Downtown Master Plan Update

Wide shot of Clematis Street from Centennial Fountain looking west

 

Since the adoption of the original 1995 Downtown Master Plan (DMP) and the last update in 2007, West Palm Beach has changed dramatically.  Over the past 5 years, the city’s growth trend has accelerated, creating profound changes in the character and scale of development downtown. This growth has brought with it remarkable opportunities and has also intensified some existing challenges. Today, the city has a unique opportunity to harness this momentum to address key issues including supporting investments in main streets, smart city technologies, public spaces, parks, transportation, resiliency and along its waterfront. 

The DMP regulates approximately 767 acres. At the time of adoption of the original DMP, there were approximately 1,000 residential units downtown and approximately 8,000,000 square feet of nonresidential development. Today, over 9,000 residential units are in place and more than 10.4 million square feet of nonresidential development.

 

Map shows boundaries of the Downtown Development Authority

Since February 2025, the City of West Palm Beach together with the firm of Zyscovich Architects have been drafting a comprehensive update to the Downtown Master Plan (DMPU) that sets a 25-year vision for Downtown.

The Purpose of the DMPU:

  • Direct growth to the right places
  • Ensure development provides public benefits
  • Protect neighborhood character
  • Improve the public realm
  • Enhance quality of life as downtown continues to grow

 

Picture1.png

 

Upcoming Public Hearings

October 20 | Tuesday

Planning Board

Location: Commission Chambers

6:00 P.M. 

October 26 | Monday

City Commission

Location: Commission Chambers

5:00 P.M.  

Previous Meeting Information

 

Learn More About the History and Vision of Our Downtown Master Plan

Background

The City of West Palm Beach (City) adopted its first Downtown Master Plan (DMP) in 1995 with a subsequent update occurring in 2007-2009.  It has been almost 20 years since the City last reviewed the DMP and, given the substantial growth experienced over the past ten years that has accelerated and created profound changes in the character and scale of development of the downtown, it is an appropriate time to evaluate the policies in place to determine what changes may now be warranted. 

The 1995 original DMP was prepared with the assistance of the consultant firm of DPZ (Duany Plater-Zyberk) and adopted by the City Commission in December 1995, with the intent to provide a 24-hour, live, work, play environment for the City. The goals of the DMP were to provide a unified vision of a downtown inspiring confidence and encouraging new development, without waiting for the next real estate boom.  

In 2007, the firm Zyscovich, Inc. was selected to complete the subsequent update and a new DMP was adopted in 2009.  The firm introduced districts and subdistricts, street classifications, and building envelope regulations with maximum assigned development capacities for each parcel. The plan evaluated land uses and tested zoning standards to create a regulatory framework aligned with Downtown’s evolving patterns, providing specific guidance for the construction of a mixed-use downtown, friendly to multimodal transportation and with a high quality of life standards.

The 2007/2009 Downtown Master Plan update has been in place for almost 20 years, and it has successfully guided the incredible redevelopment of downtown. However, the rapid pace of private development, increasing public investment, and the changing conditions of the downtown area require a re-evaluation of the structure in place.

Since February 2025, the City of West Palm Beach, together with the consulting firm Zyscovich Inc, has been preparing a comprehensive update to the Downtown Master Plan (DMPU). This update sets a forward-looking vision for Downtown, ensuring its sustainability and success for future generations while carefully considering and evaluating past planning efforts and studies. The DMPU establishes a 25-year vision for Downtown West Palm Beach, where residents live in vibrant neighborhoods, actively participate in economic growth, and where significant resources, including the waterfront, can thrive. 

 

 

 

Vision for the Downtown Master Plan Update (DMPU)

The DMPU calls for seizing a generational opportunity to re-envision the City’s downtown into a new resilient, healthy and successful district that meets the City’s established goals to:

  • Attract and retain high quality jobs and industry. 

  • Enhance the quality of life of its residents. 

  • Define mobility infrastructure options and smart technologies to encourage efficiency of pedestrian movement and connectivity. 

  • Enhance the public realm while defining climate resilience design recommendations. 

  • Activate and connect the downtown to the waterfront. 

  • Protect historic structures and neighborhoods to retain the cultural heritage of the city.

 

 

For questions or feedback, please email us at dmpu@wpb.org.

Back to top