Photo Credit: @pbcerm, Ann Mathews
What is Sustainable Palm Beach County?
Sustainable PBC is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization created to promote the “long-term sustainability of Palm Beach County’s environment, neighborhoods, and quality of life through preservation, enhancement, and restoration of its environmental and community resources.”
Residents who want PBC to preserve our unique environmental assets applaud SPBC’s initiatives.
We believe that the County’s growth must balance developers’ interests with strong environmental protections in order that our children and grandchildren can have what we enjoy today.
Who Is On The Sustainable PBC Board?
Karen Marcus, former Palm Beach County Commissioner, and Lisa Interlandi, senior attorney with the Everglades Law Center, are founding board members. Other members: Tony Bennett, civil trial attorney, Hicks & Motto; M.J. “Chip” Block, Vice Mayor, Jupiter Inlet Colony; Chair, PBC Water Resources Task Force; Timothy Hullihan, President, TFH Architectural Services; Leanna Landsmann, civic volunteer with broad experience in communications and environmental education; Robert “Rob” Robbins, retired Director, Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management (ERM); Chris Callaway Staniszewski, President, Gulfstream Appraisal & Consulting, a residential appraisal firm; Tom Twyford, President, West Palm Beach Fishing Club; Richard Walesky, wetlands ecology scientist and retired Director, Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management (ERM).
View our Board of Directors section for more information.
“In my years as a PBC Commissioner, I’ve found that most folks are open to doing what’s best for the long-term future of the community — not just their bottom line.” – Karen Marcus.
Is Sustainable PBC anti-development?
“Not at all”, says Karen Marcus. “We applaud smart, sustainable development and planning. We promote best practices in planning that balance developers’ goals with the preservation of the extraordinary natural assets that residents and businesses enjoy in Palm Beach County.”
People live here and businesses relocate their employees here because we are one of the few regions in the country that offers both economic opportunities and unique natural recourses that provide a healthy year-round lifestyle.
We aren’t anti-development. We are for smart, sustainable development and planning.
Palm Beach County’s natural resources are key drivers of our local economy. Today it makes economic sense for developers to incorporate this sustainable design into their projects. The public is demanding that of our public officials as well. Sustainable PBC plays a catalytic role in guiding parties to sustainable planning decisions that benefit everyone.”
How does Sustainable PBC plan to promote “best practices”?
Our board has broad experience and expertise in key areas that relate to planning, development and quality of life issues in Palm Beach County.
We provide guidance to developers and civic leaders from the get-go to review plans, suggest more sustainable solutions, and broker “win-win” compromises. We do not charge for advice or consultation.
People live here and businesses relocate here because we are one of the few regions in the country that offers both economic opportunities and unique natural recourses that provide a healthy year-round lifestyle
“We have a lot of experience to share, says Karen Marcus. “In my years as a PBC Commissioner I’ve found that most folks are open to doing what’s best for the long-term future of the community and not just their bottom line.
“People don’t want to kill the Golden Goose — our natural environment is the most important asset in Palm Beach County. People raise their families here to enjoy the water, the green space, and our many natural resources. If we don’t assume stewardship of those resources, they will go away, and the economic benefits will leave with them. If we destroy our resources, we destroy our economy and the lifestyle we all value.”
Who funds Sustainable PBC?
We rely on contributions from individuals and institutions that share our mission. Sustainable Palm Beach County is a tax-exempt organization pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code EIN number 47-28000467.
All donations are tax-deductible and are used to promote the long-term sustainability of Palm Beach County’s environment, neighborhoods, and quality of life through preservation, enhancement, and restoration of its environmental and community resources. You may donate online or by check made out to and mailed to Sustainable Palm Beach County, 920 Evergreen Drive, North Palm Beach, FL 33408.
People don’t want to kill the Golden Goose — our natural environment is the most important asset in Palm Beach County.
Do you charge for your work?
No. We work collaboratively and willingly with civic and municipal leaders, developers and individuals who seek to promote sustainable growth in Palm Beach County. Ideally, we engage at the concept stage of a project so that discussion and planning can be influenced by best practices in sustainability from inception. This not only brings cost-savings to the developer, it protects our natural environment and ensures residents of Palm Beach County that they will continue to enjoy the recreational green-space and quality of life benefits that we cherish.
What natural resources are you interested in protecting?
Our focus is water, adequate green space for recreation, and preventing the economic, environmental, and negative consequences of urban sprawl.
“Palm Beach County’s water supply, natural areas, agricultural lands, and local neighborhoods are under increased threats from poorly planned or unsustainable proposals for development,” says SPBC co-founder Lisa Interlandi.
Palm Beach County’s water supply, natural areas, agricultural lands, and local neighborhoods are under increased threats from poorly planned or unsustainable proposals for development.
“The County, the largest in area east of the Mississippi, contains The Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, Lake Worth Lagoon, Loxahatchee River, coastal estuaries, and 47 miles of beaches. Vast and productive agricultural lands border and serve as a buffer to the Everglades.
“Much of our effort is on being smart about our water resources. Palm Beach County’s water supply, natural areas, agricultural lands, and local neighborhoods are under increased threats from poorly planned or unsustainable proposals for development.”
“Our goal is to bring more sustainable practices to planning and development from the beginning, not as ‘boxes to check’ when it’s too late as a project nears completion,” says Marcus. “We promote and implement solutions that protect of our unique environment, our water resources, and maintain the quality of life in our rural and urban communities.
Photo Credit: Palm Beach County ERM
Photo Credit: Kimberly Knobbe
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