Bella Terra: Residential Development north of Publix—Discussion from Tuesdays nights City Commission meeting (7/14/15)

This is the unnecessary, painful, prolonged discussion of the Bella Terra project, aka Hammond Park north of Publix that occurred at this week's City Commission meeting. After the dramatic and the mundane the vote was unanimous, 4/0 (Mayor Triolo was absent). Commissioner Maier first, and then Commissioner McVoy, went through a litany of concerns they had gathered from the people they talk to or who talk to them. These revolved around air conditioner equipment placement, use of "faux" materials, pervious versus impervious pavers, a courtyard instead of a community garden, and whether the project would be gated or not, etc.

You need to listen to it for the full impact. When you do, notice the degree to which the developer of the project addresses these issues. It is clear that much thought and effort by Maier and McVoy went into making something out of nothing (the property has been a vacant lot in the middle of our downtown for almost 10 years). This project was also reviewed by both the Planning and Zoning and Historic Resource Preservation Boards. Both of those boards held a public hearing, in the same Commission Chambers, on the application and addressed many of these items. Unfortunately, the meetings of the advisory boards played before an empty house. The people who have these concerns need to attend either or both of those meetings. That is where this type of detail really should be hashed out, addressed and then sent on to the City Commission. Having all these concerns suddenly come up at a City Commission meeting is very curious.

This discussion went on for an hour. It appears that the two commissioners who asked the questions make themselves out to be the "last line of defense" and, in doing so, are attempting to dilute the importance of the advisory boards, the City staff reviews, and all the work done prior to this meeting. Imagine how this appears to people trying to do business in the City, like this developer?

And as for this being a "gated community," this has nothing in common with what is known in the public consciousness as a gated community like you would find in Wellington or west Boca Raton. It's not that long ago that someone was lit on fire and left to die a block away from this project. The Publix parking lot just to the south of this residential community is the sight of all sorts of goings on. The existing residents are concerned about their safety and holding on to the value of their residences in such an environment. Someone on the east side of J Street could install a fence around their property, with a gate. All of them could. Would that somehow be a "gated community?" What it be un-Lake Worth to do that? Are fences and gates a bad thing? Of course not.

If you have the time I encourage you to listen to this discussion. They ended up approving it unanimously on first reading; but it was a painfully long and unnecessary process to get there.