Another part of our Florida waterfront skyline soon will be gone--zip, over, done.
The West Palm Beach Commission approved a 22 story condo to be built on the Chapel by the Sea property on the Intracoastal Waterway. Last night, residents talked for two hours, mostly against it...no one on the commission heard. The Commission believes that it is private property and people can do what they want with it as long as it is within their zoning codes. Why can't waterfront property be protected? Why do commissions constantly give waiver after waiver so that developers can come in and do what they want with property within our State? Why does a city like West Palm Beach or Lake Worth go around a vote all for their development aspirations? They got rid of Lois Frankel years ago and look what happened to her--now a United States Congresswoman. Can it get any worse than that? It is no wonder residents believe there is corruption.
Quotes from the meeting:
- Mayor Jeri Muoio: "We all, we all, find it incredibly insulting that people suggest there's money being exchanged, there's corruption going on."
- Associate pastor of the First Baptist church, Kevin Mahoney: "We're very pleased with the work of the city commission to accomplish this project for our city." What he failed to say, 'We will make double digit millions to block the waterfront."
- Kilday Associates, Planners on behalf of the developer: "Almost every recent major development in the city has received waivers." Why do we have a Comprehensive Plan when waivers are dished out like M&M's to anyone who asks?
- Former jailbird West Palm Beach commissioner Jim Exline who spent 10 months in a Federal Prison: "Developer's concessions make it palatable."
It is all about greed. It is no wonder why we can't get good people to run for office.
ReplyDeleteWhat in the heck can you expect with a former CRA member as a commissioner. 22 fr*&^ing stories. Get real. The church preacher now should pray for selling our our waterfront.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why the Mayor would be insulted, we are known as corruption county and WPB has had its own corruption issues over the years. Did money actually change hands, probably not, but did this developer give to her campaign, probably.
ReplyDeleteWe have zoning, set back, density rules for a reason and the idea that they can be changed at any whim makes no sense. Of course the developer points to prior waivers and now, every high rise that comes to town, will point to this high rise and these waivers and say you can't deny me, pretty soon we look like Ft. Lauderdale.
I trust no politician today. Sad.
ReplyDeleteRe-posted after editing--
ReplyDeleteThe West Palm politicos played hard ball with the developers until they got enough of what they wanted. Politicos always do what the people that donate to their campaigns want. Not what the people who voted them into office want.
What do you expect with people like Shanon Materio? Shanon thought it was great to spend millions of Lake Worth dollars on county roads. Her Developer friends needed pretty roads to drive to their almost condos in. Then the real estate bottom fell out, and Shanon and her buddies went boom. The CRA is broke today because of her bad decisions. The idiots in West Palm deserve what they voted into office- just another developer *&^%$
Whore-Prostitute.
ReplyDeleteProstitute-1.- To offer indiscriminately for sexual activity esp. for money.2.- TO DEVOTE TO CORRUPT OR UNWORTHY PURPOSES.
Seems we have a whole butt load of politicians/prostitutes running around this country/county/ town.