Minto accused of paying project supporters

Minto Communities faces accusations of paying people to act as supporters of its proposed 6,500-home development in the Acreage neighborhood of Palm Beach County.

Opponents of Minto West say the homebuilder gave individuals as much as $60 to wear “Yes to Minto West” shirts during a public meeting and recruiting supporters with no ties to the community, the Palm Beach Post reported. One Acreage resident filed a complaint with the county in hopes of launching an investigation into the alleged payments. Minto wants to build the large single-family project on 3,800 at the former Callery-Judge Grove site.

Minto spokesperson Don Niederpruem told the Post Minto did not pay people to attend an April 11 Planning Commission meeting but noted project supporters could have done so without the company’s knowledge.

“Minto doesn’t control what their supporters, vendors or suppliers do,” Niederpruem said. “We have no control over their employees or whether they are requested to attend or paid.” [Palm Beach Post] — Eric Kalis