Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Where are we now with the new and revised landscape regulations in the City of Lake Worth Beach?


Thank you for visiting today once again.

As to the question, what is going on with the revised, reworked, rewritten, re-updated, re-looked-at, reconsidered and re-thought landscape regulations in Lake Worth Beach?

FINAL PUBLIC MEETING IS TONIGHT.


TONIGHT at 6:00 is Second Reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2019-04 at Lake Worth Beach City Hall. The public is encouraged to attend and participate.

And it will be a very bad sign going forward if the vote tonight is not unanimous by the City Commission.

And please. For everyone in the public thinking about showing up tonight at public comment and claiming they don’t know what is going on with the City’s Landscape Regulations I hope Mayor Pam Triolo has some very choice words for you.


But first. . .


UPDATE 1: Lake Worth Commissioner Herman Robinson will be sworn-in today at 5:30 for another term on the City Commission. This time a three-year term.

 UPDATE 2: There is a Tree Board panel discussion coming up on April 11th. Cited in the press release is the International Society of Aboriculture and the mission, “Through research, technology, and education, the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) promotes the professional practice of arboriculture and fosters a greater worldwide awareness of the benefits of trees.”

 The City of Lake Worth Beach is very unique in that this City has its own Electric Utility and much has been learned about keeping the electric grid safe during major storms. And Lake Worth Beach is very palm tree friendly. It may be cool is some places to disparage the palm tree, which is not really a tree, but we really like them anyhow. Mr. Dave McGrew is the official horticulturist in Lake Worth Beach. McGrew will be one of the panelists at this upcoming panelists on the panel discussion and his experience during major storms will be a valuable one for discussion.


Now back to the public meeting tonight at City Hall.



Here was a very important item on the City Commission agenda on Tuesday, March 19th under Item 12, “New Business”:


Ordinance No. 2019-04 — First Reading — Amending Chapter 23 ‘Land Development Regulations’ Section 23.1-12, ‘Definitions’, and Section 23.6-1, ‘Landscape Regulations’ and setting the Second Reading and Public Hearing for April 2, 2019” [emphasis added]


The vote at the City Commission two weeks ago was unanimous to move the new landscape ordinances forward.



Looking back. How did we get here?


Recall that Hurricane Irma in September 2017 changed everything. Not directly, but indirectly, Hurricane Maria also in 2017 changed South Florida forever. And then Michael last year clarified things even further. Following Irma hardening the Lake Worth Electric Utility became a topic of great concern and at the City Commission too. And there is a thing called a tie-line to the grid. Stay tuned for more about that at a later time.

Question: Are you a big fan of Jon Smith Subs on Congress Ave. in the Village of Palm Springs? If you recall you were also impacted by Hurricane Irma. Not only were damaged trees and vegetation a problem getting to that popular eatery but a huge billboard fell on Jon Smith Subs too. They were closed for seventeen days.

The public road network was looked at after those hurricanes. Public safety and public health was addressed, access for emergency vehicles, communication network, underground utilities, and even the economic health of this City was looked at too.


FYI: If this topic is not of interest to you please take just one moment and scroll down to see a Tweet from the Tampa Bay Times, twelve-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize.


If you recall in October last year, as nicely and as curt as possible, the Lake Worth City Commission reviewed the revised, reworked, rewritten, rectified, and redacted landscape regulations. In other words, the regulations were overhauled. Again.

When this proposed ordinance was first presented to the Commission last year the electeds said, “Sorry, you need to get back to work.” They were given some spirited direction and the staff said “Thank You” and off they went.

Just last February the altered and adjusted and edited and fixed and changed and amended landscape regulations went through both the Planning & Zoning Board (P&Z) and the Historic Resource Preservation Board (HRPB) for review.

After some discussion last month both P&Z and HRPB said, “OK. We like it.”

This all began last October at City Hall. When the City Commission first got a good look at the newly-proposed landscape regulations one could say, “All hell broke loose.” The electeds told staff to go back to work and start all over again. Then in early January a proposed landscape ordinance came back to the Commission and the electeds on the dais said not good enough. Get back to work. To read all about that click on this link.

Worth noting also last February was the annual Tree Festival. The theme for this year’s festival was “Make Lake Worth Cool!”

On that point yes, everyone loves shade trees. Shade trees are not the issue. As hurricanes Irma and Michael have demonstrated the issue is public safety and where shade trees are located: away from power lines, roadways, sidewalks and underground utilities.

In short the issue comes down to, “Balancing shade vs. public safety in hurricane-prone South Florida”.


The Florida Panhandle never expected a direct hit.

No one does.



Now back to landscape regulations.

For quite a long time the public in this City has been demanding understandable, concise, and palm tree-friendly landscaping rules. For those who enjoy palm trees the revised landscape regulations will offer some welcome relief.

Everyone takes a sigh of relief on December 1st when Hurricane Season ends. But if you’ve been following the updates you would know this year’s Vegetation Amnesty Week is from May 27th–31st. Because on June 1st begins another Hurricane Season.

If and when a new landscape ordinance is adopted it will need the approval of the public. And that will be a “Big If ”. It will all depend on how many onerous regulations are lined out. If not enough then all this could quite possibly go back to Square One once again.


And also “Worth Noting”.

All the City logos with a palm tree!

The revised landscape ordinance will restore honor to the palm tree! True. The palm tree is not really a tree. But the public loves them anyhow!


If a new landscape ordinance is ultimately approved by the City Commission there will follow a massive public information campaign to get the word out to the public and the business community.

Hope many from the public interested in this important topic show up at City Hall tonight for Second Reading.