More thoughts on Monday's meeting...

When you deal with restricting height and density below what it is now, then you also have to deal with issues related to grandfathering (what can be built if a building is substantially destroyed.)  These actions then have related impacts on the ability of the property owner to insure the property and may prevent a lender (especially in a tight credit market) to issue mortgages and financing for projects.  It also reinforces the message that Lake Worth is not a place to invest in relation to the communities that surround us.  In many ways, these "solutions" are answers to problems that we don't have.

And, besides, there are other places that you can put limitations on height - like the land development regulations - that are locally administered and approved.

And this little gem is never mentioned when the "people" are quoted as wanting these limitations.  In 1996, there was an item on THE BALLOT concerning building height.  It was approved by the "people."  It is part of the City Charter and reads as follows - this never made it into the Zoning Code:

Sec. 11.  Building height limitation.

East of Dixie Highway within the city no building or part thereof shall be constructed which exceeds a vertical height of sixty-five (65) feet above grade. West of Dixie Highway within the city no building or part thereof shall be constructed which exceeds a vertical height of one hundred (100) feet above grade.

(Ord. No. 96-32, § 1, 12-5-96)

I suggest that if we are going to have these limitations as proposed by Commissioner Jennings et al, then we include it in the form of a referendum.  Then the "people" will indeed be heard. Again. Some more.

The 65 ft. height limitation has been on the books since 1976.