Comment Up
As the Palm Beach Post has made it much more difficult to comment, I have provided the link to Andrew Marra's editorial in today's paper entitled, Reject overly strict Height Limits as proposed by Commissioner Mulvehill that will be on tonight's agenda.
Andrew Marra is a resident of Lake Worth and certainly entitled to his opinion even if it does differ from mine. The Planning & Zoning Board as well as William Waters, development Sustainability Director, have both recommended the proposed heights. There are sound and concrete reasons to do so as well as to just wanting to keep our downtown a low-rise city.
I have always believed that the people have the right to vote on land-use issues. However, the Florida Legislature in 2011, made it illegal to challenge Comprehensive Plans. Governor Rick Scott, supported by big business, believes that it stops growth. We will have no recourse on land-use changes unless we take action now to protect our city in how we want it to look.
26 comments:
Mo more *&^king Lucernes. Stop the corruption.
To all those people who really believe that by building high will bring in more tax base, you are wrong. For all of you who just want to change everything in our city event he name of it, build ten story buildings and help line the pockets of Realtors and developers, go to Ft. Lauderdale and look at the mess. It just seems that you don't like our city very much and want to complain about everything imaginable. If you like heights, what about New York City. They would love to have you there as they wonder how to afford services.
Mulvehill is running for reelection and hasn't done anything in 4 years except try to stop a Publix with a Plastic Bag Ordinance and stop the development of the Gulf Stream Hotel with a campaign sponsor's phoney nuisance lawsuit.
Lake Worth spent $1,100,000 on a Comp Plan Revision over a 7.5 year period and now Mulvehill wants to override its due process.
These are reasons why we call her Clueless.
Those who support Comm Mulvehill's reasonable proposal, PLEASE SHOW UP AT CITY HALL TONIGHT & EXPRESS YOURSELF!
Note: this item is further down on the agenda, so you don't have to get there at 6:00. You could listen to the meeting online, then go to City Hall when they are taking public comment on the Public Hearings (Comprehensive Plan Amendments) and New Business.
If you can't make it in person, SEND AN EMAIL TODAY to the mayor, commission & city manager to let them know your opinion. (I'm out of town on business, so I'll be emailing & listening online.)
Keep in mind, the current 3-2 majortiy commisison got there because of less than 300 votes (for the Mayor), but they are taking over and trying to change our beloved little city as if they were on a madate from the masses.
Supporters of the current majority are very vocal and attend every commisison meeting, giving the wrong impression that they represent the majority of the city's residents. If you've never been to a City Commission meeting, or haven't been in a while, it's time to get involved.
It's no secret that outside real estate developers are hungry to get back into the Lake Worth game. If you value our historic small town charm and don't want to live in just another generic Florida eyesore of overdevelopment greed, now is the time to make your voice heard!
Let's get this item on the November ballot so the PEOPLE can decide the future of Lake Worth --not just 3 politicians who are heavily supported & influenced by real estate developers & their lobbyists. --Beth
the only one clueless is you, anonymous above. Please read policy. I will not allow anymore political attacks that are fantasy. Thanks.
I am not anon at 10:22 but what did that person state that were not facts?
Beth,
Those that were at the golf course meeting earlier this year that supposedly decided for the entire city what the LW charter height limits should be were even less than the 300 voter difference who voted for a longtime LW homeowner to be our mayor. Are you implying that those 300 or so voters were less of a valid group to decide that than the even smaller size group that were at the golf course that night? Here’s another thing, most of property owners who own the majority of the property in the downtown area are from outside the city. They would not be able to have their voice heard or their vote counted. Shouldn’t their voice be heard?
Regarding the January meeting at the LW golfcourse, there was a consensus from the P&Z, the Historical Preservation Board and the City Commission regarding heights. Nothing Commissioner Mulvehill has brought forth deters from that discussion and consensus. That even means Wes Blackman. Subsequent to that consensus, the developer/Realtor types have caused a lot of unhappiness about restricting heights in our downtown. That is certainly not a surprise.
Investors and residents usually look at things differently when it comes to heights. The people who own the property in our downtown, bought it knowing that we are a low-rise city and have always been that since we were founded.
We can not build north,south,east, or west. The only Logical way to go is up.....
The heights being proposed are not extreme or unreasonable. What IS EXTREME is bowing down and kissing the azz of every developer on the planet who wants to come in and demand variences from our code.Greg Rice,please leave Lake Worth and go live in Miami or New York city. You obviously hate the character of Lake Worth. People like you ,Greg, who think that buildings like the Lucerne are GLORIOUS, SUCK. You don't care anything about this town or the people in it. Again, if you want to live in a high rise city, get the hell out of Lake Worth! And Suzanne, why the hell didn't you propose something like this when you had a majority on the Commission? People like me begged you to do things like this,but you,Joanne and Christopher turned a deaf ear to us.The Commission is now catering to the growth whore crowd like Greg Rice and company.Have fun getting 1500 petitions signed in the next 30 days. That is your only prayer.Katie Mcgiveron
Suzanne Mulvehill has done a lot for the city of Lake Worth. Building higher in our downtown will cost the taxpayers more in services than what higher buildings will reap in taxes. People like a small town. We don't want WPB, Delray or Ft. Lauderdale and developers raping our city.
Katie,I cannot believe you have so much hatred in you.We are talking about differences of opinion not being invaded by aliens.I understand why Commissioners Mulvehill,Golden and Mcvoy didn't listen when they had the majority they were not sure they could win.Now you may call me a whore,but I never said we should build a high rise city.I said read the charter if you don't like what there change it. Loretta Sharpe
GO KATIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cameracorp--It's not Mulvehill trying to override the process. It is Scott, Pam and Andy and their 12 friends.
Anon 2:54--but the Commission voted on this last week after P&Z Review ans Approval---Mulvehill's seems to be coming out of left field---or did I miss a vote or a review or something?
When we changed the Charter last regarding building heights,(Lynn says it was 20 years ago) we voted to continue to allow 65 foot heights East of Dixie (always allowed) and because we wanted to develop the strip between Lake and Lucerne West of the tracks, and we wanted to allow the blocks between Dixie and the RailRoad tracks to become commercial AND back then we were looking at annexing areas West of the city limit. (POC?)
All of those reasons made sense back then. That is now replaced with the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) need to make us MORE walkable. Increasing density around downtown and transit hubs make sense. Allowing up to 10 stories in the Park of Commerce "could" make sense.
We need to keep flexibility so that innovative ideas can be considered.
While I don't have a problem with putting it to a vote AGAIN, the proposed amendment is poorly written as it doesn't address the previous amendment.
I would definitely vote against it just as I voted against "4". And for much of the same reason. It could halt GOOD development if one were to approach our city.
After passing the Charter amendment allowing 10 stories West of Dixie, how many sky scrapers have gone up? 10? 20? How about ***0***? So why does everyone think there are "greedy developers gnashing their teeth at our borders, waiting for our LDR's to be approved?
And Katie, Greg has been a contributing member of this community for decades. He puts his money where his mouth is. You just give mouth. Your foul mouthed hate attack is allowed on this blog where others are blocked, then attacked by the owner.
I say, let us vote AGAIN... then listen as "we" are all called stupid when the amendment fails miserably.
Continuing to state falsely that we are and have always been a "low rise" community, is for fools and vision impaired. One of our oldest and most recognizable HISTORIC LANDMARKS has "always been" over 65 feet tall.
Katie posted in her own name. I know her. Did you post in your own name? Please read policy.
This blog is an advocacy blog. It is NOT fair and always balanced. That is why it is my blog and I use the delete key when I feel it is appropriate to do so. I have deleted a comment or two from Dee who has used her own name. It is discretionary.
I do not agree with you on more height in our downtown. This city has ALWAYS been a low-rise city with SOME EXCEPTIONS. This is NOT about sky-scrapers. What it is about is keeping our small town charm--our uniqueness and not have it consumed by developers trying to ruin it.
Katie does a lot for her neighborhood. She is out working on weekends helping to paint and fix up houses, etc. She is a working Mom with two kids, one of whom just graduated from college. She just started her own business in Lake Worth and that is taking a lot of her extra time these days. She is not exactly in the same financial category as Mr. Rice although she is overly generous with what she has. Mr. Rice owns some investment property here and possibly has a different interest in our city.
I feel I'm finally getting somewhere.... OK so now we can admit that we are a mostly low rise community.... with about 20 or so exceptions.
Where did I say MORE height in downtown? I don't want ANY changes in our height restrictions. We allow 65 feet NOW. That is high enough.
The proposed changes lower that height to 45 feet. That doesn't bother me either, if properly planned and not a big box. Again, it's all about smart development. I've seen ugly short buildings and gorgeous skyscrapers.
I also believe the area East of Federal needs to be able to offer higher building to go with the 5 or 6 already there or to enhance the Gulfstream. Again, max 65 feet.
But at least you acknowledge the exceptions to our decidedly "low rise community".
Loretta I don't hate you or Greg. I'm just calling you what you are-a couple of growth whores out to ruin the quaint atmosphere of our city. If you so admire 65 foot buildings ,Loretta, then move somewhere that has them. It is insulting that you insist on trying to impose your will on a city like Lake Worth that is not made up of 65 foot bldgs.Loretta, you and Greg never stood up for our single familyy neighborhoods. you thougt it was A-OK tht Paul Kintz and his failed land speculator partners tried to destroy my neighborhood. Unlike you and Greg, My husband and I can't afford to move . We have to stand and defend where we live.Calling you and Greg Rice and your friends growth whores is not hatefull . It is descriptive of what you are.Katie Mcgiveron
Loretta, go chop down a rain forest.
John Davidson wears a wig, you know. I saw the line on the back of his head on one of the pix you took Lynn. Thought you'd like to be informed of this. He's still cute though.
I do not believe that you are correct. It must have been a flawed photo.
Katie, I don't hate you and i would never call you a whore.We have a difference of opinion,that all' I belive the 2 parcels of land that could possible go to 65 east of Dixie Are the o the bank of America, and the Chase building, now you can buy into myth that the historical preservation board will allow developers to buy, and tear down historical properties from 1st ave so. to 2nd ave north, it will never happen the historical board will never allow it to happen.I never stood up for sunset ridge neighborhood, Because I thought John Lang had approval from the county to build Sunset. I really did not think 4 more townhouses in 4 acres would make that much difference. And after recieveing the letter from the minister, I thought most of the people in the neighborhood were for it. after recieving the e mail from Trip Ciocicci asking his board how to get a commission to sell the land I thought you were all in on it. I begged John Lang to go back to the County it did not happen.
Loretta Sharpe
P.S.
This will be the last blog I put on Lynn Anderson's site. I am really concerned about you
Yeah Loretta-You're a class act!
We "HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A LOW RISE CITY." With a few exceptions.
Brilliant
Damn, just when I thought you weren't coming over here anymore.
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