Common Sense Decision by Lake Worth Planning board

Comment Up

A typical look of a TD Bank

Last night I wandered down to the Planning & Zoning board meeting. My curiosity had the best of me because of all the latest political hype in requiring "qualifications" of its members, something that has always been standard operational procedure as well as common sense when considering appointments to the various boards.

Every now and then a board appointee will slip through the cracks but overall, those serving on city boards are highly qualified and professional. Official professional qualifications to be a member of the P&Z are non-specific. There used to be qualifications when the P&Z was also the Historical Preservation Board and qualifications are, I believe, required by Statute. Once these boards separated, qualifications for P&Z were officially lifted in 2010. This requirement is now changing in the future due to political pressure.

This Planning & Zoning Board is a cross section of citizens doing an outstanding job for Lake Worth. Highly ethical, knowledgeable and fully informed, how can anyone say or really believe that they are anti-business? How can anyone say that they are not cognizant of our Building Code and Ordinances? How can anyone say that they don't have common sense when it is needed? Last night dispelled the myths and proved their case.

Toronto-Dominion Bank headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with more than 85,000 employees in offices around the world and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group (TD). TD offers a full range of financial products and services to approximately 21.5 million customers worldwide through four key business lines. TD Bank is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., with more than 25,000 employees and deep roots in the community dating back more than 150 years and they have been trying to be a part of our community for the last two years.

Last night they were there to ask the P&Z for three variances in order to obtain a green certification as they do not build any building that would not be certified "green." What is a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) building? It's a green building certified by the US Green Building Council and TD Bank is going for the platinum certification in Lake Worth.

With retail operations posting a record of $5.7 billion in 2011, this bank recently gave its shareholders a 4 cents per share raise. They posted $6.3 billion in adjusted income – 20 per cent growth over last year – despite ongoing macroeconomic challenges and market volatility. This is exactly what Lake Worth wants in its town--successful businesses that will create jobs and help with our tax base.

Specifically, the applicant was proposing to shift the 2,900 square foot bank building 5.04 feet to the north and 1.38 feet to the east. The drive-through section of 594 square feet is on a separate parcel and will not be affected by the variance request. The proposed building’s relocation results in the placement of the building being non-conforming with regard to the following three sections of the City’s zoning code:

• Section 23.21.07.05 with respect to the placement of the building within the “VisibilityTriangle” at the corner of North Dixie Highway and 2nd Avenue North;

• Section 23.13.04.03.B.1 with respect to the side street setback along 2nd Avenue North not meeting the minimum required setback; and
  

• Section 23.20.02.04 to with respect to the Dixie Highway and 2nd Avenue North setbacksnot matching, which is required by the design guidelines for major thoroughfares.

The bank project was previously approved at the July 6, 2011 meeting by the Planning & Zoning Board. However, during the process, the bank discovered a conflict with the Florida Building Code thus they were back before the P&Z for variances that would ensure their success to build. Last night they got the go ahead by the P&Z on a 5/1 vote approving the variance request.

It was all just common sense in the end and a good decision for Lake Worth by the Planning & Zoning Board.