Public Comment

I understand raising the rates what I don't understand is contractors being paid an extra 2 million for only 45 days of work with the city supplying the material, on top of the original contract they received. I would rather of seen 1.8 for an apprentice program doesn't seem that much to invest in our city when millions are going to contactors. Invest in this city stop paying contactors.

Honorable Mayor, Commissioners and City Manager
I write to once again draw your attention to the Lake Worth Beach Library. I am grateful that a full-time staff person has been restored to the budget, yet I am also concerned that a contemporary understanding of the status of this institution has been lost. I suggest that it would be worth a few moments of your time to Google what Libraries can and should be doing in 2023, and what the budgetary commitment other cities of similar size to Lake Worth Beach are making to ensure that their library is all that it can be. These municipalities realize that in these strange and twisted times, the library is no longer just a pleasant place to spend time. It has become one of the last bastions of free and independent thought. With school libraries under attack, the city library must be given serious financial support by our elected officials and professional administrators to meet the unprecedented and frightening challenges to information access facing communities today. We cannot rely on grants, with required targeted outcomes, to meet this challenge. In Lake Worth Beach, as in other cities in this bonanza year of ARPA funding, the competition for project support from all departments has been intense. Those who are able make compelling arguments for their favorite projects, many of which have been put on hold during leaner times. You have heard their voices. But please take a moment to reflect that perhaps it is the very nature of the purveyors of wisdom and knowledge to be modest in their requests; to be humble and grateful for what they receive. It has been that way for a long time. But this year, I implore you give the Library a real budget. Restore the Library to full department status. Because what the Library and its staff can offer the population of this city is one of the most important services you can provide – the preservation of our republic by an enlightened citizenry.

Laurel Robinson
114 S. Ocean Breeze
Lake Worth Beach FL 33460

Good Evening,

I am unable to attend and speak for many who don’t agree with what is being proposed as appropriate aaction regarding panhandling and with nobody acknowledging what the City Attorney advised was an option for you as to the judge’s motion of stay

If the city is taking the time to draft appropriate and acceptable language now anyway to protect us your constituents and businesses, why can’t the judge be provided those reports by the City attorney every 3 weeks?
In other words, show due diligence by filing the reports, draft the language and then repeal. The Mayor even stated the language is in her possession already.

You cannot put a price tag on the health and welfare of your constituents and that of the businesses and by passing this proposal tonight you will have done precisely that.
You will not be protecting your constituents your fellow commissioner’s business or any business for that matter and we ask you to reconsider.
As for the CRA disbandment there is much suspicion as to motivation and as such the commissioners involved should proceed with caution acting only in good faith and ethically.

Adriane Coplan
127 n palmway unit 1

Sent from my iPad

Previously, the Commission voiced big concerns about the Sustainable Bonus Incentive Program. You made modifications but did not address the biggest issue – that new developments west of US1 can be given a 50% increase in height and density for insufficient cash exchange or mediocre community improvements. Tonight, you are being asked to give this developer decades of double profit on their rental building in exchange for $400K. You have the authority to vote no on the SBIP. It is the developer’s job to earn it with a project of significant benefit and in this case, they have not earned it.

The project says workforce housing is a primary reason to give the bonus. They are part of the county program that subsidizes workforce units. Under that county program, the unit price is based on the median county income, not the median city income. If the CITY SBIP is being given for workforce units, then why aren’t those units priced for the median CITY income?

Another concern is the height. It is not clear in the back-up how they got to 5 stories – where in our code does it show that you take the baseline zoning, add the TOD and then add the SBIP to achieve the absolute maximum increase? Five stories next to one- and two-story buildings is not compatible. The underlying zoning is for a two-story building. The SBIP works as an end-run around our zoning code, it encourages developers to consolidate land and build projects that are out of scale. What happened to our laws that require compatibility?

Lastly, this parcel has unique trees, including a pine tree likely 100 years or older. Any project that receives major bonuses should be designed to preserve that section.

This development has not earned the SBIP of 50% increase and should be voted down.

I understand this item is partly in response to a lawsuit. However I also understand many other cities, including our neighboring cities in PBC, have responded quite differently. Allowing panhandling is one thing, and that is bad enough for the city’s residents and visitors alike, but allowing PUBLIC SLEEPING is a completely different issue which does not benefit out city, it’s residents, businesses, or tourists. This Commission should NOT allowing public sleeping in our beautiful parks and other public places. The city should work with neighboring cities in PBC at least to develop a cohesive plan for homelessness and housing which does not include the easy way out- just allowing anyone to do whatever they want wherever they want. This would be horrendous for LWB. Don’t do it! Please.

I urge the commission not to approve the proposed Lake Worth Station. From The MID to The Bohemian to Deco Green, we already have too many large developments going up in our community. We do not need another large, multi-story structure. Lake Worth Beach is one of the few low-rise towns remaining in South Florida. It would be a shame to lose that. Additionally, this project would be located next the railroad tracks at 10th Avenue North and near the already busy intersection at 10th Avenue North and North Dixie Highway. A large residential building located there could create severe gridlock.

Legalization of panhandling will not improve the lives of the unfortunate, sick and suffering on the street.

This city has worked hard to decrease crime. This will again increase the problems since it would attract increased number of panhandlers from other municipalities.
These panhandlers make untaxed money and hurt the local businesses that must pay for taxes, insurance, rent, and utilities.

Before any change in the ordinance regarding panhandling is considered, the commission should assess expert opinion regarding the dangers that this could bring to your citizens.
In addition even though the city is facing a law suit, there is still time to make changes since there is an order of stay that just needs a report every 3rd week to stay compliant.

There are other towns and cities that are dealing with this problem and have been successful in writing ordinances that can be enforced. It is in the best interest of the citizens
to pursue these options first.

Marilu Machin
27 Harbor Dr

It's clear that free speech must be protected, and the LWB Panhandling ordinance did not deny free speech. Aggressively/forcefully, and/or threatening someone for something is against the law. Blocking a citizen's path on a public street, sidewalk or other public walkway is illegal.

I strongly encourage all members of the Lake Worth Commission to reconsider the changes previously agreed upon at the previous Commission Meeting. In addition, I would suggest having an independent and knowledgeable attorney review and make suggestions for a new ordinance.

City attorney Glen J. Torcivia's letter casts strong doubts as to his abilities in this area. Plus, he appears to live on Village Blvd, in West Palm Beach therefore, it's doubtful he cares about our downtown. If he's the one that crossed off almost everything in our ordinance it is my opinion he misled our commissioners.

Note the WPB ordinance* appears to be significantly more elaborate and more inclusive than the LWB ordinance which has been heavily retracted, therefore a full comparison between the two should be considered.
https://library.municode.com/fl/west_palm_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH54OF_ARTIVOFAGPUPE_DIV3PRCO

Dear Mayor Resch and Commissioners McVoy, Malega, Stokes, and Diaz:

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed Mixed Use Urban Planned Development “Lake Worth Station”. I believe this project has serious flaws and needs to be reconsidered and redesigned. 81 units on a combined 1.08 acre lot is too dense for this location.
The building design is sterile and incompatible with the surrounding area. It would benefit from having a metal roof, awnings, and balconies.
A 5-story building under the TOD-E requirement of having a train station at 10th Ave N is absurd.
A 3 or 4 story building with parking underneath and a smaller shaped parking lot around the building will be a more practical way to deal with parking. Having mixed use commercial space on eastbound 10th Ave N with egress out of N G Street onto 10th Ave N is unsafe. There are concerns about the entrance and exit of the parking lot on 10th Ave N being so close to the heavily used alley. It is an accident waiting to happen.
Sustainable bonus points should be offered to create a passive public park that protects the historically significant native trees that are located in the southern end of the proposed project boundaries. These include Sand Live Oak, Slash Pine, Southern Live Oak and Hackberry.

Sincerely,
Donna Kerner
1012 N. J St
Lake Worth Beach

Good evening staff, Mayor and Commissioners. I am writing to express my concerns about the Lake Worth Station development.

This project would be built in a working class neighborhood. Why are you considering giving a 60% increase in height and density without requiring no truly affordable housing.

City of Lake Worth has refuse workers, recreation workers, beach employees and others starting at $15.80 wage. Most staff members would not make enough for ANY of the units in this building, including the workforce housing they are asking you to subsidize.

This size bonus is HUGE and uncommon, and its code compliance is questionable. This will give the developer double the income on this rental property for the life of the project. I would support that kind of increase IF it resulted in affordable housing based on the Lake Worth median income, which is much lower than the county median.

Vote NO on this project for this reason and the other community concerns discussed today.

Thank you for your time.

When I saw the project named Lake Worth Station on the Planning and Zoning agenda I requested the back up and site plans. I had concerns about the 81units on the 1.08 acre combined lot. It seemed a very high concentration for our town. When I saw the building drawings I was concerned for the lack of style and compatibility and the disregard for a feeling of being in South Florida with the dark heavy colors and plain box shape.

This project seems like a developers project looking for a piece of land to put it on and not a developers project designed for this piece of land. It is squeezed on to this lot with very little green space left. It is like a corseted opera singer bursting at the seams.

I know the commission wants to get rid of the sustainable bonus program and this development shouts the reasons why it should not be applied to this project. The bonus amenities are a very small area along 10th Avenue North with 2 small benches and a sculpture. Does this really benefit the community?

Members of the planning and zoning board had major concerns and shared them during the meeting with staff and the developer but were “poo-pooed” saying they did not understand the idea of a planned development.

The concerns included the entrance and exit of the parking lot on 10th Ave North being so close to the alley. The developers team stated the alley was not used but it is heavily used and this close proximity makes for an accident prone area.

Other concerns were why is the project allowed to be 5 stories under the TOD requirement of having a train station when it clearly does and will not have a train station. Why are the zoning ordinances ignored in favor of a too large project?

I would like to see a 3 or 4 story building with parking underneath and a smaller shaped parking lot around the building saving the existing trees. I would like to see a more creative approach to new development not this sterile box.

Lake Worth Beach is finally getting positive attention from restaurant owners planning to open up new exciting eateries here. Dixie Highway is getting noticed and being creatively developed with auction houses and new restaurants.

Don’t continue to approve oversized developments that do not contribute to this new enthusiasm for our unique city we all love.

I live on a business alley block. 5th and N dixie hwy. The sunoco is there. ON the side and rear of sunoco constant drug dealing and suspect activity. It has died down recently though for now. Now the homeless, they loiter, sleep, and panhandle on business lots within the community. Once they have declared it safe to be there, they then become non housed residents with their aggressive activities within our community. I've pulled up to my home to find people lying around benches, the ground or just bathing nude (female multiple times) I had to video her and advise will be forwarded to police in order for that to stop. I grew up where loitering was not tolerated period in any area or business. Especially with the suspected drug activities. It continues in my block and surrounding ongoing but thankfully nothing like it used to be. Please continue to deter Panhandling, and loitering within our beautiful loved city and 95 exit ramps where they walk up to your car and ask for a smoke. I yell get away from my car and they have the nerve to get mad at me. I have a right to sit at the light in peace. Please enforce this loitering and panhandling it has been long and overdue.

While I'm glad the city is being forced to repeal panhandling ordinance, I'm disappointed by the way the city lawyer and some commissioners portrayed the lawsuit filed against Lake Worth and other cities as simply the work of opportunistic lawyers.

As if no one could possibly be concerned about such an infringement on the rights of all to free speech, not to mention the implications of those rights being contingent on how much money you have. Plenty of grassroots civic groups have fought to defend the constitutional rights of the poor and homeless for years. If an opportunistic lawyer did jump on the chance to exploit a city making a blatantly unconstitutional ordinance, the city government that passed it has only itself to blame.

I believe one reason some of you felt compelled to distance yourself from doing the right thing was the hostile crowd at the last city hall meeting, some of which put themselves on public record that night making not-so-vague threats of violence against city officials, with talk of "resorting to the second amendment" if the commission doesn't do as they say. Like the homeless that they demonize, they also have 1st amendment rights to advocate for their reactionary cause. But threatening violence against their opponents at a city meeting is grotesque and not something that should be ignored. City officials playing to this crowd by betraying their principles will not placate them

I am against this project as it is too large and too out of character for the location. This area is mostly filled with one story single family homes and a 5 story building (built out to the edge of the parcel) is too large and inappropriate for the parcel. Additionally, the proposed plan does not provide sufficient green space or parking. This project is proposed as a "transit" based project (I guess because its located next to the FEC tracks) but it has no tie in at all to transit and as such seems to be a farce. The City keeps approving these similar projects, big white concrete boxes with no architectural interest, no green space, limited parking (just look at the cars all over the place at the new projects on Dixie - it is a mess). Finally, 10th Ave. is a mess, dangerous, busy and more traffic will simply make it worse.

No approval of any developments in this neighborhood unless they are majority affordable housing. Hardly anyone renting in the area where this is being proposed would be able to afford "Workforce Housing". If the goal is more displacement, more skyrocketing rents, more speculation then vote to approve. If the goal is to provide much needed housing in a working class area than disapprove until it contains ample affordable units.

I'm writing to express my opposition to The Station development project and to ask you to please vote NO on this item tonight. From what I understand of this project the developer is asking for a 50% increase in density and to exceed the height restrictions that we voted to preserve. In order for these allowances to even be considered they would need to ensure that this development was providing affordable housing, which this project is not providing. There is also an issue with the fact that there are some very old trees on this lot which should be prioritized as well. We need need need more truly affordable housing. Let's please put that front and center. Please vote NO on this development.

The panhandling ordinance shows such a lack of compassion and understanding of our current economic disparities. Please repeal the ordinance.

In 1967, The Doors sang about strange days finding us and tracking us down. It seems as if that ancient prophecy has finally come to fruition here in the Sunshine State. There was an article in the Palm Beach Post in 2016 when Hurricane Matthew was threatening Palm Beach County reminding renters that under Florida law, landlords were under no legal obligation to board up the windows of their properties. 

It strikes me as strange that capitalists wouldn’t want to take any and all measures to protect their sizable financial investments in their properties. It strikes me as just plain sad that these landlords wouldn’t want to act out of old fashioned charity to protect their elderly and disabled renters. Oh well, I guess Jim Morrison was right when he sang about people being strange.