Subject: Commission Approves 65' in Zoning Code: E-mail exchange between Laurie and Ramsay

Hi all-

I am writing to let you know that the commission will approve our new zoning code on Tuesday night Aug 6th with 65' heights in the downtown area east of Federal, and 45' heights in the first few blocks into neighborhoods north & south of Lake/Lucerne corridor west of Dixie. These heights are in violation of our charter.

The commission has decided that new state legislation gives them the authority to nullify the legal and state certified March election results. We (and our attorney) are confident that they 1) have purposely misinterpreted the intent and scope of the legislation and 2) are using it to exert authority they do not have. State law does not allow a local governing body to nullify a legal election.

Please come to the commission meeting and speak on public record to establish standing in case we have to take legal action to enforce our charter. They are focused on a hotel district in the Bryant Park/Parrot Cove area east, so please alert your friends in those neighborhoods and encourage them to join us at the meeting.

If you have questions you can contact me 561-305-6259 or Jo-Ann 561-628-7592.

Hope to see you there . . .

Laurie

Hello,

I know some of us have other plans next Tuesday, but if the commission acts like it did the first time, they will make us wait until 10:00p.m. to speak, so you could arrive after 6:00p.m. and should be allowed in.  This is a critical issue as they want to turn this area into a "hotel" district, which, in my opinion will have a seriously negative impact on the many mom-&-pop hotels/motels North of Lake Ave and South of Lucerne Ave on Federal Highway.

Additionally, this will create a concrete barrier to ocean winds that flow through the town.  It will also make this a very densely populated area, with transient individuals, which I'm sure the homeowners in that area will not be pleased with.  Do you really want to drive down a "concrete corridor" on your way to the beach?

You don't have to speak but your attendance will help show support for keeping our "small, old Florida" town feel.  I think there is a better way to increse our tax base income but the commission does not seem to be open to any other reccommendations but this one.

If you did not vote in support of this charter amendment in March, please do not be offended by my email.  I happen to live in the 1st block in from Lake Ave and prefer not to allow land developers to come in and start putting up apartment complexes where there are vacant lots or abandoned buildings.

Sincerely,
Ramsay 

           Hi Ramsay,

Hope to see you there. It shakes them up a little when they see a lot of unfamiliar faces at a meeting. They're used to their usual fan club! The meetings have actually become much shorter since this commission started. They don't debate or discuss too much, their priority is to get home by 9 pm. It seems that decisions are made long before any public discussion takes place. So the only reason the meeting would go longer is if there is a lot of public comment on this item, and I hope there is.

Thanks for letting your neighbors know . . . .

Laurie

Ms. Decker rallying the troops. Conduct yourselves accordingly. That "Laurie" is Laurel Decker, head of the Respectful Planning PAC. You can reach her by e-mail at lowriselakeworth@gmail.com or the telephone numbers indicated above. The Jo-Ann identified in the first e-mail is a former City Commissioner who used part of her personal family fortune funding the petition and referendum campaign.