Chair of Respectful Planning PAC Responds

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Same Planet, different views

Response to Chip Guthrie, CRA Board member
Below is Mr. Guthrie’s comment yesterday to Katie and the response from the Chair of Respectful Planning Pac, Laurel Decker:

On this issue, the one we will be voting on March 12th, I have spoken to no one who wishes to have more 65 foot buildings downtown (Federal to Dixie) including the members of the new pac. They can correct me if I'm wrong.
Response: If no one is planning to build that high, why are you arguing against height limits?

The main issue comes down to ANY effort to tie the downtown to the intracoastal will be made HARDER by not allowing buildings of the same size that now exist there
Response: This “tying” downtown to the water nonsense is just ridiculous. East Atlantic Ave in Delray is one and two-story buildings from the downtown core all the way to the water. Why do we need six story buildings to tie downtown to the water??

We had a well publicized open meeting at Brogue's Monday night explaining the history of the area around the Gulfstream and how it was first designed as a resort that encompassed the entire block. It was a destination when the main mode of transportation bringing people to Lake Worth was the train. The area West of the Hotel was a "Hotel District". This is part of the design of the city.
Response: I think you should have had the courtesy (if not the courage of your convictions) to invite me to speak at your meeting about a charter amendment that I wrote. The low rise charter amendment does not in any way prohibit hotels. If this is what you are telling people, then you are lying. As president of the SPPNA, don’t you feel responsible for accurately portraying a law your residents will be voting on?

Frank Palen, who was asked to present to our NA is the author of Lake Worth's Historic Preservation Ordinance and is an expert on planning issues. He probably knows more than most on what it takes to preserve the quaintness of historically significant 100 year old cities.
Response:  Frank Palen knows how to get around the HP ordinance that he wrote, that’s why the prior owner of the Gulfstream hired Frank in 2004 to propose to the commission a charter amendment to allow 100’ heights in the entire 100 block of S. Lakeside (east side). He almost got away with it, but Tom Norris pointed it out to Mr Timm, who “alerted” the commission (some of them probably knew about it) and it was voted down. He portrayed the amendment as targeting only the two northern-most parcels, but in fact it covered the entire block. He’s quite the expert, I agree.

The meeting was very well attended and showed how much people wanted information on this issue. I urge you, and everyone for that matter, to attend another meeting with William Waters on the 18th so that you can get more information.
Response: And let’s not forget that when there was a commission majority that favored low rise, Mr. Waters is on public record as very strongly agreeing with their perspective and their case for keeping heights 45’ and lower in the downtown area. I was at one meeting when he voiced his agreement and was listening to another at home when he again made the case for low rise. I like Mr Waters, he does a good job, and he likes his job. And he knows who butters his bread.

Once presented with the fact that our LDR's and Comp plan which have taken some 5 years and over $1 million dollars to develop already address the issue, COMPLETELY, (Look at the Chart) it becomes evident that the two sides are diametrically opposed over an emotional issue over two stories of building height. No give, no compromise.
Response: I disagree. Our LDRs and Comp Plan allow 65’. Our prior Comp Plan allowed 35’, so 45’ is a compromise. And a lot of residents think so too. And not happily.

I was told last night that the people of the respectful pac were asked to compromise and exempt the two to three pieces of property East of Federal Hwy. that could support a hotel or expansion to the Gulfstream Hotel to help make it financially viable and they were met with "NO COMPROMISE".
Response:  “The people of the Respectful PAC” were definitely not contacted by anyone and asked to compromise or exempt properties. I was once given a message by our treasurer that the mayor wanted to speak with me, but she did not return my two phone calls to her. There is an entire city block that can be used to support the Gulfstream effectively at 45’, or build another hotel, or tons of condos. We all know that condos are what is going to be built anyway. There are several nice pieces of property east of Federal that could support a hotel much larger than the gorgeous Hyatt that was just completed in Delray Beach (in compliance with their 48’ height restriction).

Although it cannot happen due to the LDR's and the Comp plan, the Charter will still allow 10 story buildings West of Dixie on both sides of the core area. (1st Ave South to 2nd Ave North) The charter would still allow up to 65' buildings East of Dixie outside of the core area. Please remember, I said neither scenario can happen due to the LDR's and Comp plan regardless what the Charter allows "up to". If you truly wanted Lake Worth to flatten out, the referendum should have included ALL Lake Worth, rescinding the prior Charter Amendment, not just the little strip from A Street to the Bridge, between 1st So. and 2nd North.
Response: The Comp Plan can be easily amended now that our Governor has gutted the Department of Community Affairs and re-branded it the Department of Economic Opportunity. The LDRs can be changed in a matter of weeks, or a waiver granted, or a variance granted. You may not be aware of this, Chip, but the city has granted waivers and variances aplenty for many years. How do you think the Lucerne got built with 80 units on .75 acres when the property was zoned for 40 units per acre?? Right now, the Lucerne could be built in Bryant Park neighborhood (with proposed LDRs and our very willing P&Z board). Loretta Sharpe didn’t even bother to comment from the dais at the meeting where she approved the variances for the Lucerne, and she’s on the P&Z again now. And she is leading the PAC that opposes the height limits. If we wanted the city to “flatten out”, we would have written the amendment with lower heights than 45’.

I oppose this referendum because it is bad for Lake Worth. It sends a negative business unfriendly message. But I also don't want skyscrapers in Lake Worth anywhere! 65' tall buildings are not skyscrapers. We could use a couple of new Hotels and an expansion to the Gulfstream to get it opened back up. So a "NO" vote may well "Save the Gulfstream Hotel".
Response:  Nothing in the charter amendment hinders the restoration of the Gulfstream. Nothing in the charter amendment prohibits hotels. The PAC looks forward to the Gulfstream re-opening as much as you do. I have actually visited the new Hyatt in Delray (it’s gorgeous), and we look forward to new hotels as well! I would like to say how much I admire the Hyatt organization for their Respectful Planning in Delray by complying with their four story height limit. Hyatt is being Respectful in WPB as well, by proposing a hotel on the old City Hall property that complies with WPB height limits. Unlike the Tom Crocker group, who wants the WPB commission to allow them to build FIFTEEN stories (ten stories higher than the limit). Kudos to Hyatt.

As to your question why the CRA is not in the neighborhoods, please visit Lakeworthcra.org for the map. The CRA extends from our North to South border right through the heart of our city West to I-95 in spots and East to encompass the Gulfstream Hotel. It was platted long before my stint. We are doing what we can with the same reduced budget and economy that everybody else is dealing with.

Chip Guthrie