Reporters never seem to write the entire story. All they do is give the company line and totally ignore the Height Charter Amendment. A vote by the people? Oh hell no--not important. They believe everything that the city tells them and only listen to the developers. Even Steven Michael, partner at Hudson Holdings and owner of The Gulfstream, believes the vote is no big deal as he has submitted plans for 5 stories, not 4, in his development plans on the hotel parcels which is arbitrary to the Heights Charter Amendment of 45 feet.
According to the Real Deal, "Lake Worth has been criticized for being inconsistent in its development, because of staunch political opposition to building plans. Even the city commission’s approval of rezoning for the Gulfstream project came only in a 3-to-2 vote. The opponents, commissioners Christopher McVoy and Ryan Maier, were unavailable to speak with TRD, but they have publicly expressed concern about the height of the project, specifically the 65-foot maximum for the annex building."
I suppose we can't blame Steven Michael for his arrogance as this city has told him "no problem." You can build higher because we made this a Hotel District and this commission trio has voted in additional height for you and changed the zoning for you to achieve your goals--and we ignored the voters on your behalf because we know better than what residents want in this downtown. "Screw democracy," they said. I am not sure who is more arrogant--Michael or this Trio of Scott Maxwell, Pam Triolo and Andy Amoroso, all up for re-election. And it was revealed that the city knew about Hudson's intentions at our beach a year before the ITN.
Michael, of Hudson Holdings, scoffs at the criticism. “The height of the annex is lower than all the surrounding buildings,” he said. “There’s no reason to be concerned about 65 feet when the ones next to them are 75 feet and 100 feet. This is just a way for a group of people who don’t want Lake Worth to move forward to try to get their way.” The opponents’ don’t have the city’s best interests as their priority, he said.
The reason why the Referendum on heights went to the people to vote on is because we DO have the best interests of the city in mind--low rise. In the meantime, Steve Michael does little to clean up this property and this hotel further decays and vagrants occupy it.
these three commissioners have to be the most naive in the history of man or they are corrupt.take your pick.
ReplyDeleteCalling the 3 Commissioners "corrupt" is truly beating a dead horse. Does anyone really and truly believe that Scott, Pam or Andy accept illegal monies or favors for anything? Come on.
ReplyDeleteLynn, if we had another vote today re: heights, do you think we'd have the same result?
I don't.
I know the vote was held and lost, but I also think that majority of LWers want that hotel to thrive, for the betterment of everyone.
So one can stand on the soapbox forever and a day and have the vote result be your only reply to HH -
But imo, lots of citizens would vote differently today, and the argument of adhering to the vote results has lost its momentum.
(I can guess your reply will be : "it doesn't matter what anyone thinks. The vote is all that counts.")
I know, I know....
Let me tell you this--
ReplyDeleteNO ONE KNOWS IF HH WILL DO ANYTHING AT THE GULFSTREAM. It's all wishful thinking--dreaming.
Ok, now that you have digested that,
WE ALREADY HAD A VOTE.
And guess what, this commission made it near impossible for the PAC that won by nearly 57%. It is only your side of politics saying that if the vote was today, there would be a different result. Easy to say. You all had every advantage, even the time of year. You guys ONLY talk to yourselves. Terrible burden to bear. :(
Next, and as stated before, once the heights are given to one owner, they have to be given to all whether this was made a hotel district or not. Anyone will be able to come in and buy multiple properties. any commission can change ZONING.
And I would never say that I* don't care what people think. We already found out in an election. IT IS YOU GUYS WHO DON'T GIVE A HOT FIG about what the voters think.
Is it true that if one property owner is given a variance, that anyone else who applies for the same type of variance is automatically approved because of that one variance being granted?
ReplyDeleteiT's no longer on an individual need basis?
Variances are political decisions.
ReplyDeleteMeaning each one is considered, separately and individually, yes?
ReplyDeleteMeaning, if a property owner wants commercial zoning there to make his property more valuable, we would have to give it to him or get sued. You can't discriminate. Every parcel along there has some MF-30 zoning.
ReplyDeleteAnyone can submit bogus plans of what he says he intends to do.
Pam Triolo(not her real name)
ReplyDeleteScott Maxwell (not his real name)
Andy Amoroso (not his real name)
Pam ,Scott and Andy could and should have honored the election results. They are supposed to represent us.
Instead they have done everything in their power to ignore the will of the majority of voters here in Lake Worth.
Can you imagine the howls of rage if the shoe were on the other foot ? That the majority had voted for 65 foot heights and three elected people said"too damn bad? Don't blame us. Three months after the fact Gov. Scott signed something into law that doesn't apply to the election we just had, but we three want it to ,so too bad for you" !
And BTW I never heard an apology or one bit of shame from Greg Rice or Loretta Sharpe for hanging an illegal banner on the Gulfstream right in the middle of our street painting festival.
And thanks Pam Triolo , Scott Maxwell and Andy Amoroso for not doing one damn thing to stop them from breaking the law.
The fib-tastic trio are going to behind a bar at a place called Propaganda on Thursday night.A much more realistic place for these three to be than behind our city hall dais.
ReplyDelete