Could security concerns about former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club lead Palm Beach to strip the club of its permission to operate?
Town staff members are looking into possible legal options — including closing the club — following the U.S. Secret Service's decision to close South Ocean Boulevard near Mar-a-Lago indefinitely, citing a need for increased security.
The closure took effect July 20, a week after the July 13 attempted assassination of the Republican nominee for president.
But does the town have standing to strip the club of its ability to operate? Here's a look at the issue.
More:Secret Service confirms receipt of Palm Beach's letter about Mar-a-Lago road closure
How could Palm Beach close the Mar-a-Lago Club?
When the Town Council in 1993 authorized Trump to operate Mar-a-Lago as a private social club, the then-developer agreed to a declaration-of-use agreement. The club was allowed to open as a special-exception use in a Palm Beach residential zoning district.
It was that agreement that some neighbors cited in 2021 as part of an effort to prevent Trump from using Mar-a-Lago as his primary legal residence. However, the town attorney at the time, Skip Randolph, concluded thatthe agreement doesn't specifically bar Trump from living at the club. Trump now lives at Mar-a-Lago under a piece of the town's zoning code that says private clubs can provide living quarters to a "bona fide employee."
The club's operation also is governed by the declaration-of-use agreement. If the town finds that there have been any violations of the agreement, Palm Beach can revoke Mar-a-Lago's occupational license. Officials have also questioned in past discussions if health and safety issues raised by neighbors could be reason to remove the special exception that allows Mar-a-Lago to operate as a private club.
When Trump was president, the Secret Service had to obtain an exception from the town to the declaration-of-use agreement to allow for the construction of a helicopter pad on Mar-a-Lago's west lawn, because that use is not allowed. When Trump left office, the pad was demolished.
There have been a few changes to the agreement over the past three decades, including in May, when a new traffic plan was approved for the club.
Which road is affected?
South Ocean Boulevard is closed to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians from the traffic circle at Southern Boulevard north to the intersection with South County Road. Residents in and visitors to the affected area must show identification, and they can only enter and exit through the northern checkpoint at South County Road. Only emergency vehicles are allowed to pass through the Southern Boulevard checkpoint.
Both ends of the closure are manned by multiple law-enforcement officers.
The road will be closed through at least the Nov. 5 general election, officials have said.
Should there be a hurricane-related evacuation, Palm Beach Police Chief Nicholas Caristo said the barricades will be opened up and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office will remain around Mar-a-Lago to check for anything suspicious.
Why did the Secret Service order the road to be closed?
The closure went into effect July 20, one week after a 20-year-old gunman shot into the crowd at Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, injuring Trump and two of his supporters and killing another person. The Secret Service shot and killed the gunman.
The closure was one of a number of steps taken by the Secret Service to increase security around Trump and his properties, including Trump Tower in Manhattan and Trump's club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Long-term increases in security were already in the works before the recent measures were put in place, with the Secret Service working with the town and Mar-a-Lago to request a new guardhouse, which is under construction just inside Mar-a-Lago's main gate on South Ocean Boulevard.
What has happened since the closure took effect?
Since the stretch of South Ocean closed near Mar-a-Lago, there has been increased congestion on the Royal Park Bridge, the middle of the three bridges that connect Palm Beach to West Palm Beach across the Intracoastal Waterway, officials have said.
Palm Beach officials have pushed back on the closure's indefinite nature, questioning the need for the road to shut down when Trump is not there.
On July 31, a Chinese citizenwas arrestedafter he repeatedly tried to get into Mar-a-Lago while claiming that he had documents tying China to the July 13 attempted assassination.
Also since the road closed, Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahufor a July 26 meeting at Mar-a-Lago, their first sit-down since Trump left office in 2021.
What did officials say Tuesday?
The council's direction to the staff to research legal options came during a discussion where Town Manager Kirk Blouin said it's possible Palm Beach will not receive a reply from the Secret Service to the town's July 22 letter, in which Town Attorney Joanne O'Connor asked the agency to "provide the legal authority authorizing it to implement the road closure for the specified duration and even when protectee(s) are not in residence in the Town."
When Trump was president, the Secret Service closed South Ocean Boulevard near Mar-a-Lago only when Trump was in Palm Beach. The current closure affects the road 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through at least the Nov. 5 general election, whether or not Trump is there, officials have said.
The closure "effectively cuts the Town in two," O'Connor wrote in the letter.
"We can't physically go and remove the barriers," Blouin said. "They ordered the shut down. … We need to know what our options are. That's going to take some legal research."
Town officials have already noticed congestion worsening since the closure, Caristo told the council.
A Palm Beach Police officer is stationed around-the-clock at Mar-a-Lago to make sure emergency vehicles can pass through both checkpoints, he said.
Even with that point person to facilitate the passage of emergency vehicles, response times will be affected, Palm Beach Fire Rescue Chief Sean Baker told the council.
What happens next?
Blouin told council members that the town staff will provide updates at future meetings as necessary, when there is "something of value" to present or council direction is needed.
Kristina Webb is a reporter for Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her atkwebb@pbdailynews.com.Subscribe todaytosupport our journalism.
