, connecting it to the north end of Arden.

“Safety standards are our residents’ number one concern,” Brown said.

Concerns have arisen as accidents and incidents along Southern Boulevard have left residents blocked from the only way in and out of Arden.

The latest incident occurred last week when an accident claimed the lives of three Palm Beach County deputies.

“I would say the meeting went pretty well,” Brown said. “The county needs to conduct studies on the feasibility of this approach.”

The study could examine the size, cost and impact of connecting western communities with those in the Loxahatchee Groves area.

Brown said if approved, the extension could be done in stages.

The first phase could extend Okeechobee Boulevard to the north side of Arden.

Phase two would continue the extension connecting it to Southern Boulevard as it turns north at the 20-mile turn.

WPTV contacted Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter’s office, but they would not confirm details.

“If we’re talking about moving 10,000 cars on this road here, what are we looking at?” asked Elizabeth Accomando, chair of the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors.

The district builds and maintains the region’s roads, drainage and parks.

“People sit in traffic for hours just trying to get to work, but we don’t want to open the roads, so how do we find that balance?” » said Accomando.

She said a study could cost millions and that extending Okeechobee Boulevard west was a conversation that began long before the Arden development.

The reason the project didn’t move forward, she said, was because of Loxahatchee residents.

“Southern Boulevard is already broken, so what do we do? We’re building all these houses and we need housing,” Accomando said. “How can we help them without hurting others, so that’s the right balance we’ll have to strike.”

Palm Beach County engineers said at this time there are no plans to expand the county’s five-year plan.

Baxter’s office said she will tentatively hold a town hall meeting on Dec. 17 for all stakeholders to express their opinions on the topic.

“They’re not going anywhere. We’re not going anywhere. We’re neighbors,” Accomando said. “How are we going to work together to keep our community great and keep everyone safe? And that’s the key and that’s what we need to work on.”

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