Lake Worth and its Sustainable Bonus Program

Lake Worth's Sustainable Bonus Program

I was really surprised when the new commission did not adopt a temporary moratorium on accepting development applications under this program and made a motion to continue with it with a few changes.

From their decision, they want to continue to attract developers to our city and obviously want more growth just like the last commission, even if we are the densest city around. William Waters spoke to it and frankly, even without speaking with a mask on his face, he was hard to understand.

THE MOTION:
A Motion was made by Commissioner Malega and seconded by Vice Mayor Robinson to revise Resolution 23-2021 to be a zoning in progress only resolution that would amend the current Sustainable Bonus Program to remove dog parks and tot lots, active and passive recreation, require public art to be off site and public spaces to be available to the public and require that the calculation result, in a 50% payment from the developer, go to the city’s Sustainable Bonus Trust Fund.

MAYOR RESCH'S EXPLANATION:
Hi, if you followed our meeting, which is available on Youtube, you will see that we did not do a moratorium, we did a zoning in progress and defined our issues with the sustainability bonus program. What are the properties that you own? Are they under the corporate name? Thanks for your interest in our city. Take care, Betty Resch

Interesting reply.

Temporary Moratorium to be considered on Sustainable Bonus Program

Proposed apartment complex in downtown Lake Worth Beach

Under New Business tonight: Resolution 23-2021.

This resolution proposes a zoning-in-progress notice to address the City Commission’s concerns regarding the Sustainable Bonus Program.

If approved, the resolution directs the Department of Community Sustainability to prepare a temporary moratorium ordinance to be reviewed by the City’s Planning and Zoning Board and Historic Resource Preservation Board to then be scheduled for consideration and a public hearing before the City Commission.

I have utmost confidence in this city commission to approve this Resolution.

Read about it... in the Palm Beach Post and see the rendering.

Supermajority vote in Palm Beach

Comment Up
Letters to the Editor

Palm Beach Daily News
January 17, 2015

Supermajority rule will help prevent over-development

By LESLEY BLACKNER

Kudos to the Town Council for passing a supermajority requirement for comprehensive plan and zoning changes. One more vote will now be required to obtain a zoning or a comprehensive plan change.

Here’s why the supermajority is beneficial to the future of Palm Beach: An applicant seeking a zoning or a comprehensive plan change doesn’t want to abide by the existing rules on the books. These rules are established after much time and effort, and are designed to protect the well-being of the entire community. But the applicant for a change says: Give me a special deal. Such “deals” should be hard to get, and requiring that one extra vote will make it a little harder. That one more vote will also ensure that any change granted truly reflects the best interest of the community.

The supermajority is a vital tool to prevent overdevelopment in Palm Beach. It will aid the struggle to preserve the Palm Beach we all love, and help to pass on a decent town to our children and grandchildren.

LESLEY BLACKNER

Money and Politics

It's so difficult to elect good people--people who have common sense as well as growth management sense and those looking out for the welfare of the residents. It takes a lot of money to win in Palm Beach County and it definitely pays to be a Democrat in a County where Democrats far outweigh Republican voters by nearly 132,000.

The Palm Beach County Commission lost a good one when it lost Jess Santamaria to term limits. Most  on the PB County dais couldn't stand him. He tried to hold them to a higher standard. Yesterday Melissa McKinley, Democrat, was sworn in to replace Santamaria. She raised $394,938.28 to become commissioner, with donations from contractors, Realtors, Attorneys, Lobbyists, Unions and even Sun Recycling companies (they're everywhere). Jess's daughter, running as an Independent, Michelle Santamaria, only raised $54,496.  You can't win without money and no Party backing.

Paulette Burdick was passed over to be the next mayor.  Priscilla Taylor, outgoing mayor, nominated Shelley Vana instead...another commissioner who is development oriented at the expense of the residents who live here. The vote was 5/2 with Burdick and Abrams voting nay.

The way I see it, we have one definite commissioner looking out for the people--  Democrat Paulette Burdick. And there is a hope in Republican Abrams especially if he watches developer creep in the Ag Reserve.

As Burdick said, "It is apparent that there is a majority on the Board that is pro-development to a fault."

Government Grants and Sustainability

Comment Up

CSX tracks

It took six years for ROLOH to get a Quiet Zone for

the benefit of its neighborhood's quality of life

Per Tuesday night's agenda backup, the Palm Beach County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) finds that the preliminary quiet zone cost estimate for the work in the County is around $17.9M. The County MPO has dedicated $6.6M in funding; however, there is an $11.3M deficit that must be borne by local municipalities or another agenda.

The MPO is hoping that the other agency can be the US Department of Transportation via its Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. The Palm Beach County and Broward County MPO’s are preparing a joint application for TIGER funding to supplement local funds designated by the MPO’s for quiet zone implementation. The application window is very short and requires accelerated work. (Final applications through Grants.gov by April 28, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. EDT (the “Application Deadline”) The MPO has asked affected municipalities to approve a resolution of support for the TIGER funding and sending a letter to the US Department of Transportation supporting the installation of additional safety equipment for quiet zones.

As with previous rounds of TIGER, funds for the FY 2014 TIGER program (“TIGER FY 2014”) are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area, or a region. Lake Worth has All Aboard Florida on its mind.

All Aboard Florida on the FEC track is supported by planners and cities that subscribe to sustainable development and walkable life styles...Agenda 21. It is all about land grabs. Expected to begin offering service by early 2015, All Aboard Florida would be the first passenger service on the FEC tracks since 1968. William Waters, director of community sustainability for Lake Worth, said the "added mobility could encourage people to move into walkable cities such as Lake Worth...You could live in Lake Worth and work in Fort Lauderdale. You could hop on a train and be at work quickly.”

The Mod Squad - William Waters guest speaker

Comment Up

William Waters, AIA, LEED AP BD & C
Director for Community Sustainability

William Waters, speaker at the Mod Squad meeting this morning, told the group that Lake Worth is the least expensive place to invest in Palm Beach County with the city trying to be as development friendly as possible even meeting with investors in order to discuss any possible hurdles, etc. $100 million of projects are on the drawing board or are now in the process of being developed. With 49 changes to code, his department is cracking down on code violators.

He passed out flash cards on the Art of Living Collection with our new city tag line of This isn't just a lifestyle, it's an art form. Within the flash card packet that consists of eleven cards, is a description on the various departments. The project is on-going and more informational flash cards will be added to the presentation when received.

About Seven50 - Counties dropping like Flies

Comment Up

Seven now down to Four Counties in South Florida

  What Seven50 Really Means

From the Seven50 website:

It’s a land use, housing, zoning, and transportation Plan for the 7 counties of southeast Florida for the next 50 years but now it's down to 4. Palm Beach County is NOT considering dropping out. There was a mini-demonstration made up of a lot of senior citizens at the County Commission meeting on Tuesday. Extra deputies were called in to shut them up.

• Designed with little public input
• Adds a layer of regional governance
• Encouraged by Federal agencies (your taxes)
• THEIR vision for OUR growth controls all:
  • land and water
  • plants and animals
  • energy
  • construction
  • human beings
  • and more

It will CHANGE FOREVER the way your children and grandchildren live and work in south Florida

• Housing choice – LOST
• Unlimited travel by car – LOST
• Private property rights – LOST
• Local County control – LOST
• Low density character of county – LOST
• Voter access to effect change – LOST

What is Seven/50?

Comment Up

We heard Commissioner John Szerdi mention it.  And there are many people alarmed about it.  What is it?

From the Seven/50 web site: Seven50 (“seven counties, 50 years”) is a blueprint for growing a more prosperous, more desirable Southeast Florida during the next 50 years and beyond. The plan is being developed to help ensure a vibrant and resilient economy, and stewardship of the fragile ecosystem in what is quickly becoming one of the world’s most important mega-regions.

Spearheaded by the South Florida and Treasure Coast Regional Planning Councils (the Treasure Coast gets its  nose into everything in Lake Worth) and the Southeast Florida Regional Partnership (SFRP), a unique collaboration of more than 200 public, private, and civic stakeholders, Seven50 is mapping the strategy for the best-possible quality of life for the more than six million residents of Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.

The plan is being devised through a series of public summits, workshops, online outreach and high-impact studies led by the region’s top thinkers. Seven50 has been made possible by a grant from the US Department of Housing & Urban Development’s Sustainable Communities Initiative.  Click here for a comprehensive overview of Seven/50 from their web site.

We have heard Lake Worth resident, Suzanne Squire, talk about Seven/50 as well as Agenda 21.  Read her letter to the editor of the LW Herald this week's edition. What is Agenda 21?

In a nutshell, the plan calls for governments to take control of all land use and not leave any of the decision making in the hands of private property owners.  It is assumed that people are not good stewards of their land and the government will do a better job if they are in control.  Individual rights in general are to give way to the needs of communities as determined by the governing body.  - See more at: http://www.democratsagainstunagenda21.com/#sthash.36L50R7Z.dpuf

In a nutshell, the plan calls for governments to take control of all land use and not leave any of the decision making in the hands of private property owners.  It is assumed that people are not good stewards of their land and the government will do a better job if they are in control.  Individual rights in general are to give way to the needs of communities as determined by the governing body.  - See more at: http://www.democratsagainstunagenda21.com/#sthash.36L50R7Z.dpuf

 It is the taking over of all land use on private property by the government and ties in with Seven/50.  See what the mayor of Vero Beach has to say about it.

It's the Spirt of the people--not its Poverty

Comment Up

From: May Goodstein [mailto:maygoodstein@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2013 5:14 PM
To: Wes Blackman; Mary Lindsey; Lynn Anderson
Subject: blight
Dear Lake Worth Bloggers:

Reading each of you this week left me thoroughly depressed. Here in my little blighted end of Lake Worth, I find a lot of people happily living their lives and being friendly in the world. Not everyone, of course, lots of people in various kinds of personal and social disorder, and passing their stresses on to their neighbors. Despite what Mark Easton thinks, there was not a row of developers waiting to build us a nice hotel at Bryant Park. Our city's future does not rest on hotels, but on community spirit, which we have. Our present dilemma is part of the national dilemma from social imbalance and for-sale legislators who see their own careers not their responsibility to the greater good.

Even if there were many developers waiting to build and so bring up our property values, a trip down A1A from St Augustine reinforced my understanding of the risks of big development. I recommend you all take that trip. Huge wealthy condos surrounded by blight and poverty. In Lake Worth, we choose to be a real place, not a winter haven for the very well to do. We are a real place, full of history and long term residents. Plus we own our beach, and to date, our utilities.

We are a small town which hopes to stay livable. Here in Lake Worth, we need more bed and breakfasts, and more help in reworking the 20 foot lot layouts. That is work done by small developers, not Marriotts. We need real code enforcement accompanied by volunteers who can help those people fix their problems. The combination of poverty and ignorance makes up much of our problem. In the old days, people fixed their own problems, now permits are required and no one knows how to do anything anyway. (Before the city gets volunteers to clean the alleys, volunteers need to go to the front doors and invite the inhabitants to join the team. Community building is job one in those areas.)

When you are complaining about the illegal immigrants, think of the early inhabitants of this continent who were overcome and destroyed by our own ancestors. Not a proud story. But from the earliest roots of history, we know that people have migrated to find better forage and there is no likelihood that we can change that. What we can do is educate and improve our stewardship of our own community. We can celebrate our accomplishments......this last year brought sidewalk by Pinecrest cemetary, where kids had to walk in the street for generations. We also got storm drains a few years ago, great help. If you drive down the lower alphabet streets south of 6th, you will see lots of nicely painted homes and trim yards, much progress visible. Not all discarded beer cans and needles down here.

And those young people conspiring to make the world a better place are not half the menace you paint them as, time will cure their idealism and bring the grim reality that the more things change the more they are the same.

May Goodstein

Lake Worth still working on Land Development Regulations

Comment Up

In measuring the rhetoric, we have been asking ourselves of late, "How nuts is North Korea?" But "nuts" is a little closer to home. Perhaps it is simply anxiety and the frustration that Lake Worth is not better than it could be.

Last night, one of the biggest concerns of Maxwell and Triolo was, "How come Lake Worth is not getting any development?  The mayor asks the question again for the record, "How many development projects have we had in the past two years?"  We have heard this repeatedly especially during the heights referendum with that side of politics blaming those who wanted to limit heights in our downtown for the lack of development overall. The blame had to go somewhere. Politicians are good at that.

The NUT factor comes into play when you have some commissioners who are only interested in what other towns are doing in comparison to ours.  They have asked staff to spend valuable time going through the research on city comparisons. Why are they getting development and Lake Worth is not, they ask   Even when William Waters told them that he and his department are crafting a code unique to Lake Worth by saying, "Lake Worth is on the cutting edge," it didn't sink in. You have to have the staff in place. We finally have that.

We have been working on the Land Development Regulations, Comprehensive Plan and Zoning since 2005 that were stalled due to staff changes, memory lapses, planning and zoning politics and legal issues. Under Susan Stanton, we hired William Waters, someone who actually can lead and has the expertise to develop rules that will allow Lake Worth to get out of the pits. Waters explained the land-use regulations which should negate any city-wide referendum on heights. Tall buildings simply can't be built in the neighborhoods.

One concern has been the number of affordable housing stock in Lake Worth that has allowed a disproportionate amount of rentals...over 60%. Investors came into Lake Worth and rented out their places for the cost of their mortgage, insurance and taxes hoping that the value would go up. Many got caught in the mortgage debacle of several years ago. Many walked away and the slum and blight situation just got worse. Many absentee landlords rent to anyone who will pay. Many of them are out-of-town owners who have no clue as to what is going on at their property and don't care. This has lead to the rapid decay of our neighborhoods especially during the influx of illegal migration into our city. Illegal immigrants come from a different culture and with this culture, much of our housing "is pretty crappy," per Waters. No matter the number of code enforcement officers, no number would ever be able to keep up with the blighted properties in our city caused by these absentee property owners/investors.

Our housing stock is old, but even older houses can be maintained. People do not have to have brand new affordable housing as Amoroso said. This mindset is directly related to his former membership on the CRA board which has brought bad development to Lake Worth and every bit of it "affordable" that has ended up empty and/or foreclosed. Now this commission has approved affordable rentals on the railroad tracks. If commissioners want to know what happened to Lake Worth, they need to look at the CRA, the mortgage crisis, the  number of affordable housing units and to themselves.

The discussion on three new historic districts was pulled from the Agenda and will come back at a future time. The city has a while to wait until all the rules and regulations are finally formulated. This is expected in the fall of this year.

Public Workshop

Public Open house 6pm, April 4

Shuffleboard Courts

1121 Lucerne Avenue, Lake Worth

The Press Release: Lake Worth is among 43 communities in 27 states that will receive technical assistance to pursue sustainable growth that encourages local economic development while safeguarding health and the environment. EPA staff and national experts will conduct one to two-day workshops that focus on the Economic and Fiscal Health tool. The Community Redevelopment Agency in partnership with the City of Lake Worth requested assistance to help evaluate how to get better economic results from private development and public investments.

This tool provides an overview of how land use decisions impact the fiscal and economic health of a community, with an emphasis on self assessment of demographics, employment trends as well as a review local decisions and public polices that support neighborhood stabilization, increasing property revenues and minimizing costs. From this discussion, the EPA team will provide a series of next step strategies that the community can consider for addressing key fiscal issues raised during the  assistance.

Smart Growth Assistance for Lake Worth

Comment Up

Lake Worth, FL among Recipients of Smart Growth Assistance Provided by EPA

Contact Information: William McBride, 404-562-8378 (direct), 404-562-8400 (main), mcbride.william@epa.gov

ATLANTA – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that the City of Lake Worth, FL will receive technical assistance through the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program.

EPA consulted with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Transportation to select this year’s 43 recipients from 121 applicants through a competitive process. EPA staff and national experts will conduct workshops that focus on the specific sustainability goal each community chose in their initial application to EPA. The agency offered nine tools this year, including using smart growth to build economic and fiscal health, exploring neighborhood planning for healthy aging&creating a Green Streets Strategy, and creating sustainable strategies for small cities and rural areas.

Lake Worth is receiving assistance with using Smart Growth to build Fiscal and Economic Health. Smart Growth strategies have inherent efficiencies and can minimize property values and associated revenues. This tool outlines strategies and approaches that can help cities integrate their land development policies, their municipal budgets, and their long-term economic development goals. These strategies could reduce service and infrastructure costs and increase revenues in an era when limited resources mean that growing inefficiently is no longer an option.

“Creating resilient communities is vital to protecting public health and the environment, “said Regional Administrator Gwen Keys Fleming. “EPA’s Building Blocks Program will give city leaders and other community partners Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities is a project of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities among EPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The interagency collaboration coordinates federal investments in infrastructure, facilities, and services to get better results for communities and use taxpayer money more efficiently. The partnership is helping communities across the country create more housing choices, make transportation more efficient and reliable, reinforce existing investments, and support vibrant and healthy neighborhoods that attract businesses.

Nationally 43 communities - rural, urban, and suburban - will receive technical assistance to pursue sustainable growth that encourages local economic development while safeguarding people’s health and the environment. To date, 141 communities have received EPA’s assistance through the Building Blocks program. Together, EPA, HUD and DOT form the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities, which coordinates investments in housing, transportation, and environmental protection to get better results for communities and use taxpayer money more efficiently.

More information on the Building Blocks program: >http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/buildingblocks.htm

More information on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/partnership/index.html

Growth Control Initiative goes to Council

Comment Up

In spite of how screwed up California is in so many respects, some of the people have it together and have challenged politicians on heights and on zoning issues. It is a constant challenge with elected officials because once they get elected or appointed to city boards, they automatically know better than the rest of us and get hard of hearing. Take this as an example:

In San Diego, one thing that the people are up in arms about is development and they want a say on it. The citizens have proposed an initiative that would require a public vote to change a property’s zoning or increase its housing density. It also would set a citywide height limit of two stories, or 30 feet tall, for all buildings, except for some medical development projects and high school structures, the city attorney wrote in a summary the council will review Wednesday. City officials as well as the building industry are against the citizens ballot initiative. Of course they are.

Read about it...

Lago Valera - only a "dream?"

Comment Up


Look what someone is pushing for in Lake Worth. The"dream" appears to be located on S. Palmway and Lake Avenue. At least it's not affordable housing. This is how the Real Estate broker describes the property:

Approved Site Plan for Downtown Lake Worth's Most Valuable Corner! This is the only 3 story project grandfathered not affected by the city's revised building guidelines that now limit downtown structures to two stories. No other property in the downtown area can now provide the necessary density, setbacks and parking for profitable development!!!

Price Reduced by $1,700,000!

Just West of the Intracoastal Bridge to the Ocean.

Prime Downtown Location by Lake Worth's Municipal Golf Course, Intracoastal Waterway, Scenic Bryant Park and the Public Ocean Beach.

23,960 S/F Residential (18 Units)
2,775 S/F Office (2 or 3 Suites)

Lago Valere is a 3-story mixed-use project featuring 18 residential condos averaging 1,330 S/F, featuring 2 master suites and 2 to 2 1/2 baths with 2 assigned covered parking spaces. Second story sun deck garden terrace and pool. Two to three suites of professional office space (2,775 S/F) with lobby access fronting Lake Avenue.

Each unit's main living space features nearly 10' ceilings. Sixteen units include balconies.
Revitalization of downtown Lake Worth is in full stride as historic Lake Worth morphs old Florida charm into one of South Florida's hot spots with cultural events, leisure activities and international dining amid the city's historic splendor.

Further evidence of the renaissance occurring in downtown Lake Worth is renovation of the neighboring historic National Historic Site, the Gulfstream Hotel, to target the high-end carriage trade.

Plans for the city's multi-million redevelopment of the beach front historic casino building, shops, restaurants and Olympic-sized swimming pool are already underway.

Rep. Jeff Clemens on right side of vote

Believing in giving credit when it is due, today we recognize Rep. Jeff Clemens and his position on the St. Augustine "Switzerland" development or House bill 0979 and amendment 543740 filed late on the last day of the 2012 session.

A video of the debate in Tallahassee taken during the last day of the 2012 session shows state Rep. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, saying, “When someone files an amendment three minutes before (the deadline) to help one land owner in St. Johns County, I think those of us sitting over here (in the House) have a responsibility not to vote for something like that.” They pulled a sneaky move as it was thrown into Bill 0979 at the last minute, creating a law and giving special status to one land developer. We are unsure if Clemens' NO vote was only because it was at the last minute or because he truly believed that giving special consideration to one land owner was the wrong thing to do, which it is. But whatever his reason, Jeff Clemens was on the right side of the 87/31 vote by voting NO.

Clemens' downtown Lake Worth office reception area

The developer made an end-run around the County and went to the State after the County rejected his project for sprawl regulation. Read more... at the St. Augustine Record and how this wealthy developer lobbied Governor Rick Scott to get his way.

"The subject property contains approximately 607 acres. It is just south of a WW 2 era bombing range. It is primarily immature pine plantation, and forested uplands and 284 acres of wetlands," says the article. When the Scott Administration disbanded the state Department of Community Affairs, it announced that one benefit would be that locals would make land use decisions. You can see how that worked out.

 Rep. Jeff Clemens office where he greets and meets constituents

 when he is in Lake Worth,

 usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays

County officials say that the "Switzerland" development is a textbook example of urban sprawl — hundreds of houses plunked down in the middle of empty farmland — and the amendment is an example of government resuming its control over local land use issues. I would bet there are plenty of people in Lake Worth who would agree with what Gov. Scott and the legislature did especially those who fought us on Amendment 4.

The Bill.

Bernard voted "yes" and Clemens voted "no."

On another note, a three-judge panel appeared skeptical  of State Rep. Mack Bernard's appeal of a lower court decision affirming Jeff Clemens as the winner of the PB County Senate race. If you recall, Clemens beat out Bernard by 17 votes. Bernard has finally conceded.

Respectful Planning PAC distributes flyer

Comment Up

Did you know that the City Commission

 just RAISED the BUILDING HEIGHT
 in the DOWNTOWN to 65 FEET?

 Want to see more buildings like the Lucerne condo in your downtown?

 YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO VOTE ON THIS ISSUE

 Call CITY HALL TODAY and DEMAND that the

 DOWNTOWN HEIGHT LIMIT CHARTER AMENDMENT

 be PLACED on the NOVEMBER 6^TH BALLOT.

 Mayor Pam Triolo (561) 586-1735  ptriolo@lakeworth.org 

 Vice-Mayor Scott Maxwell (561) 586-1731  smaxwell@lakeworth.org 

 Commissioner Andy Amoroso (561) 568-1733  aamoroso@lakeworth.org 

 Your right to vote is supported by
 Commissioners McVoy and Mulvehill.

 

 DEADLINE TO PLACE ON THE BALLOT IS
 JULY 17, 2012.

 Lake Worth ballot items will appear at
 the end of the November 6^th ballot.

 Pd. Pol. Adv. Paid for by
 Respectful Planning Lake Worth Political Committee

 519 North D Street, Lake Worth, FL

Heights in downtown Lake Worth

Comment Up
As the Palm Beach Post has made it much more difficult to comment, I have provided the link to Andrew  Marra's editorial in today's paper entitled, Reject overly strict Height Limits as proposed by Commissioner Mulvehill that will be on tonight's agenda.

Andrew Marra is a resident of Lake Worth and certainly entitled to his opinion even if it does differ from mine. The Planning & Zoning Board as well as William Waters, development Sustainability Director, have both recommended the proposed heights. There are sound and concrete reasons to do so as well as to just wanting to keep our downtown a low-rise city.

I have always believed that the people have the right to vote on land-use issues. However, the Florida Legislature in 2011, made it illegal to challenge Comprehensive Plans. Governor Rick Scott, supported by big business, believes that it stops growth. We will have no recourse on land-use changes unless we take action now to protect our city in how we want it to look.

Agenda 21

Comment Up

I was thinking about Suzanne Squire--that I hadn't seen her lately--and then she commented on a blog here. She is passionate about Agenda 21 and it sure sounds scary. She, along with many informed people on this subject, believe that the UN is ruthlessly advancing a new plan that will make America a HOSTAGE to the United Nations among other things. Some feel that we are all being lead down the garden path when we talk about sustainable and walk-about cities.
It has been said that UN Agenda 21 could...

• Wipe private property off the face of the earth.
• Force you and your family to live in a multi-family energy efficient mega-complex.
• Confiscate private farms and farmland.
• Snatch away private landholdings.
• Ban individual ownership of cars.

Here's how the UN describes it:

"Effective execution of Agenda 21 will require a profound reorientation of all human society, unlike anything the world has ever experienced a major shift in the priorities of both governments and individuals and an unprecedented redeployment of human and financial resources. This shift will demand that a concern for the environmental consequences of every human action be integrated into individual and collective decision-making at every level."

Go to the AmeriPac web site and learn more.

Lake Worth Needs Responsible Growth

Comment Up

As everyone knows, we don't have any more trees to cut down.

 We are the most densely populated city on the eastern part of Florida. 

Have you ever heard anyone say that they didn't want "smart growth" in Lake Worth?  Anyone?  Name that person.  This is a  myth that has been circulating way too long by all the political "pavers" here. It is just plain ridiculous politics by those who want taller buildings within our city just for "taller" sake with the false assumption that it will bring in more taxes.  This group is determined to get taller heights by hook or by crook and they all have bent the ear of the local news editor who is going along for the ride.

Lake Worth is vulnerable right now and the only town left that developers want to get their hands on. We have a lot going for us being a seaside city with the new casino, the beach redevelopment and people looking to buy the Gulfstream Hotel. We are on our way to prosperity. Developers know this and want to make as much money as they possibly can. That will happen if their friends have the political clout to raise the heights in our city. They also know that they can do that by a 3 to 2 vote. Politicians have been known to "sell out" in the past.

The local newspaper has always listened to that side of politics. Not once has anyone there ever sought the opinion of just average Joe Citizen, you know, the guy with no ax to grind and with no special interests.  If The Herald has, please let us know.

Today Mark's editorial said:  "Those who have voiced opposition to any increase in height are the same ones who want no growth in Lake Worth. They know that stagnation will cause a city to collapse into chaos, and that is precisely what they want.  Those who want unlimited height will turn Lake Worth into a concrete jungle of condos for [people with no jobs."  What a bunch of hogwash. Does The Herald really feel that all of us who want to keep a low rise city are stark raving mad? The Herald insults the majority of people in this City.

Right now Planning & Zoning is attempting to ensure that we have a sustainable city now and well into the future and has presented a Plan that will work. Heights are fine west side of Dixie and at The Park of Commerce.  As one citizen recently said, "False perception from "Politicos" is nothing more than pander and slander in order to be self serving to those who want "their way" instead of what is best for our city as a whole.

Following are the dates for the Comp Plan:
June 6, 2012: Public Hearing before the PZB
June 13, 2012: Public Hearing before the HRPB
June 19, 2012: Public Hearing before the City Commission
July, 2012: State Review of draft amendments
July 17, 2012: Public Hearing and Second Reading before the City Commission

If you are as insulted as I by the above commentary and if you care about what your city will look like, please turn out to support all the work of this present Planning & Zoning board and voice your opinion. Drive south down Dixie Highway and look at some of the ghost towns and empty buildings--you will get a feel of what I am talking about.

Quote of the Day - Richard Grosso

Land use is becoming less based on law and more on raw political power.

~Richard Grosso
a law professor and Director of the Environmental and Land Use Law Clinic at the law school at Nova Southeastern University

Talking about the dismantling of Florida's Department of Community Affairs.

We have seen this of late in our own city with politicians throwing out our own Planning & Zoning board so that politicians can appoint cronies with different visions for this city...100 feet, 100 feet. Integrity is becoming a fleeting and disappearing trait when it involves politicians.