Boca Del Mar Board Votes Against Development On Golf Course

Boca Del Mar board votes against plan to redevelop golf course
By Rebekah Monson, Sun Sentinel - December 19, 2010

A controversial plan to develop a defunct golf course in Boca Del Mar will move forward without the support of the community's homeowners association.

In 2004, the Boca Del Mar Improvement Association's board of directors voted to support a plan to build townhomes on the former Mizner Trail Golf Course, but last week the board voted 6-1 not to support a new proposal for development from Siemens Group, a Boca Raton developer.
"We're all very surprised that this has come up again, but this time the board listened," said Brian Coleman, a Boca Del Mar resident and member of the Second Coalition Against Mizner Development, a group that opposes development on the course. Board members did not respond to e-mail and phone calls requesting comment.

In 2006, the County Commission rejected an plan from course owner Dutch Bliss to build 202 townhomes on the course. Siemens plans to continue the rezoning process with the new plan despite the board's vote. If the County approves the change, the earliest units could be finished would be June 2012, said Justin Siemens of Siemens Group. Siemens' development is a lower density than the rejected plan, and it makes better use of the property than the vacant course, said Richard Siemens, president of Siemens Group. "This is a totally different approach in a different time period," he said.

But residents remained concerned about overcrowding, traffic, declining values of existing homes and loss of green space if housing is built on the course, said Rosemary Nixon of the Second Coalition Against Mizner Development. "The only significant difference that is proposed this time is more units, and they're on every fairway of the golf course," Nixon said. "The developer maintains that it's a lower density, but it impacts more homes and more properties and totally destroys all the green space."

The developers decreased the number of proposed units and moved new homes away from existing buildings, based on input from residents who live around the course, Richard Siemens said. "When we could make the plan better, we did," he said. "These are our neighbors. We want to be cooperative."

Two public rezoning hearings are scheduled in January...January 7th = P&Z board meeting

Siemens Group's contract to buy the golf course from owner Dutch Bliss is contingent on county approval of the project. Bliss bought the property in 1998, planning to keep the course open temporarily and then develop the land into housing. He closed the course in 2005, saying that he could not afford to maintain it. A deed restriction mandating that the land be used as a golf course expires in December 2012, but most residents would prefer the space remain a golf course or be converted into a park, Nixon said.

"They couldn't put another golf course on it for the simple reason that it would cost $6 million to $7 million," said Arnold Levinstein, a 22-year resident of Boca Del Mar whose home overlooks the course. "I would love it, but it would be a losing proposition." The Seimens Group plan would be better than looking across weedy, fallow land, and a well-maintained development would improve his property value, Levinstein said.

"The reason a lot of us bought there was because of the open space," Coleman said. "To take it away would be wrong."

Rebekah Monson can be reached at 561-243-6624 or rsmonson@SunSentinel.com.

Mizner Trail Development Proposal Update **Take Action NOW**

On Nov. 17th the P.B. Zoning Staff certified Richard Siemen's golf course conversion proposal 2010-1728 for Mizner Trail. This does not mean it has been approved, it has not. What this means is that after several revisions it meets the MINIMUM legal code requirements and can now be sent to the next step which is a hearing and vote on January 7, 2011 by the P.B. Zoning Commission.

In the meantime, we await the P.B. Zoning Staff's recommendation to approve or disapprove the proposal. In 2006 the zoning staff was adamantly against any building on any portion of the golf course. Regardless of the outcome of that vote, it will then be sent to the Palm Beach County Commissioners for a hearing and vote on January 27, 2011. ONLY if the County Commissioners vote to approve the zoning change will development be allowed.

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
Email the P.B. Zoning Commissioners by sending your brief objection to the Zoning Commissioners secretaries: RParker@pbcgov.org and SSmalls@pbcgov.org.

In your subject line print: Forward To All Zoning Commissioners Re: Mizner Trail 2010-1728 Their staff are required to forward your comments to all Zoning Commissioners. This is extremely important, previously you may have sent an email to the County Commissioners, this is a completely different board.

DONATE TO OUR WAR CHEST:
Defending our community from wealthy developers with deep pockets who are poised to make millions does not come cheap. We have hired a specialized attorney, Ralf Brookes, who has worked with many other grassroots organizations to defeat developers, but legal representation requires money. We are fighting to save this community but we need your financial support today. Please donate whatever you can now.

To donate visit our website www.stopmiznertraildevelopment.org and click on the donate button, or send a check made payable to: Second Coalition Against Mizner Dev. Inc. to P.O. Box 810831 Boca Raton, FL 33481. We are a 501C-3 Non profit registered with the State of Florida.

EMAIL THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Email your opposition comments to all of the County Commissioners:
KMarcus@pbcgov.org, svana@pbcgov.org, SAbrams@pbcgov.org, BAARONSO@pbcgov.org, jsantama@pbcgov.org, ptaylor@pbcgov.org, pburdick@pbcgov.org

ATTEND THE TWO PUBLIC HEARING IN JANUARY
The two upcoming hearings and vote are open to the general public and you may also sign up to speak for generally three minutes. We will provide you times and locations of these meetings so that you can attend as the dates approach.

FORWARD THIS INFO TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES
We need the email addresses of any individual who opposes this development so that we may include them in our email lists. No email will be shared, and you will only receive blind emails (Bcc's) from this coalition. This coalition will never put your email address on an email distribution list or email blast.

Visit Our Website For Updates at www.stopmiznertraildevelopment.org

Visit YouTube and search "Mizner Trail" for a brief informative video

Send in editorials to the Palm Beach Post and the Sun Sentenel opposing this development

HISTORY IS ON OUR SIDE
In 2006 the Zoning Staff recommended for denial of the zoning change, the Palm Beach County Commissioners voted against the zoning change, and the Palm Beach Circuit County Court ruled against the zoning change. Nothing has changed since 2006, we should expect the result to be the same. No Zoning Change.

The Second Coalition Against Mizner Development (a group of your neighbors) wants to thank every one of you for your overwhelming and continued support to defeat this zoning change, but now is not the time to sit back, now is the time to step up. The coalition's unwavering position is "no building on any fairway", we represent all of you and will not compromise or sellout any community under any condition. You have until January 27, 2011 to make sure your voice is heard. Let them hear you loud and clear.
Thank you

We are SCAMDSecond Coalition Against Mizner DevelopmentA 501C-3 Non Profit

"Evil flourishes when good people (men) do nothing" - Edmund Burke