On September 19th and on November 9th, I reminded all of you that a re-zoning/up-zoning was coming before the Historic Resources Preservation Board on the property known as the Gulfstream Hotel. The meeting will be Wednesday night at 6pm at City Hall.
Lawyers for Hudson Holdings, Beth Schrantz and Bonnie Miskel, Esq. of Dunay, Miskel and Backman, LLP, on behalf of HH Gulfstream Land Holdings, LLC (petitioner/applicant) have petitioned the city for HRPB Project Number 15-01300001: A request to rezone +/- .93 acres of property. Just the sheer mention of "lawyers," the city administration cowers in fear and rolls over like a dog.
The Historic Board is a rubber stamp for the desires of this city and its three elected commissioners: Maxwell, Triolo and Amoroso. If that were not so, then this commission would not have kicked off the last Board and appointed their very own politicos. Some members are new since then but appointed by these elected officials nevertheless.
As you all know, Hudson Holdings wants to build higher than the Charter Amendment on Heights passed by the voters. After the election was won by the people and the city lost in raising heights downtown, this commission said "screw you" and voted in a Hotel Overlay District.
**The election results won by the people. (corrected ballot description-->) This measure amended the Lake Worth City Charter to limit buildings to be 45 feet in height between Golfview Road and F Street and 35 feet between F street and A Street in a designated area of downtown, with exception to existing buildings and currently approved building permits. It stands per Florida Statutes Section 166.031(2) and was effective on the date the results were certified, March 19, 2013. According to the former Inspector General, Sheryl Steckler, the date that the revised charter was filed or not filed with the Department of State, has no legal effect on whether or when the charter amendment is effective.**
Developers/Investors are the people who always, without a doubt, back candidates who love development--they try to buy their vote with campaign contributions to ensure a favorable result--any kind of development as long as they make big bucks. And we have been fighting this mentality for decades.
HRPB 15-01300001: Consideration of a request for a rezoning and Official Zoning Map Amendment; re-zoning certain parcels of land from MF-30, Multi-Family Residential Zoning to DT (Downtown) Zoning, pursuant to Chap 23.2-36 of the Land Development Regulations, adopted by Ordinance 2015-12. The Subject properties combined form an area which is approximately 0.93 acres in size, generally located on the south side of Lake Avenue between South Lakeside Dr. and South Golfview Road; and which are more specifically comprised of the following parcels: 38-43-44-21-15-033-0010; 38-43-44-21-15-033-0030; 38-43-44-21-15-033-0040; 38-43-44-21-15-033-0050; 38-43-44-21-15-033-0060.
25 comments:
Ok, I will try to be there. Thanks.
Mayor Pam Triolo ,Commissioner Scott Maxwell and Commissioner Andy Amoroso think it's great to bend over and fart on an election by the citizens of Lake Worth.They don't mind taking a steaming dump on our law.
What is very scary is that Mayor Triolo and Commissioner Maxwell are struggling financially.Hudson Holdings has millions riding on this deal and would do anything to see this go thru. Not a good combination.
Whatever happened to the threat that Hudson Holdings made about the Gulfstream being contingent on their takeover of Lake Worth Beach?
Pam Triolo ,Scott Maxwell ,Andy Amoroso ,as well as every member of this "Historic" board need to be investigated by the FBI.
Want to see corruption in action? Come to the meeting Wednesday night. And remember every face on the "historic" board.
Annon at 10:33 you need to get a grip. Every land owner has the legal right to do what HH is doing. To say that the commissioners are corrupt is so unfair. If you want to blame anyone for the election mess you should look to the Florida legislature which took the power away from small groups like the one you are in from controlling land use. The commission had no choice but to abide by Florida law which they took an oath to withhold. According to you they are corrupt for doing just that. You believe they are corrupt and the board members too are corrupt, because they appointed folks to our boards that have the same political ideas that they do. Well guess what, that's what every commission does. So if you against the upzoning go to the meeting and tell the board why they should not allow it. That's your right. The fact that the board may disagree with you is their right. That's how it works in the good old USA.
What was passed by Gov. Rick Scott 5 months AFTER a legal election has NOTHING to do with our charter amendment concerning heights in our down town corridor..Glen Torcivia's opinion that it does doesn't mean squat. The law voted on and passed by the people of Lake Worth is still the law.
$hit-canning an entire LEGALLY appointed board because you want to stack your own people on it is not "the good old American way". Mayor Triolo,Commissioner Maxwell and Commissioner Amoroso have a lot to answer for. Anon at 4:57 , does the fact that Hudson Holdings has done nothing but tell lies since they slithered into town bother you?If the board decides to break the law in Lake Worth I hope that each of them is prosecuted and sued in a class action law suit on behalf of the people of Lake Worth. And BTW anon, these board members will have to foot the legal bills themselves. In a civil rights matter such as this they CANNOT ,under FEDERAL LAW hide behind the city umbrella.They will be acting at their own peril Wednesday night.
Annon when did you get your law degree? S canning an entire board that was composed of the prior commission's friends is what happens when you want to put your friends on the board. Replacing board members happens all the time when new commissioners get elected. Our boards are now fully represented by legal counsel and they have no choice but to follow the law. The zoning attorney that sits on the dais is one of the top zoning lawyers in the county. Perhaps you may want to explain the law to her.
The attorney for Respectful Planning Pac is one of the top lawyers in environmental, building, zoning and land use law issues and cases in the State of Florida.
The Respectful Pac's attorney dropped the ball if you're claiming the city acted illegally. Or perhaps the entire election was a political ploy used to discredit the commission. All of us who have any interest in this city know that very few people vote and that you can win an election by targeting a select group who are passionate about an issue and no idea of what's really happening. I have lived here for many years and have seen it happen over and over again. The winning side than claims it speaks for the entire city of over 30,000 people. The fact is the overwhelming majority of most people in this city don't care how high any building is because they chose to stay home when this issue came up for a vote.
People didn't vote...so?
That happens in every election locally and nationally.
So?
The vote prevails. That IS democracy.
As far as RPP targeting any group, that is really a joke. It is the developer side of elections that have the money, not little Mom and Pop with 2 kids struggling who bought here because they wanted a small town feel, smaller buildings in our downtown and did not want to live in Ft. Lauderdale or Delray or WPB. It is the city that has the big bucks for lawyers to get what they want. It's never about the people. And therefore, it is a constant struggle in this city. the crap just never ends.
Just to be sure I understand: Hudson needs to have the zoning changed for the piece of property that is adjacent to the Gulfstream Hotel and extends back to 1st Ave. South in order to do ANYTHING because it is currently zoned multi family.
Are you against them getting the zoning change?
I am told they can't even build a two story garage with the multi family zoning. They would only be able to build multi family there. Is that what you want?
What would you like to see the zoning changed to?
So you oppose the change in zoning which ensures the property stays like is is.
From the description, they appear to be going after a zoning change on a portion of the entire property that consists of 5 parcels from multi-family residential to Downtown DT. On the future land use map it will be designated Downtown Mixed use.
This will give them an additional thirty-five (35) feet in height under the Sustainable Bonus Incentive Program (Williams Waters doing) (not to exceed six (6) stories) east of Federal Highway with the provision of a hotel with fifty (50) or more rooms or a mixed use hotel project inclusive of fifty (50) or more rooms and requires a conditional land use.
They want to renovate the existing hotel and provide 86 rooms, demolish the outer buildings and construct another hotel consisting of 96 rooms plus a parking garage containing 300 spaces with some retail spaces on the ground floor.
I want them to adhere to our election of no more than 45 feet.
@3:32--you don't get it.
They can build to 45 feet per the referendum.
From the agenda:
The Property is located within the Sout
h Palm
Park Historical District and is designated Downtown Mixed Use (DMU), on the City’s Future Land Use Map.
The northern +/
-
.89 acres of the Property are located along the south side of Lake Avenue within the
Downtown (DT), zoning district (“DT Prope
rty”).The southern +/
-
0.93 acres of the Property are located along
the east side of South Lakeside Drive within the MF
-
30, Medium
-
Density Multi
-
Family Residential, 30
dwelling units per acre, zoning district (“MF
-
30 Property”). Excerpts from the City’s F
uture Land Use Map
and Zoning Map with the Property identified are attached hereto
It appears they want for the entire property to have the same zoning. (seems reasonable)The hotel and the vacant lot just West of the hotel is already zoned DT. They only want to change the zoning of the lots South along Lakeside Drive to 1st Ave. So.
It allows them to build whatever is allowed in the DT zoning district.
People voted on the Charter amendments for height limits. Not enough people who agree with YOUR side voted so the vote doesn't matter anon at 12:35? Sorry, America doesn't work that way. And BTW ,$hit canning an entire board to replace it with your friends has ONLY been done by Mayor Pam Triolo,Commissioner Scot Maxwell and Commissioner Andy Amoroso.
Nobody "dropped the ball" in regards to the heights amendment. It IS THE LAW in Lake Worth. PERIOD.
As for the board breaking the law and getting sued:getting bad legal advice(Hi Glen ) is not a legal defense.
Morons
@4:04--that's what it says...The southern +/- 0.93 acres of the Property that are located along the east side of South Lakeside Drive within the MF-30.
I know. If you don't want them to receive the zoning change, what then? They can't even build a parking garage two stories high in a multi family zone.
Typical for this blog. If you can't win an argument with logic, then call someone a moron. If you attended the meeting, you would know the only logical choice for the board to make was to vote to recommend the zoning change.
The conceptual plans and the property as a whole conform to the city's long range plan and is consistent with the zoning throughout the area. The top notch attorney for the applicant praised the city's comp plan as being one of the most comprehensive in the county.Good planning principles.
The time for all you do-gooders to protest development of this property is when site plans are presented. Even though they are allowed by law, within their present zoning to go the 65 feet in height, the conceptual plan they presented showed only a 5 story hotel (I know.... gasp) and a 2 story parking garage. Seems totally reasonable.
Only one person threatened a lawsuit at the podium and several had worthwhile comments. I especially liked the two people who live adjacent to the property, one on the West side and one on the East side saying the not only appreciated something starting to be done but enthusiastically endorsing the conceptual plan.
But I guess they are just morons.
"They CAN do what they said they were going to do WITH THE ZONING NOW ON THE PROPERTY."
No they can't.
@6:35.
I believe that Hudson Holdings was going to renovate the existing hotel and open it for business. That is what they told the people when they came here...when they did all their P&R. They did not say they had pie in the sky ideas. But now we know that their original idea was never their intent.
I seem to remember they had BIG ideas from the start. They always needed more rooms and more modern rooms. There was talk about a club and swimming pool on the roof and restaurant. And a parking garage was the plan from the start. There were no details and was all dreams but it was never to just renovate the existing building.
Last night the DCS laid out what I thought was a good analysis of the properties and how it was consistent with our comp plan and future land use plan. I also thought the conceptual plan (which doesn't mean anything) was very generous with keeping the new buildings symetrical with the adjacent structures with one exception there is a one story building on the South end.
It was disheartening to hear each anti-development comment having nothing to do with the need to have one zone for the whole property. The arguments were childish. Gael's was the only one that spoke to zoning concerns. The rest just kept beating the dead horse of heights. That issue can now only be handled by a court of law.
Beating the dead horse? LOL
The only reason that only a court of law can handle this is because the city decided NOT to listen to the people. That's an arrogant shame. Three people wanted their way. Szerdi got defeated.
In all your yapping about the heights amendment you have never taken the time to explain exactly how the city can circumvent the state law. Your only response has been "we won the vote". Now explain how the city can circumvent state law. Or maybe explain why your friend's lawsuit was dropped like a hot potato?
Because, anonymous at 1:20--the Heights Charter Amendment won at an election IS the law. How come you just don't get that? A court needs to decide but until they do, that is the law--45 feet.
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