Many years ago, when Igot's asked for a proximity waiver from the Planning and Zoning Board, they also asked for permission to install bar stools along the Lake Avenue side of their business. I remember the board reacting with a loud and clear "no" and I believe that the prohibition of bar stools made it in to the final motion. I also recall the board having a concern about the establishment serving patrons directly through the open window(s). We also were concerned about people walking, with drinks in hand, back and forth across K Street.
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| Is this the next place for these things? |
It is my understanding that staff is aware of this recent development and that concern has been expressed by others. They are working on resolving the problem.
We seem to be veering towards a culture where it is easier to ask forgiveness than for permission. What do you think? Is this a big deal and the city should make them remove them or should we just let it happen?
34 comments:
I don't go there often. But - I would prefer to sit on the outside stools becasue of the inside smokers.
"Stool Samples" What a hoot.
I thought you were taking the dog to the vets........
No permission, no permit, no stools! If policy and procedure is not followed by one, then it can't be expected to be followed by any.
Don't other bars and restaurants have outside seating?
Would the addition of tables resolve the issue?
Do patrons of other bars and restaurants walk with drinks in hand on the sidewalks or across the street?
Make them remove the stools. They look like crap!
Get it?
The bar requested outside stools and the P&Z Board said no! How can they now install the stools? They also installed the 'new' siding of tiles after they were told not to use them on the historic building.
If the historic districts are not protected they will no longer exist and LW will continue to lose it's attraction.
Other businesses with sidewalk tables are serving food unlike Igot's which is a bar.
The stools need to be removed.
Outdoor seating encroaching the sidewalks was an unfortunate decision that should be ammended IMHO. Try walking down Lake during lunch or happy hour... on those blocks it's uncomfortable for both diners and pedestrians. Accessible walkway should be 6 feet wide. As to this situation, since when is it OK to blatantly ignore a code ruling? So, the city is "working to resolve the problem"?
Sometimes you gotta wonder. Following the rules isn't worth a bucket of spit.
This is a follow-up from William Waters to my inquiry today:
Wes,
We are still investigating this complaint. We have not found an issue with the bar stools as it relates to the issuance of a proximity waiver for the sale of alcohol. Result letters for proximity waivers have not historically been issued and Commission meeting minutes are sketchy with regard to details. We just haven’t found anything yet. We do have records of a request for a CoA for the exterior stools, which was denied by the P&Z Board acting as the HRPB. The denial was appealed to the City Commission where the Commission upheld the denial. I do not believe we have an ability to keep them from serving alcohol outside as long as it is on their own property. Where the stools are located is actually private property associated with the business. The public sidewalk does not start until the pavers. We will be citing the location for work without a building permit and without an approval of a CoA. By the time the HRPB meets next week, we might have a better idea of where Igot’s wants to take the issue. It is likely a stay tuned situation.
A bunch of white trash at this igot's place, they are no better than the stumbling drunk Guats, you see so many drunk stumbling all over this area too. Too smokey and too much white trash at this place for me.
The stools should go. And there should be a minimum standard for access going past Starbucks. And the seating outside of Brogues? I am handicapped and have much trouble navigating Lake Ave. The ADA is very important and should be followed all along Lake Ave. Everyone should be able to stroll the avenue, wheelchairs, strollers, etc. And since I've been a loyal blog reader for some time now remember a few other recent posts: the large garage built against code and the banyan tree coming down. Who ultimately approves these decisions? Are there departments in Lake Worth that just operate independently? Without oversight? Why have codes and procedures if they don't matter? And don't even get me started with the Casino. Went there twice to have lunch at Mulligan's and couldn't get access with my wheelchair.
I would like to see the Commission to Direct all staff that there is no such thing as "do it and worry about it later" mentality any longer.
If anyone breaks the rules and hope to get away with it....Business or Resident then they are made to correct the error and pay what ever fines are associated with it.
As for the tables on the side walks several establishments are constantly out of compliance yet no one ever takes care of it. Time to stop the nonsense and up hold the code AND ADA Compliance!
Remembering when this establishment came before the commission,NO OUTSIDE STOOLS so why did the owner think it is ok now? IS this owned by Daves? i HAVE THAT RECOLLECTION. THEY also have never followed the code on SEATING,obviously he is a privileged LW business owner.WHY??
Sounds like alot of Lynn's posts in which the righteous indignation is from a total lack of understanding of facts and Code.
The Stools are within the footprint of the privately owned land and accordingly, not subject to "outside seating" Code
FOR 101Fan of Dave..A RULE IS A RULE and NO PERMISSION SHOULD STAND, You too feel Dave is a previledge business owner of Lake Worth. There are others I see that feel the same..REMOVE THE STOOLS.
I think Brogues should just move all their seating outside on the avenue. It's should be four feet clearance on the sidewalk. Period. But who cares about that. How many events has Szerdi had there? Ten? Pay to play is done in Florida? If Brogues puts out there seating on the avenue tomorrow, and two strollers or two wheelchairs can't pass with eighteen inches space? I say pictures. Plenty of pictures. And then look at campaign contributors. And these are the same a-holes that complain about compliance. You have got to be f'n kidding me. Compared to these hippocrates Cara Jennings might attain sainthood...at least she's C0NSISTENT.
Starbucks. No disabled welcome. Have a stroller? Wait until it is safe to pass. Whenever I go down Lake Avenue and see Starbucks and Brogues cannot believe I live in a post-ADA world. West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Lantana, Wellington.....you name the city. Can you imagine a city striving to grow and this same city ignores the challenges of their own challenged citizens? I am handicapped and Lake Avenue is "Not Welcome" to me. Can only imagine a family with a stroller and an elderly person with a walker.
If I hear one more complaint about the anarchists, Mulvehill, McVoy, I am going to puke my guts out and then get mad as hell. Cara for Mayor is what I say. We get the new crew in charge: Pam, John, Andy, and Scott. Power corrupts. Absolutely. Pam, concentrate on your business and the best of luck to you. John, whatever. Andy, whatever. Scott, whatever. Not a one of you sees a future for us. Just go away and we'll hope for the best.
those stools are going to outlive your city manager. he's too nice and he's getting rolled. Damn, and well. whatever.
rules? I've eaten at Brogues many times and couldn't believe they have seating on the sidewalk. ON THE SIDEWALK. Many times have seen families, groups, have to wait and watch me eat until they had time to pass. Not right.
Cara for Mayor! consistency. honesty. truth. You may not like her, but those stools would never have been installed under her leadership. Those stools were installed because they knew they could get away with it. Period. How many stools are there at the pub? Four? How bout we name them? Pam, Andy, Scott, and John. I'll sit on Scott's seat!
Lake Worthless? Starbucks clutters up the sidewalk but no one seems to care. Brogues closes up the sidewalk and no one notices. Bars put up stools outside the bar and no one gives a damn. and these are the very same people decry Lake Worth's lack of code enforcement. And we voted in the future of our city? give it up Pam. Just go away and fade away. and you to andy. corrupt. dirty. just go away.
Power. Corruption. Period. Welcome to florida. Sigh.
Go, Cara! Go, Cara! Was a big Pam supporter but she'll get my smile this time and not a penny more.
Yes Cara pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze run for mayor. That way everything you've done in the dark in the past to hurt the city will be brought to light.
OBVIOUSLY we still have "Cara's crew" Always wondered if they lowered themselves to read the timely Well Researched, WORTH WHILE BLOG that Wes takes the time to educate those of us that have HOPES For a better LAKE WORTH instead of "worthless". Thanks Pam, Andy, Scott,John along with CM Michael.
Power. Corruption. Period. Because a bar owner put some bar stolls on the sidewalk, that leads to power. corruption. period?
I know it's wishful thinking but please explain that one.
If Starbucks can do what they do and Brogues does what they do, then hell, anything goes. Fill up the walkways with chairs and tables and to hell with the pedestrians. What is wrong with Brogues putting tables and chairs in the right-of-way? It's just wrong and they do it because they know they can get away with it. That's why those stools were put in. They are thumbing their noses at the rules because they know they can get away with it. Period. If they thought there would be a penalty for disobeying the rules they wouldn't have put the stools there in the first place. It's these small examples that set precedent for the city going forward. The precedent is do what you want. Hell, Brogues should just tape off the sidewalk and force pedestrians to the North side of Lake Ave. Money talks. End of story.
Can you imagine a new restaurant opening on Lake Avenue and on their first day cluttering the sidewalk with tables and chairs or having stools outside with patrons drinking beer and the city looking the other way? This is what makes Lake Worth so charming. Pay to play.
Interesting how many of your recent articles expose a pattern in Lake Worth, the stools at the bar on Lake Avenue, and the banyan tree being removed, and that huge garage next to McVoy's house...do what you want and then deal with the consequences later. Keep up the pressure Wes. Those stools have to be removed.
dont you people have anything better to do with your time then complain about some stools......jeeze, the world is falling apart and your day is spent taking pictures of chairs. Go volunteer your time to the AmVets or some other worth while organization..stop complaining about something, that in the big picture, means NOTHING!
To the comment above would like to give an example of how fixing the small problems leads to the bigger problems getting solved also. When Mayor Giuliani was elected mayor in NYC the first time the city was an absolute mess. He immediately put plenty of policies in place, for example, no trains or buses leave the station with graffiti, enforced jaywalking rules, code enforcement was rehabilitated, cars obstructing pedestrian traffic fined on the spot with cops at major intersections, food vendors governed properly, etc. These small changes made a huge difference and the city turned itself around. That's the problem with the stools, it sends a message that government and rules don't matter. Unless everyone knows the rules and knows their not arbitrary Lake Worth will continue to have systemic problems governing.
Close to 50% of the businesses in our quaint historic low rise city are vacant with more soon to follow.
The powers that be need to start focusing on that as a way to increase revenue to the city.
If Igots asked permission to install the bar stools and the city said no. Remove them now end of story move on.
As far as tables and chairs on the sidewalks tourists come to Florida to eat outside.
I NEVER see any of the naysayers downtown supporting local businesses so somebody better.
Lake Worth is on the downhill slide. Lake Worth is a ghetto with charming pockets here and there. Period. While most of Lake Worth's neighbors see an upside, Lantana, West Palm Beach, albeit small, Lake Worth will be insolvent within 18 months. Tops. And that will be the savior of the communities here in Lake Worth. Lake Worth's future is being a neighborhood in West Palm Beach, like Flamingo Park or Northwood, with the beach property being sold to Palm Beach. The citizens will have better service and much lower costs. A win-win for everyone. And all of you will have code enforcement also!!! Real code enforcement. Like most other citizens in the United States of America. Go figure.
Hooray comment above!!!!! Lake Worth is a political cesspool and needs to be governed by those experienced in the art of governing. Now? Lake Worth is just a labor pool for Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Wellington, et al. Hopefully Governor Rick Scott will take over the commission and the city and save us from 3rd world status right here in the USA. Lake Worth is worthless as a city. The city has some power, albeit small, is lake worth unincorporated? Is lake worth part of West Palm Beach? What to do with the beach? Seems there is some leverage with the beach and the golf course. Won't be long now. The wolves are circling.
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