Developers are back in the loop targeting our city. We have tried to keep them at bay for two decades but with the present city administration backing all things development, our concerns, once again, will be in vain. We, as well as this city administration, know that most ballot initiatives supported by the city pass with ease. They have the money to push their development agenda and work on your "heart strings" and count on new voters who have no knowledge of the history here.
Once this passes, they will never be able to control the height increase of 20 feet to only the Gulfstream properties. Down the road, look for lobbying and even possible threats of lawsuits by other property owners on that block who want the same thing. Then the snowball starts.
This just happened a month ago with the three parcels on Gulfstream Road, upzoned from Residential to DT Commercial. A property owner on Gulfstream Road, a former member and Chair of the Lake Worth Planning and Zoning Board, complained that his property was zoned residential (he's been trying to sell it for years with no luck) and this developer crazy commission voted to go along with his desire to have it zoned commercial that immediately made his property more valuable.
On a 4/1 vote and pushed hard by Commissioner Hardy (who believes people should be able to do anything they wish with their property, property rights, you know), the city commission upzoned against all the owners who live on one parcel on that street who were against. It's who you know and what direction the city wants to take.
VOTE NO
I now have received three mailers from this Electioneering Committee that no one really knows who's behind or who's footing the bills, to vote for (developers?) interests of raising the height 20 more feet at the Gulfstream. How much money are they pouring into our city to secure a yes vote? What else is really on their minds for Lake Worth? Grab our beach again? Don't ask a commissioner. You won't get an answer especially a straight one.
7 comments:
Diane Freaney here (in case my post comes up Anonymous).
I vote NO on the Gulfstream. I would LOVE to see the Gulfstream open - just not by an out-of-town developer. The name Marriott has been tossed around. The Developer gets to fly the Marriott flag (I am guessing) as long as the developer lives up to Marriott's standards. AND Marriott reserves the right to pull the right to fly the Marriott flag at the slightest infraction.
I have not seen the developers proposal AND I am not sure how to get a copy. I have heard at least 3 proposals - none of the 3 happened. In my opinion, putting the 3 proposals(or whatever they are called) on the ballot this time was a waste of time and money.
My opinion is my own (as always).
“Guaranty”?
Oh, Steve doesn't like my spelling? LOL
Is that all you have to say?
Just not standard English, is all. Chill out.
You were the one with the problem so I guess you should take your own advice.
It's English.
It's a noun.
Its usage was ok.
CHILL OUT :)
We really have more important things to worry about in this city besides something like this. You don't live here anymore, I heard.
We're still fighting the same fight. Losing battle I am afraid.
I would like to see the Gulfstream again opened as a renovated historic hotel. However since that means trusting the commissioners now sitting that have burned us before, I voted NO on all 3 amendments. Many new to our town will not know about the Hudson Holdings fiasco which was an under the table plan to take over our public beach for a private club for exclusive use of the Gulfstream, along with a gigantic Convention Center and parking lot. Once the word got out the chambers were overflowing with irate citizens along with news crews and the entire idea was scrapped along with the lynchpin commissioner.
This core group of 3 who have been serving a long time have done some good things. However with these 3 amendments they are asking way too much trust from citizens who have been double crossed by them before. Especially with the addition of 30 to 99 year leases. Hell, we could lose our beach and most of our parks to another fly-by-night real estate flipper like Steve Michael.
And they have already given us clear warning: 4 of the 5 sitting commissioners admitted having dealings with John Rinaldi and then changed the zoning on his property and that whole block at his request. Almost like a well trained dog that will sit immediately when you snap your fingers. What that says to me loud and clear is that zoning is just a mere suggestion and able to be changed almost overnight if the right person/developer wants it. To hell with zoning maps when there is money to be made.
Same thing with the new project downtown where historic cottages were in the way. First they said "Oh, don't worry, they will just be relocated." And of course they were immediately destroyed. Relocated to the junk pile of history.
I love Lake Worth, and I love living here. It's my kind of people and my kind of beach. But I really wonder just how safe I am living in my own home. I think gentrification is coming since that means more money to developers who seem to have a much larger influence than citizens. Save at election time. Could any of us be out of our homes with just another snap of the fingers?
I just cannot trust this core group with that much leeway when they have proven untrustworthy in similar circumstances. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Not gonna happen.
Anonymous at 7:57. Perfect rendition of what is going on in LWBeach.
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