Ordinance on Land Development Regulations Lake Worth

Comment Up

Reading Ordinances is dry and boring.  That's why we pay our city attorney around $220 an hour so that he can read them. The only people who ever changed land development orders or a land use map is the City of Lake Worth and this Commission with the recommendation of our present Planning & Zoning board.  Our Heights Charter Amendment had nothing whatsoever to do with that. Therefore, the commission/city's argument and excuse of applying HB 537 for not honoring the vote results are not relevant.

August 6, 2013

Ordinance No. 2013-34 – Second Reading and Second Public Hearing – adopt the revised Land Development Regulations

Interim City Attorney Torcivia read the following ordinance by title only:
ORDINANCE NO. 2013-34 OF THE CITY OF LAKE WORTH, FLORIDA, REPEALING EXISTING CHAPTER 23, “ZONING” OF THE LAKE WORTH CODE OF ORDINANCES AND REPLACING IT WITH A NEW LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AS CHAPTER 23, “LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS”, INCLUDING GENERAL PROVISIONS WHICH ALSO INCLUDE ADOPTION OF A NEW OFFICIAL ZONING MAP FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF LAKE WORTH, ADMINISTRATION, ZONING DISTRICTS, DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Motion made by Commissioner Szerdi and seconded by Vice Mayor Maxwell to approve Ordinance No. 2013-34. It passed on a 4/1 vote (Maxwell, Triolo, Amoroso, Szerdi) with McVoy dissenting.

Community Sustainability Director Waters explained that it would be hard to make an educated recommendation or comment on the safety impact caused by the adoption of the Land Development Regulations because structures were not yet built. Currently 65 foot height buildings and new development had to go through a traffic and infrastructure study. If there was a negative impact on infrastructure, then the developer would need to make improvements to the infrastructure. He commented that traffic safety would improve at intersections because the current code allowed structures to be built right up to the sidewalks.

Now Staff is telling us that the Gulfstream has to have a Traffic "Management" Study six months after the building is erected.

The Charter Amendment was won by Referendum on March 13, 2013, five months before the city changed the Land Development Regulations on August 6, 2013 on a vote from the dais.