Backyard chickens dumped at shelters when hipsters can't cope, critics say - NBC News.com

An article well worth reading. There is a group, many of which also voted "yes" for the height restrictions, that would like to see the city allow and regulate the keeping of chickens in our single family residential areas. This article talks about the unintended consequences and how those "charming" chickens need care and attention throughout their lives - long after their egg producing years. This issue has died down somewhat now, but is important to remember that the city has trouble keeping up with mundane code enforcement issues - including chickens, hens and roosters, that are already being raised and kept in the city.

And then there are the 2,000 vacant, abandoned or foreclosed properties that are in need of code enforcement attention as well.

Click title for link to article.

New Report: WPB Planning Revenues On Pace for 16 Year High | City of West Palm Beach

Our neighbor to the north has this press release posted on its website. A quote from the release below. Click title for link. I got word of this through their Facebook page.

“The numbers clearly are showing that West Palm Beach is topping the list of cities where developers are returning in large numbers,” said Development Services Director Rick Greene. “Based on discussions we’re having with builders, we are anticipating that several of the projects that had been approved in the past will now be coming in for construction permits.”
The new numbers are not due to any single project (such as the new outlet mall). They represent an across-the-board increase in activity. They also are a good predictor for future property tax revenue growth. Once projects are completed, they contribute to the overall property tax revenues for the city, which help fund essential services provided to residents.

To be fair, I have heard that revenue is up in Lake Worth as it relates to building permit fees and the like. Will we ever see that trumpeted from City Hall in a press release? Probably not. Everyone is too busy here.

Editorial: Lake Worth’s code enforcement department condemned | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

Mr. Marra at the keyboard again. This time he includes these factoids:

Most fines for code violations are never paid, and the city makes no effort to collect them. To date, more than $40 million in fines are outstanding. Notorious properties in dangerous disrepair are left untouched, without any attempt to follow up with owners or foreclose on them. Instead, code enforcement officers simply continue tacking on fines they know will never be paid. The report cites the case of one house that for years racked up more than $1 million in fines. Apparently unbeknownst to the department, the building was demolished eight years ago, leaving only an empty lot.
The city’s code enforcement department prohibits anonymous complaints. To express concerns about dangerous conditions in your neighborhood, you have to leave your name. The audit correctly excoriated this policy as “directly counter to the basic precepts of a self-policing community.” It chided the rule as a danger to the city’s own residents, since “significant code violations may go unreported if residents fear for their safety should they be on record as the complainants.”

Click title for link to editorial. 

West Palm Beach to vote on zoning for redeveloping golf course | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

There are people out there, investing and planning projects. Lake Worth doesn't seem to be on their map, however. Click title for link.

Pics from the Pool - taken 7/7/13

Materio named retailer of the year for McMow Art Glass | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

Nice acknowledgement by the Palm Beach Post of Shanon Materio's award. Click title for link.

Editorial: The height of hypocrisy | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

Comes this now from Andrew Marra. Click title for link.

We opposed the vote on new height limits in Lake Worth’s downtown, which we think needlessly discouraged investment in the city without doing much to preserve the city’s character. Lake Worth already had height limits downtown, and the area affected by the vote – the portion east of Federal Highway – had several buildings higher than the new 45-foot limit being proposed.
But while we didn’t like the vote’s outcome, we really don’t like Tallahassee’s decree that such votes are no longer permitted. Stifling citizens’ voices on these issues leaves only the voice of elected officials susceptible to special interests. Kind of like state legislators.
Andrew Marra

And the printed version of the paper has a bold caption within the op-ed that says in bold "Tallahassee thwarts voter cap on tall buildings" - so, just what is a "tall" building. A 45 foot building isn't tall, but a 65 foot one is? I guess we need to ask Jo-Ann and Laurel, they would know.

Unwanted Publicity - This from Channel 12 on Facebook this morning:

Public Record: Owner of 728 Lake Avenue

From the City website's "Welcome to Lake Worth" page:

Part of the slideshow greeting visitors to the city's website includes this picture of our "vibrant" downtown - the former Island Watersports location, complete with vacant storefronts and no pedestrians.

Another of Brogue's Downunder with nothing but empty chairs:

Existing regulations already in Chapter 23 of the City's Code of Ordinances - Article XX re: Vacant Storefronts

C. The design guidelines for major thoroughfares shall include the following storefront window treatment guidelines:

Storefront window treatment guidelines:

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning;

Vacant or under construction means properties not open to the public, or to clientele of any sort, and buildings not being used for the display or merchandising of any product and/or otherwise furnished.
Operational means having active business hours and holding an active occupational license for that building.

In the CAC zoning district: All windows or openings of buildings located within the central area commercial zoning districts of the town, whereby the interiors of such buildings can be observed form the public streets or sidewalks of the town shall be treated or screened in the manner set forth below.

Specifications: All windows or openings of vacant buildings or buildings under construction located within the commercial zoning district of the town, which windows or openings can be viewed from the public streets and sidewalks of the town and which expose the interiors of such buildings, shall screen the vacant interior of the building in which they are located. This may be achieved by either constructing within the window or opening a pocket, equivalent in dimension to the dimension of the window or opening itself, and forty (40) inches or more in depth, or hanging curtains or utilizing interior shutters. The pocket shall be used for purposes of screening the interior of the building, and to provide an attractive display for those who can observe the window or opening from the streets or public sidewalks of the town. This pocket shall be decorated by featuring displays of the incoming tenant, or vignettes representing designs and merchandise of existing city merchants. The window glass shall be clean both inside and outside. It is advisable that the window shall be lighted at night.

All windows or openings of businesses that are operational, vacant or under construction may not have storage materials, such as kitchen equipment, alcoholic beverage containers, stacked furniture, debris or packing materials visible from a public street or right-of-way. A window or opening of an operational business will be decorated with merchandise or screened from view with curtains or interior shutters.

Any storefront both vacant or operational that has more than twenty-five (25) feet of frontage on a public sidewalk must provide a vignette display in at least one-half (½) of its available window space.

Newspaper, printed paper or unpainted plywood will not be allowed in a window.

An owner must comply with these specifications within seven (7) days of vacancy of a storefront and effective immediately for operational businesses.

No windows or openings of storefronts will utilize a mirrored reflective film. Films allowing light to pass through, but blocking ultraviolet light will be permitted. The intent is that interior displays will be visible from the right-of-way.

Penalties: Any owner of any building found to be in violation of this division shall be subject to general penalties as provided by law or to the provisions of the code enforcement board.

(Ord. No. 2001-27, § 1, 10-16-01; Ord. No. 2002-2, § 1, 1-15-02; Ord. No. 2002-13, § 1, 5-7-02)

Payment decisions loom for big projects | www.palmbeachdailynews.com

Someone is taking seawall replacement seriously in the area. Palm Beach is planning an "Accelerated Capital Improvement Program" which will include work on seawall construction and fortification. You might recall that that since the new Casino building is built seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line and the value of the improvements to the building reached 96% of the value of what was there and since the foundation was not fortified to withstand a washout by a major hurricane, the city is relying on the integrity of the existing seawall to protect the public investment in that project. 

There have been cosmetic improvements to the seawall and a superficial study about the condition of the seawall, but nothing done, to my knowledge, about how the seawall performs as it relates to current standards. One was required by the Florida Building Code prior to the occupation of the building, technically, but we have been given assurances by the city administration that the actual integrity of the seawall is being looked at. Commissioner McVoy dissed the notion of the seawall condition as a "red herring" during a City Commission meeting last year. I wonder what the status of this is now?

Click title for link to the article in the Palm Beach Daily News.

Nice video promoting and highlighting the Gray Mockingbird Community Garden Mural Art Wall

Jill Karlin, the narrator of the video and organizer of the project, participates in many of the Thursday night bike rides we take through the neighborhoods.

Chief Justice Roberts Says Fane Lozman's Supreme Court Case About Houseboat Was His Favorite - Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach - News - The Daily Pulp

Guess what case makes Chief Justice Roberts most favorite list? None other than Fane Lozman and his fight with the city of Riviera Beach over his house, or vessel, depending on your point of view. Mr. Lozman won a victory at the Supreme Court by having it declared a house. He is still skirmishing with the city about compensation. You might recall that Mr. Lozman was a guest on a High Noon in Lake Worth show. Click title for link to article. You can listen to the C-Span interview where the Chief Justice mentions the case below:

Views from the sixth floor...

Clutch the pearls peeps! These are a rare series of photos, for sure, taken from atop a five story building here in Lake Worth, by Bryant Park. These could be worth millions one day! Actually, practicing with a new camera prior to the fireworks display.

Looking northeast to Brant Park and the boat ramp.

Zoomed in on the Casino complex.

Looking north.

The West Palm Beach megalopolis lurking in the horizon, waiting to pounce.

South side of Bryant Park.

A more angular view of the above.

Later on in the evening.

Twilight cloud formations.

The artificial "sun" made by the Pinkie Borealis, otherwise known as the electronic billboard along I-95. It casts an eerie glow on the city's water tower. 

Casino building complex after sunset.

Waiting for the fireworks.

Zoomed in view of the temporarily closed bridge in anticipation of the fireworks.