The discussion on the Accessory Dwelling Units began at 1:03 into the meeting and ended at 2:36..
The chamber was packed last night--standing room only with those in red shirts (those AGAINST) dotting the room.
Patty Schultz and her husband Joe who live in College park spoke against ADU's. They are the ones who started the petition Against which received 80% more than Omari Hardy's petition For. And that was essentially the outcome of last night's meeting, with those who spoke--Only around 26% were For.
- Herman Robinson: For ADU's. Wants another workshop. Said the meeting is only "discussion" therefore NO vote can take place tonight. Suggested that some of the comments from those Against were based on "misinformation"...still insisted on another workshop.
- Andy Amoroso: AGAINST ADU'S. Parking was his biggest concern along with Sober Homes, AirBNB's--wants to respect single family neighborhoods. City allows ADU's all over the city. Has a big problem with subsidizing developers. We are one of the poorest cities with sub-standard housing. Let's fix what we have and all the other issues we have.
- Pam Triolo: AGAINST ADU'S. "I bought into a single family neighborhood to live in a single family neighborhood." Quoted Anthony Marotta..."a solution in search of a problem." Mentioned that a lot of the arrests in the past came from those living in ADU's, MS13 gang members, etc. Does not want to change the flavor of our city, at all. Reminded the dais, in response to Commissioner Robinson, that when she was absent from the workshop that a vote was called for in favor of ADU's. (They didn't have a quorum so the vote could not go forward).
- Omari Hardy: FOR ADU'S. Brought up our city's founding fathers from over 107 years ago who allowed accessory dwelling units. In 1912, we had 138 people living here and at the end of that year there were 308 residents, 125 houses, 10 wagons, seven automobiles and 36 bicycles. Quoting the founding fathers is great for the Constitution of the United States but not a good comparison to what our city was then to now. Wants additional density. Suggested that his feelings on this should be no surprise as this is what he said during his campaign.
- Scott Maxwell: AGAINST ADU'S. Said we would need "thousands and thousands and thousands of ADU'S to make a difference" and (that's what we would eventually get). We have more affordable housing than we can "shake a stick at." We need to incentivize more middle class to buy here...wants more density. ADU's would exacerbate the parking problem.
Basically I had two concerns last night: 1) all those who insisted (about 25%) that the city change it's zoning to allow these units in single family residential neighborhoods. Why would they do that when they can go through the proper channels and 2) two commissioners believing that we need MORE density. Some demographic sites have our population now at around 38,000 in a land area of 5.88 sq. miles. And the population density in Lake Worth is 2047% higher than Florida per Google. What we need is more revenue, not more people living on top of people. Better housing stock would help, better Code Enforcement giving fines to owners to clean up the slum and blight thus preserving our single family neighborhoods which would result in the rise of property values.
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • City | 6.67 sq mi (17.27 km2) |
| • Land | 5.88 sq mi (15.22 km2) |
| • Water | 0.79 sq mi (2.05 km2) 12.69% |
10 comments:
How many more people do they want here?
Well, I'll have to thank Andy for this. And Maxwell and the Mayor. I'm grateful for this move, even if it is only a stay of execution. I guess Hardy means well, but it's a warped, twisted way of thinking. I will not vote for him again. As for the old hippie, I never did vote for him. He's in his dotage, and he wants to destroy the town. What did LW ever do to him?
Fantastic that the people turned out to protect their homes and thank you Mayor Pam, Andy and Maxwell. A collective voice of reason. The people came together on an issue that was intended to be well hidden from them. Hardy only has good intentions for himself, a dishonest and narcissistic traitor who thinks he can spin anything. Not this time. LWB won't miss you or Robinson either.
Hopefully this is the final straw for people to finally see Hardy for who he is and never vote for him again. I guarantee he is only sticking around here as an elected official and the day after he loses an election he will move out of this city and GOOD RIDDANCE! He is completely delusional and his head is stuck in the national headlines. Just follow his twitter to see his shameless self promotion. Constant retweets of national headlines and tagging journalists and reporters to excessively peddle his nonsense to get his name trending. The real issues in this city are CRIME, SLUMLORDS, and POVERTY. Affordable housing?!? We have the LOWEST housing in the entire county. Our population is majority low income. These are facts. This was highlighted by the consultant who LW paid to access the dire situation in little old lake worth.
In the same breathe Hardy says he wants to build nicer housing to attract professionals making good salaries AND allow people to build more housing on their small lots?!? Who do you think is moving into an ADU in a low income city??? Someone with a decent job can afford to buy in lake worth or rent a house in lake worth. AT THE CURRENT MARKET RATE. There is not a need for affordable housing in LW. Affordable housing is the one thing lake worth actually has going for it.
I'm actually stunned that people would want to do this to their own neighborhood. This would affect the best neighborhoods we have in Lake Worth. No wonder the people in College Park started the petition. Even in College Park and South Palm Park, the neighborhoods are still suffering under the weight of the Real Estate collapse in 2008. This is what happens when you spend your life fantasizing about get rich quick schemes. Ride down Palmway and Lakeside, or wherever. You can tell what's in foreclosure by looking at it. Do you think people live like that under normal conditions. They have become fugitives of the Bank and the Sheriff. This is really what the ADU is all about. Let's borrow some more money, and see if we can dig our way out of this hole. And mark my word: your friendly Real Estate Agent is involved in this up to their neck!
What? Are you all crazy? Who in their right mind with any education or a professional would ever want to buy and invest in the City of Lake Worth? it is a dump! Blighted, too much crime, so many illegals, homeless, addicts, low life, bad looking city and downtown now, and completely dysfunctional government and elected!
"In the same breathe Hardy says he wants to build nicer housing to attract professionals making good salaries AND allow people to build more housing on their small lots?!? Who do you think is moving into an ADU in a low income city??? Someone with a decent job can afford to buy in lake worth or rent a house in lake worth. AT THE CURRENT MARKET RATE. There is not a need for affordable housing in LW. Affordable housing is the one thing lake worth actually has going for it."
We need to outlaw all existing ADU's in the city along with the slum rentals that are bringing this town down. This is the only way to clean up Lake Worth.
@6:51
Believe it or not I am a well educated professional and I bought a house in a nice neighborhood in Lake Worth. My job is 15 minutes from my house and if you are looking for homes under 300k that are not in an HOA there are not a ton of options which is why I happily chose Lake Worth and I love my house, my street, and location. I’m very happy living in this city.
Glad the idea was put on a back burner and hopefully forever.
I think you're confirming what 6:51 has stated 1:34. At any rate, I think it's great that you found a nice house in Lake Worth. I'm sure you will take good care of it, and I feel we are lucky to have you. It's hard to dispute the obvious comments above about slum lords etc. Now that you have your home, I doubt if you want your neighbors building sheds next door, and renting them out as an Airbnb.
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