West Palm Beach Commissioners Unanimously Approve Related Ross Air Taxi Vertistop at CityPlace
Why It MattersLocal zoning approval for urban eVTOL landing sites is emerging as the first gate for air taxi networks, ahead of FAA noise and flight-plan reviews that will decide whether operations actually start.
West Palm Beach commissioners unanimously approved an amendment to the CityPlace development's rules to permit an electric air taxi landing pad, or vertistop, on top of Related Ross' Hibiscus parking garage. The vote took place at a city commission meeting on Monday afternoon. Related Ross is led by billionaire developer and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. Executive Vice President Jordan Rathlev called the vote "the first step in the process." Attorney Roger Ramdeen of Shutts & Bowen, who represented Related Ross, said the Federal Aviation Administration would review noise and flight plans, after which the city commission could review the plans again. Commissioner Christy Fox said any decision to proceed with actual use would come back to the commission for further discussion.

Some residents voiced support at the meeting, while others wore light-blue "Save West Palm Beach" shirts. Opponents raised concerns about noise, flight paths and how eVTOLs interact with existing air vehicles and emergency procedures, and asked why the site needed to be downtown rather than at the airport. The city's planning board had recommended approval in September.
Florida was selected earlier this year for the FAA's new pilot program for eVTOLs. The vertistop is one of several planned locations stemming from a partnership Related Ross launched with San Jose-based Archer Aviation in December to build infrastructure for its eVTOLs. Additional locations are planned at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and the Apogee Golf Club in Hobe Sound, and Archer also tapped Dragon Global to develop a vertiport site at the planned Magic City Innovation District in Little Haiti.
Rathlev said in October that operators are looking across the state, including Boca Raton, where Ross bought the 1.7M SF Boca Raton Innovation Campus in September and a two-building office complex nearby in October. A Related Ross spokesperson said the company has no current plans for Boca Raton. Rathlev said Related Ross does not plan to invest its own money in the infrastructure, and described eVTOLs as an amenity adding value to West Palm Beach, where Ross has pledged $10B in investment.

















































