The county began a search in earnest earlier this year for a light industrial site as part of an estimated $36-million strategic plan to physically consolidate a number of its operating units.

"We've been talking about centralizing facilities for maybe five, 10 years," John Chesher, who directs the county's capital improvements division, tells GlobeSt.com.

Although reticent to talk about the negotiations, county officials cite the poor conditions of many existing facilities as the reason for consolidating operations. They, as well as a spokesman for Palm Beach Commerce Center Associates, referred questions about the negotiations to Ross Hering, the county's director of property and real estate management. Hering was unavailable for comment.