Everglades activists called Monday for a moratorium on development of western Palm Beach County's sugar farms, a week after Florida Crystals Corp. showed off a proposal meant to lure The Scripps Research Institute.

"I think that recent events have shown that government needs to get out ahead of development plans for the Everglades Agricultural Area, not vice versa," said Richard Grosso, co-chairman of the Everglades Coalition, an alliance of more than 40 local, state and national groups.

County Commission Chairwoman Karen Marcus did not return calls for comment late Monday.

The coalition also asked for support from Gov. Jeb Bush, who has championed an $8.4 billion Everglades restoration plan aimed at reviving the fragile marshes downstream of the sugar farms.

A Bush spokeswoman said local officials should make any decisions about development, although those decisions shouldn't harm the restoration.

Grosso said that until now, the farmland south of Lake Okeechobee seemed miles away from urban Palm Beach County.

That is changing rapidly, he said.

Last week, Florida Crystals outlined plans for a 16,000-acre "Smart Growth Green Community" straddling 20-Mile Bend west of Loxahatchee.

The company said it would give 1,000 acres to Scripps, donate 500 acres for education and build a village on an 8,000-acre core.

Scripps now plans to put its Florida headquarters on Mecca Farms west of Palm Beach Gardens, but the cost of developing that site has launched efforts to find a better location.

Juanita Greene, conservation chairwoman of the group Friends of the Everglades, said she would like to see the state buy the sugar land and use it for water storage.

Grosso's group called for the county and state to stave off development until it's clear how much land the restoration requires and how much sprawl the Everglades can withstand.

"The governor needs to act before this cat is out of the bag," Grosso said. "We need to plan for the restoration future of the (sugar region) before anyone talks about development."