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On June 26, 2025, the CCPOA Board filed a petition with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), seeking changes to the Brownfield agreement that governs cleanup of the Cypress Creek Golf Course by Toll Brothers. Representatives from the Board also met with Toll’s environmental attorney the previous week to better understand why the developer wants to test Cypress Creek’s soil and groundwater – and what the results could mean for residents.
Here’s what we learned – and why the Board believes there is not adequate assurance that Cypress Creek will be protected by long-term financial harm and other risks.
Why does Toll want to test for contamination in Cypress Creek?
Toll says it’s required to determine whether contamination extends beyond the golf course, as part of its Brownfield site obligations. Brownfield designations offer developers significant tax credits and liability protections. Testing in Cypress Creek would establish a baseline and help determine whether any contamination came from the golf course or historic agricultural use – an important distinction that affects Toll’s cleanup responsibilities.
What happens if contamination is found on a Cypress Creek property?
Toll says it will remove contaminated soil and bring in clean fill only if the contamination is linked to the golf course, not to the land’s historic agricultural use. If it’s deemed “regional anthropogenic” (common due to historic farming), Toll has no obligation to remediate. At previous public meetings with Toll, the developer dedicated a lot of time recapping the site’s previous history as a dairy farm.
What are the risks if contamination is found in Cypress Creek?
Homeowners will be legally required to disclose contamination when selling, even if no cleanup is done. Since Toll is not obligated to remediate if the source is agricultural, Cypress Creek could be left with harmful disclosures and no recourse for cleanup, leading to potential:
● Property value loss
● Impacts on deed restrictions
● Insurance complications
The current Brownfield agreement offers no protections for Cypress Creek property owners against potentially lasting financial, environmental and/or quality-of-life consequences. Also, there would be no remediation or financial protection for Cypress Creek if Toll does testing in our community and then walks away from the project.
Will Toll clean up contaminated groundwater?
Toll said groundwater contamination is typically addressed with long-term monitoring or use restrictions, not removal. This could lead to deed restrictions in Cypress Creek (e.g., banning irrigation wells) without active remediation.
Has Toll obtained homeowner consent for testing?
Toll says it has obtained some permissions for groundwater or soil boring testing but disclosed that some homeowners have since withdrawn consent.
Can Toll force testing on our private properties?
Toll acknowledged that it cannot compel access, but FDEP can. The agency has not yet done this. Residents appear to be under no current obligation to allow soil or groundwater testing, but you should consult your own legal counsel if unsure of rights or obligations.
Could Cypress Creek be added to the Brownfield designation?
Toll said Brownfield sites can grow to include any location where contamination originating from the golf course is discovered. However, it’s too soon to know if that’s possible in our case.
Why did the CCPOA file a petition with the FDEP?
The FDEP allows affected parties to Brownfield designations to request hearings. The CCPOA filed a petition because we believe the economic burden on adjacent communities like Cypress Creek has not been adequately reviewed. Many residents are concerned about potentially bearing long-term financial impacts without relief, while Toll stands to profit from development.
What happened with the contamination monitoring well Toll drilled on Fox Trace?
At the CCPOA’s request, Toll’s contractors removed the well on June 25, 2025. The developer has stated that no testing occurred while the well was in place.
Will Cypress Creek ever allow soil or groundwater testing?
The Board has told Toll that we need more time and information, given the serious legal, financial, and health implications. We also note that both Pulte and Toll have worked hard to claim the golf course and neighborhood are separate – until they need Cypress Creek for their purposes. Now they want to treat the community as if it’s part of their project.
Has Toll made its advisory committee more balanced?
No. Despite requests for more balanced representation, the committee still includes the same three Cypress Creek residents – all widely known Toll supporters who do not live in the most-impacted homes directly abutting the golf course. In a May 30 letter to FDEP, Toll argued that it has no legal obligation to appoint a representative committee. We believe that position undermines the spirit and intent of Florida’s Brownfield laws, which require public input.
Please click to view the CCPOA’s petition to the FDEP. We’ll keep the community updated, including whether a hearing is granted. This summary reflects the CCPOA Board’s current understanding of the Brownfield agreement and information provided by Toll.
– The Cypress Creek Property Owners’ Association Board of Directors
Last week, the Cypress Creek Property Owners’ Association Board stopped Toll Brothers’
contractors from drilling a contamination monitoring well in the middle of Fox Trace. The
developer was attempting this with no authority, no notice and no permission from the CCPOA,
showing a complete lack of transparency and respect for our community. Toll had plans for even more drilling on our private roads. Per our Governing Documents, the CCPOA owns our roads and, just as we can’t control what happens on the golf course, the developer can’t do as it
pleases within our neighborhood.
Additionally, Toll often paints the Board as obstructionist, all while the company continues to
show examples of why it’s important for the Board to look out for Cypress Creek’s best interest.
Now, the developer claims drilling within Cypress Creek is mandatory (without providing
documented proof) and argues that it’s illogical for us to oppose testing, given that we continue
to express legitimate concerns about toxins. But their logic raises red flags.
● Why place a dozen or more monitoring wells on land they don’t own? What are they
looking for exactly? And, if the FDEP is requiring this as they’ve stated, why?
● Why do they want to test under our properties? What does that have to do with their
project? They don’t plan to remediate our community. Furthermore, arsenic and other
toxins are considered dangerous when dug up. Our neighborhood is already developed
and has been undisturbed for 50 years.
● Is it really about checking whether arsenic and other contamination from the golf course
has spread – or is it more about limiting their own liability through the Brownfield
designation? If they prove it’s here, does it protect them more in some way?
● If contamination is found under our properties or private roads, are we expected to
disclose this to future buyers? How will it affect home values or pending sales?
We can’t blindly approve drilling on our privately owned roads with so many uncertainties. The
Board feels strongly that we have a fiduciary duty to protect our community as we’ve been
doing. This includes protecting our property values and our roads. In the meantime, we have
even more unanswered questions …
Why does Toll Brothers’ Brownfield Community Advisory Committee exclude Cypress
Creek’s most-affected and concerned residents?
The Board contacted FDEP last week, asking why Toll failed to properly solicit community
participation for the state-mandated advisory committee. Months ago, we asked the developer
to ensure there was a balanced committee that included concerned residents living directly next
to the contaminated golf course. Toll agreed and promised outreach. But, they broke that
promise. Instead, they appointed three of their most vocal supporters who live several blocks
away from the golf course, have ties to the golf course owners, and frequently oppose anyone
seeking stronger environmental or flooding protections. You can learn more about the
committee members in Attachment G of the Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreement.
How is this a fair and balanced committee? Why didn’t Toll conduct the promised outreach or
notify the community once the committee members were chosen? Why didn’t the advisory
committee members inform the neighborhood they were appointed at the last Board Meeting or in an email to the Board? Why didn’t any of the committee members alert the community that we had just 21 days to petition for a hearing about the Brownfield designation, something they
likely knew?
Fortunately, the Board filed a petition for an extension – just in time – and requested that the
advisory committee be expanded to include impacted homeowners.
Is this a preview of what’s to come?
If Toll Brothers can’t be transparent about forming a community advisory committee or notify us before drilling in our privately owned streets, how can we trust them to do what’s right for things with more consequential outcomes – like protecting Cypress Creek from dangerous toxins
during and after construction? The developer claims to want collaboration, but their actions say
otherwise. The Board is very concerned.
If you would like to learn more about Brownfield designations, here are some of the most-recent filings:
● Soil Management Plan: Learn how arsenic and other toxins exceed state health and
safety limits within the golf course’s soil and groundwater and what Toll Brothers plans to
do with that soil (relocate, reuse, etc.)
https://discover.pbc.gov/pzb/zoning/PDF/CypressCreek/Cypress%20Creek%20Golf%20Course%20SMP.pdf
● Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreement: Details of the Brownfield designation,
including proposed schedule.
The dates for the public hearings pertaining to Toll Brothers’ Brownfield Area Designation have changed. The dates are now as follows:
● Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
● Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
● Location: Governmental Center, 6th Floor, 301 North Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL
During these meetings, the PBC Board of County Commissioners will hear public comment about Toll Brothers' intent to seek a Brownfield area designation for the golf course parcel.
These designations help a developer secure tax breaks, liability protection and other incentives for redeveloping a property with known contamination, like the golf course where testing shows high levels of arsenic and other toxins in the soil and groundwater.
To read the 1,200+ page environmental report detailing the Cypress Creek Golf Course contamination, visit the FDEP's online portal and “view” the “Site Assessment Report” dated 10-31-2024. (Note: The written report is only about 25 pages with the remaining pages
containing supporting documentation.):
https://prodenv.dep.state.fl.us/DepNexus/public/electronic-documents/ERIC_10930/facility!search
We’re pleased to announce that Cypress Creek is moving to a new Visitor Management Software designed to streamline our visitor management process. The transition to this enhanced system comes at no cost to our Association and is required because our gate access vendor no longer supports WebGuest.
What This Means for You:
EntranceIQ will replace our current Safehouse Webguest system, offering more efficient and user-friendly features, including:
● Quick and easy visitor registration
● Real-time notifications and updates about visitor arrivals and departures
What to Expect: Look for an email on June 18 with the subject line “Welcome to EIQ” which will
come from “Donotreply@entranceiq.app.” This email will explain how to download the new
resident’s app called EIQ Connect and activate your account.
Do I have to re-enter my guests?: Hopefully not. Once you download the app and log into your new account, your work should be done! Your previously approved guests and vendors should be automatically transferred to the new system. However, this is a good time to verify that your list is still accurate and to remove anyone who is no longer needed.
What if I need help?: In your activation email, you’ll receive access to a tutorial and other tips.
If you need additional help throughout the transition, the EntranceIQ team will be available to
provide support and assistance. Our property management team from Tallfield is also on tap to
provide further assistance.
Please reach out by emailing at ccpoa@tallfield.com. Some people with older mobile devices may need additional troubleshooting guidance, which Tallfield can provide.
Having transponder trouble or need a new transponder?
If you suspect that your transponder sticker isn’t working, please email
cypresscreekpoa@gmail.com with the following info and we’ll have your information checked or
re-entered in the system:
● Transponder sticker #
● License plate #
● Car make and model
● Name and address
If you need a new gate transponder sticker, they are available at the West Gate, Monday
through Friday from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. The stickers cost $25 each, payable by check or money
order, made out to CCPOA. Please bring the vehicle requiring the transponder with you to the
West Gate. Proof of residence must also be provided.
Contact Aaron Hallyburton at heffey01@gmail.com if you have questions or have trouble with gate access.
We now have a look into Toll Brothers’ site plan with proposed lot locations and lot sizes. This and other details are part of new or updated filings submitted this week to the county.
A few things of note:
● The number of proposed lots is 152 and lot sizes range from about 8,255 to 10,400 square feet. Cypress Creek’s average lot size is 14,882 square feet per Toll Brothers’ filings, although our lots include our portion of our private roads (we’re still significantly larger). Side setbacks (i.e., the distance between a home and the property line) are 7.5’ compared to our minimum 15’ side setbacks or 20’ side setbacks for some existing homes that abut the golf course property, such as those along Cross Creek.
● The developer has applied for special permission to remove more than 10% (or 353,000 cubic yards) of excavated soil from the site to create proposed lakes. This is an increase in the amount of contaminated soil needed to be removed from the site since the last filing. The lake excavations are expected to take 9 months.
● Per Toll Brothers, the adjustment in soil removal is because of “changed conditions or circumstances.” The filing says the additional lake area is needed to accommodate the development and further provide drainage for the surrounding community. We hope this is a sign that the developer is listening to our drainage concerns. Our independent engineer should have an opportunity to review the changes.
There are more details about the proposed 20’ buffers between existing Cypress Creek homes and Toll Brothers’ proposed sites. There will be a “decorative” 6’ fence (compared to 4’ feet), shrubs and a mix of taller trees (maturity unknown). This will sit on an area between our two communities that is roughly the length of an average parking space.
This does not represent a comprehensive assessment of the latest filings. To view the Toll Brothers’ application and newer filings yourself, visit PBC’s zoning site: https://www.pbcgov.org/ePZB.Admin.WebSPA/#/PanelContainer/ControlNoHistory
(Tips on “how to” search for the application are at the very bottom of the Association’s webpage at cypresscreekpoa.org under the Toll Brothers page)
ARC MEETING
Monday, August 25, 2025, 6 p.m.
9667 Calliandra Dr.
Applications due 72 hours prior to meeting
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' MEETING
Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
Lake Worth Drainage District - Auditorium
13081 S. Military Trail
Delray Beach, 33484
Time: Aug 21, 2025 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82699018705?pwd=2rtoYe7RSa5IJsfGMP4NDxhj6BGalL.1
Meeting ID: 826 9901 8705
Passcode: 727361
or dial in: (305) 224-1968
Agenda:
· Call to Order
· Approval of Minutes
· Treasurer’s Report
· Manager’s Report
· Committee Reports
· Unfinished Business
· New Business
· Other Business that may come before the Board
· Public Comment
· Meeting adjourned
WANT TO RECEIVE COMMUNITY NEWS BY EMAIL?
If you haven't already submitted the community's electronic communications consent form, please consider taking a moment to do so today. Download the form here.
KEEP OUR STORM DRAINS CLEAR
CCPOA Board would like to request that you coordinate with your landscapers to ensure storm drains are not blocked by debris, for example: palm fronds, clippings, coconuts etc. As we have all noticed, we have headed in to summer on a very rainy path. In an effort to control flooding on our streets, communication with your landscapers is essential. Please take note if you have storm drains on your property an help to keep them clear. Thank you for looking out for our beautiful community.
Aaron Hallyburton, President
Cameron Hoffman, Vice-President
Julie Nicholas, Secretary
Don Neubaum, Treasurer
Jennifer Epstein, Director
Thomas Gulla, Director
Christine Chavers, Director
Contact: CypressCreekPOA@gmail.com
Antony Cramer, Property Manager
AKAM
12765 Forest Hill Blvd., Ste. 1320
Wellington, Florida 33414
(561) 983-6000
Property Manager - Tallfield Management
Antony Cramer acramer@akam.com or 561-983-6000
Daisy Vazquez - dvazquez@akam.com or 561-983-6000, Ext 205
Cypress Creek POA Board
Contact: CypressCreekPOA@gmail.com
Where to send dues:
Cypress Creek Property Owners' Association Inc.
Tallfield Associates, LLC
P.O. Box 628207
Orlando, FL 32862-8207
ARC (Architectural Review)
Contact: Tena Perez - TPerez@akam.com
You may also mail your ARC application to:
Tallfield Management
12765 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 1320
Wellington, FL 33414
Gate Transponders
Available from the West Gate Attendant, (561) 375-9896, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday through Friday
Gate Attendants
East Gate (561) 375-9176
West Gate (561) 375-9896
Safety
PBSO Non-emergency - (561) 688-3000
PBSO/Fire/EMS Emergency 911
Local Service Providers
City of Boynton Beach Water/Sewer: (561) 742-6000
Florida Power & Light Company: (561) 697-8000
Solid Waste Authority (SWA): (561) 697-2700
Pick up days:
Wednesday – Garbage/Recycling
Saturday – Garbage/Bulk/Yard Waste
ATT Uverse: (800) 288-2020
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DISH: (800) 333-DISH