The Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District held a meeting yesterday at Sugar Sand park to kickoff the long awaited design of the Ocean Strand park on North Ocean Blvd. For over a year residents have been promised that their input would be considered for the ultimate design and use of this property. Even though the meeting was attended by a large number of residents seeking to provide input into the design of the park the meeting was adjourned WITHOUT ALLOWING PUBLIC INPUT!
Many residents attended this meeting which was moved to a large room from the normal board room used for meetings of the park district. The presenter from the design company hired by the GBRBPD requested input from the public and from the commissioners, but when it was time for the expected public input, the executive director of the district explained that the district has setup a web site to accept recommendations and commissioners quickly adjourned the meeting without allowing public input--as is normally the case for such meetings. There was no mention of the next scheduled meeting for providing public input on this park design. The web site referenced in the meeting does not have any icon or web page seeking input from residents on the park design.
Was this meeting being run by the attorney, Arthur Koski? Who is recommending the district not cooperate with residential requests even though the city attorney has publicly indicated that all that is needed for the city to change the land use on Ocean Strand is a letter from the park district to request a change in the designated land use to parks & rec. The historical medium density land use has been in place prior to the acquisition of the land by the district when the land was purchased to prevent a residential development. Is the attorney for the park district racking up thousands of dollars in additional legal fees by recommending against the resident's wishes to change the land use?
Residents have obtained over 1,500 voter signatures to require the city to hold a referendum to prevent any private uses of the publicly owned land all along the beach area of the city. The city attorney has refused to accept these petitions and initiate the referendum process due to her legal opinion. This petition effort for a referendum by voters has already upheld by a PBC court, yet the city and the park district continue to oppose residential efforts. The city and the park district are now spending thousands of taxpayer dollars to appeal this court decision and oppose the referendum initiative that is allowed under the city charter.
All of this wasted spending could probably be avoided if the park district commissioners would simply send a letter to the city in order to officially request the land use change on the Ocean Strand property that would restrict the use to parks & rec. for the public.
For more information on this residential effort to Keep Boca Raton Beaches Open to the Public, please visit the web site: http://www.keepyourbocabeachespublic.org/
Showing posts with label Ocean Strand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ocean Strand. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, December 13, 2010
Save Boca Raton Beaches - Sign the Petition
Are you aware that a beach in North Boca Raton purchased by city taxpayers may be considered for development of a private beach club?
Residents have filed a petition with the city in order to request residents to vote on whether they want to protect public beaches from being used for private development. If you want to help protect the Boca Raton beaches, then please send us an email at saveboca4u@gmail.com and we will email you the petitions.
Time is short as this residential effort only has until approx. 12/21/10 to obtain 1,000 signatures of registered voters within the city limits.
Thank You for Your Assistance,
Save Boca Raton Green Space
"A residential advocacy group"
------------------Background Info on This Issue---------------
Boca Raton Ocean Strand land needs to be preserved for recreation, residents say
The oceanfront land was purchased by the city in 1994 to save it from development but the land is still zoned for residential use
By Angel Streeter, Sun Sentinel - July 20, 2010Residents who live near the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District's 15-acre oceanfront property recently fought off a developer. Now they want it rezoned to keep builders away for good. The request comes after their protests thwarted the developer, who recently proposed building a beach club on a portion of the Ocean Strand property on State Road A1A. In May, the park district board said it had no plans to sell or lease the property after residents came out in droves to protest the proposal. And just Monday — after the City Council noted they had not received a response from the park board inquiring about its plans for the property — board Chairman Bob Rollins sent a letter to Mayor Susan Whelchel reiterating the park district's plans to use the land for a park.
"In evaluating the comments received from the public on this subject, there does not appear at the current time to be any public benefit to be enjoyed by the community other than use of this property for park purposes," he wrote in the letter. But that's not enough for some residents. They contend the best way to protect the land from future developers is to change its zoning from residential to recreation. "The land usage has to be changed," said Andrea Stekloff, who lives in the Boca Towers condominiums just north of the property. "We don't want to have to go through this again in another 10 years.
"Penn- Florida Companies expressed interest in building a beach club on part of Ocean Strand as part of its Via Mizner project, a redevelopment project planned at the northeast corner of Federal Highway and Camino Real in downtown Boca Raton. The mixed-use development, approved by the city Community Redevelopment Agency in 2006, would consist of a 118-room luxury hotel, office space, 192 condominiums and high-end retail stores and restaurants.
In April, Penn-Florida asked city officials to help it secure the beachfront part of the land from the park district. In a letter, the company called a beach club a necessary amenity to attract an exclusive international hotel that has expressed interest in Via Mizner. Since then, residents have been skittish, worrying that the developer would find some way to get ahold of the land, which the district purchased in 1994 for $11.9 million to save it from development. So residents asked the park district board on Monday to request a zoning change from the city. But the district's attorney suggested the board wait until it has developed a master plan, a sort of blueprint of how the land could be used. That process could take several months.
Residents have filed a petition with the city in order to request residents to vote on whether they want to protect public beaches from being used for private development. If you want to help protect the Boca Raton beaches, then please send us an email at saveboca4u@gmail.com and we will email you the petitions.
Time is short as this residential effort only has until approx. 12/21/10 to obtain 1,000 signatures of registered voters within the city limits.
Thank You for Your Assistance,
Save Boca Raton Green Space
"A residential advocacy group"
------------------Background Info on This Issue---------------
Boca Raton Ocean Strand land needs to be preserved for recreation, residents say
The oceanfront land was purchased by the city in 1994 to save it from development but the land is still zoned for residential use
By Angel Streeter, Sun Sentinel - July 20, 2010Residents who live near the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District's 15-acre oceanfront property recently fought off a developer. Now they want it rezoned to keep builders away for good. The request comes after their protests thwarted the developer, who recently proposed building a beach club on a portion of the Ocean Strand property on State Road A1A. In May, the park district board said it had no plans to sell or lease the property after residents came out in droves to protest the proposal. And just Monday — after the City Council noted they had not received a response from the park board inquiring about its plans for the property — board Chairman Bob Rollins sent a letter to Mayor Susan Whelchel reiterating the park district's plans to use the land for a park.
"In evaluating the comments received from the public on this subject, there does not appear at the current time to be any public benefit to be enjoyed by the community other than use of this property for park purposes," he wrote in the letter. But that's not enough for some residents. They contend the best way to protect the land from future developers is to change its zoning from residential to recreation. "The land usage has to be changed," said Andrea Stekloff, who lives in the Boca Towers condominiums just north of the property. "We don't want to have to go through this again in another 10 years.
"Penn- Florida Companies expressed interest in building a beach club on part of Ocean Strand as part of its Via Mizner project, a redevelopment project planned at the northeast corner of Federal Highway and Camino Real in downtown Boca Raton. The mixed-use development, approved by the city Community Redevelopment Agency in 2006, would consist of a 118-room luxury hotel, office space, 192 condominiums and high-end retail stores and restaurants.
In April, Penn-Florida asked city officials to help it secure the beachfront part of the land from the park district. In a letter, the company called a beach club a necessary amenity to attract an exclusive international hotel that has expressed interest in Via Mizner. Since then, residents have been skittish, worrying that the developer would find some way to get ahold of the land, which the district purchased in 1994 for $11.9 million to save it from development. So residents asked the park district board on Monday to request a zoning change from the city. But the district's attorney suggested the board wait until it has developed a master plan, a sort of blueprint of how the land could be used. That process could take several months.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Ocean Strand Under Attack by City Council
The last city council workshop and council meeting revealed at least 2 city council members support for a development that would include the Ocean Strand property. At the workshop meeting on Monday, Mayor Whelchel stated that a possible development of the property on the NE corner of Camino Real & Fed. Hwy. could be worth up to $800 million and the city needs the tax revenue from this size of a development. The possible development has been rumored to include a Beach Club on the Ocean Strand property which may explain why the city council has refused to heed the pleas of many Ocean Blvd. residents to change the land use on the Ocean Strand property to open space & recreational use.
Council member Constance Scott voiced her support for development of this size as a need to raise tax revenue. The city manager stated that the estimated budget deficit for 2011 would be approximately $14 million and the city has already cut approx. 10% of the operating budget over the past few years to balance the budget.
Based upon these meetings it appears that the city has plans to allow a development of some sort on the Ocean Strand property in spite of the fact that the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park district commissioners have stated that they do not intend to develop or lease the property. With the city council's intent clear that they want to accommodate the possible $800 million development, it would appear that the city staff has a plan to convince the GBRBPD to either sell the property or lease the property to the developer.
Residents wishing to oppose this future development potential on the Ocean Strand property should email all city council members--asking for the land use change to be included in the current comprehensive plan amendment that will be approved on August 10th at the 6pm council meeting. Residents should also plan to attend the city council meetings on 8/9 at 1pm and 8/10 at 6pm and speak at the meeting during the agenda item for the comp plan amendment approval---asking for the land use change on Ocean Strand.
There will be a meeting on MONDAY July 19 at 5:15 pm to request a new LAND USE and ask the Parks District to change it to PR- see explanation below.
Please let our elected officials know that you would like the Ocean Strand Parcel to be accurately reflected in the existing and future land use maps as (PR) – Recreation and Open Space and (N)-conservation on its environmentally sensitive lands, reflecting the purpose of its acquisition rather than is current now outdated FLUM Designation “RM – Residential Medium”. The "RM" designation on Ocean Strand is particularly troubling in light of the proposed addition of Hotels/Motels to the list of allowable uses in the RM District.
Boca Raton City Council and City Manager Phone 561-393-7708
City Manager - Leif Ahnell - BocaCM@ci.Boca-Raton.fl.us
Susan Whelchel swhelchel@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Constance Scott - cscott@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Anthony Majhess - amajhess@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Susan Hanyie - shaynie@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Michael Mullaugh - mmullaugh@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park Tax District NEXT MEETING this MONDAY July 19, 2010 AT 5:15 at 300 S. Military Trail, Sugar Sand Park – Boca RatonPhone 561-417-4599
Commissioners:
Robert Rollins rrollins@bocaratonbeachparkdistrict.org
Dennis Frisch dfrisch@bocaratonbeachparkdistrict.org
Dirk Smith dsmith@bocaratonbeachparkdistrict.org
Earl Starkoff estarkoff@bocaratonbeachparkdistrict.org
Elaine Kleinman ekleinman@bocaratonbeachparkdistrict.org
Ocean Strand is current designated as a land use Residential-Medium Density (RM):
The principal permitted uses are primarily multifamily uses with some small lot single family uses at densities of up to 9.5 units per acre. Accessory or related residential uses and institutional uses may be permitted. Motels or hotels may be permitted in areas along heavily traveled routes or in other areas such as PUDs.
Request to change Ocean Strand to: PUBLIC AND PRIVATE Recreation and Open Space (PR): This category designates both public and private property used for recreation or committed to recreational use. It is applied to properties having major recreational activities, such as golf courses, or other structured and maintained recreation area facilities. Appropriate accessory uses such as docks, jetties, or clubhouses will be permitted. Additionally, up to 0.5 dwelling unit per acre is permissible provided that 50% or more of any proposed development area remains in recreation uses. And change the portions of environmentally sensitive land to: Conservation (N): This category designates land within the City that has been protected due to vegetation or wildlife habitat. A land use designation of N is compatible with any zoning district.
Thank you for helping to protect Boca Raton Green Space.
Council member Constance Scott voiced her support for development of this size as a need to raise tax revenue. The city manager stated that the estimated budget deficit for 2011 would be approximately $14 million and the city has already cut approx. 10% of the operating budget over the past few years to balance the budget.
Based upon these meetings it appears that the city has plans to allow a development of some sort on the Ocean Strand property in spite of the fact that the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park district commissioners have stated that they do not intend to develop or lease the property. With the city council's intent clear that they want to accommodate the possible $800 million development, it would appear that the city staff has a plan to convince the GBRBPD to either sell the property or lease the property to the developer.
Residents wishing to oppose this future development potential on the Ocean Strand property should email all city council members--asking for the land use change to be included in the current comprehensive plan amendment that will be approved on August 10th at the 6pm council meeting. Residents should also plan to attend the city council meetings on 8/9 at 1pm and 8/10 at 6pm and speak at the meeting during the agenda item for the comp plan amendment approval---asking for the land use change on Ocean Strand.
There will be a meeting on MONDAY July 19 at 5:15 pm to request a new LAND USE and ask the Parks District to change it to PR- see explanation below.
Please let our elected officials know that you would like the Ocean Strand Parcel to be accurately reflected in the existing and future land use maps as (PR) – Recreation and Open Space and (N)-conservation on its environmentally sensitive lands, reflecting the purpose of its acquisition rather than is current now outdated FLUM Designation “RM – Residential Medium”. The "RM" designation on Ocean Strand is particularly troubling in light of the proposed addition of Hotels/Motels to the list of allowable uses in the RM District.
Boca Raton City Council and City Manager Phone 561-393-7708
City Manager - Leif Ahnell - BocaCM@ci.Boca-Raton.fl.us
Susan Whelchel swhelchel@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Constance Scott - cscott@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Anthony Majhess - amajhess@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Susan Hanyie - shaynie@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Michael Mullaugh - mmullaugh@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park Tax District NEXT MEETING this MONDAY July 19, 2010 AT 5:15 at 300 S. Military Trail, Sugar Sand Park – Boca RatonPhone 561-417-4599
Commissioners:
Robert Rollins rrollins@bocaratonbeachparkdistrict.org
Dennis Frisch dfrisch@bocaratonbeachparkdistrict.org
Dirk Smith dsmith@bocaratonbeachparkdistrict.org
Earl Starkoff estarkoff@bocaratonbeachparkdistrict.org
Elaine Kleinman ekleinman@bocaratonbeachparkdistrict.org
Ocean Strand is current designated as a land use Residential-Medium Density (RM):
The principal permitted uses are primarily multifamily uses with some small lot single family uses at densities of up to 9.5 units per acre. Accessory or related residential uses and institutional uses may be permitted. Motels or hotels may be permitted in areas along heavily traveled routes or in other areas such as PUDs.
Request to change Ocean Strand to: PUBLIC AND PRIVATE Recreation and Open Space (PR): This category designates both public and private property used for recreation or committed to recreational use. It is applied to properties having major recreational activities, such as golf courses, or other structured and maintained recreation area facilities. Appropriate accessory uses such as docks, jetties, or clubhouses will be permitted. Additionally, up to 0.5 dwelling unit per acre is permissible provided that 50% or more of any proposed development area remains in recreation uses. And change the portions of environmentally sensitive land to: Conservation (N): This category designates land within the City that has been protected due to vegetation or wildlife habitat. A land use designation of N is compatible with any zoning district.
Thank you for helping to protect Boca Raton Green Space.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Ocean Strand Is Not For Sale
Yesterday's meeting of the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District provided very good news to the large crowd of Ocean Blvd. residents when Chairman Bob Rollins announced that the Ocean Strand property is not for sale. Many residents of the nearby Boca Towers expressed their positive opinion at hearing the chairman introduce the public comment portion of the agenda with this announcement.
But, a few residents were concerned that the potential exists for the property to be sold without a "required" referendum of voters. One commissioner inquired from the district's attorney if the commission could request a referendum should a proposal be made to sell or lease the property. The reply from the attorney was yes, the commission could require a referendum. The attorney also emphasized that the beach and park district has never sold or leased any property since the district was formed over 20 years ago.
For more questions of the beach and park district, please contact them at info@gbrbpd.org
But, a few residents were concerned that the potential exists for the property to be sold without a "required" referendum of voters. One commissioner inquired from the district's attorney if the commission could request a referendum should a proposal be made to sell or lease the property. The reply from the attorney was yes, the commission could require a referendum. The attorney also emphasized that the beach and park district has never sold or leased any property since the district was formed over 20 years ago.
For more questions of the beach and park district, please contact them at info@gbrbpd.org
Saturday, May 22, 2010
North Ocean Blvd. Property Proposed Development Site - Ocean Strand
The property was purchased to protect it from development, so is the city now considering breaking this promise to neighbors on North Ocean Blvd.?
Developer proposes Boca Raton park district land for private beach club
By Angel Streeter Sun Sentinel - Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Many hailed the purchase of the Ocean Strand property in 1994 as a major victory for preserving green space. For $11.88 million, the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District secured the city's last sizeable piece of undeveloped oceanfront property, saving the 15-acre site near Gumbo Limbo Nature Center from development. And there it has sat, undeveloped, untouched, in the midst of condominiums, single-family homes and other city parkland. Now, a developer is proposing building a private beach club on a portion of the property as part of a major development planned for downtown.
But residents who live near the property worry a beach club, possibly with dining and bars, could change the quiet, residential character of the coastal neighborhood."It would destroy the area," said Alan Goldman, who is on the condominium board of the Aegean, condominiums just south of Ocean Strand. "You've got an area here with no commercial property on the ocean side."District commissions have yet to agree; their lawyer is looking into the proposal.
"They said, 'We can think about this,' " said Bob Langford, park district executive director. "But there's a ton of things to think about. "The proposed beach club is critical to development of Via Mizner, a $1 billion redevelopment project at the northeast corner of Federal Highway and Camino Real, Penn-Florida Companies says. The mixed-use development, approved by Boca Raton's Community Redevelopment Agency in 2006, could consist of a 118-room luxury hotel, office space, 192 condominiums and high-end retail stores and restaurants. Penn-Florida has stressed to city and park district officials that the beach club would be a necessary amenity to attract an exclusive international hotel that has expressed interest in the Via Mizner project. And that hotel is critical to the success of Via Mizner overall.In an April 27 letter to City Manager Leif Ahnell, Penn-Florida President Mark Gensheimer asked the city to help the developer get access to the oceanfront portion of the Ocean Strand property to build a "low-rise beach club.
"In addition, a western portion of the property would be needed for beach club parking. In addition, Gensheimer said, Penn-Florida would help develop the Ocean Strand property as a passive park. In response, and at the direction of the City Council, Ahnell wrote to the park district board, stressing the importance of Via Mizner to the downtown and "its huge economic development potential. "He said the council was interested in exploring the beach club idea and getting public input. The developer's lawyer proposed the beach club to the district in December. Although at the time, the commissioners didn't know who the lawyer was representing or what major development he was referring to, Langford said. That had been the only contact the district had with Penn-Florida, he said.
At the December meeting, the developer's representative explained that the developer would want to lease the oceanfront property for the private beach club. But many questions remain unanswered: How much land does the developer want? How much is the developer willing to pay? When would the developer want to build the beach club?And a critical question for the park district is whether it should turn over public land to a private entity that wants to develop it.
"We haven't been too aggressive about building anything out there," Langford said. "We didn't buy it to develop it. We didn't buy it for any particular use. "The district bought it because neighbors and the city didn't want the previous owners to move forward with plans to build 79 condominiums and six beachfront homes on the site.Since the purchase, the district has done very little with the property.
Early on, it removed some old homes and duplexes. But nothing else has been done. And the land gets very little use. Neighbors seem to like that. They worry a beach club would bring traffic and noise. "It's basically like a nightclub in the middle of a residential area," said Mike Graham, who lives just north of the Ocean Strand property.While he approves of the Via Mizner project Penn-Florida plans downtown, he is skeptical about the district leasing prime real estate to a developer for a fraction of what it's worth."I'd sure like to know more about it," he said. "The beaches are nice. The traffic is minimal. It's our last piece of prime ground.
"Penn-Florida stressed it would work with neighbors to create a low density, low-rise beach club that would enhance the neighborhood, said Bonnie Kaye, a Penn-Florida spokeswoman. "The plans are conceptual," she said. "Nothing is finalized because the goal is to work with the city and the neighbors in a collaborative effort. The plans are to make it a showpiece and a welcome part of the community."
Developer proposes Boca Raton park district land for private beach club
By Angel Streeter Sun Sentinel - Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Many hailed the purchase of the Ocean Strand property in 1994 as a major victory for preserving green space. For $11.88 million, the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District secured the city's last sizeable piece of undeveloped oceanfront property, saving the 15-acre site near Gumbo Limbo Nature Center from development. And there it has sat, undeveloped, untouched, in the midst of condominiums, single-family homes and other city parkland. Now, a developer is proposing building a private beach club on a portion of the property as part of a major development planned for downtown.
But residents who live near the property worry a beach club, possibly with dining and bars, could change the quiet, residential character of the coastal neighborhood."It would destroy the area," said Alan Goldman, who is on the condominium board of the Aegean, condominiums just south of Ocean Strand. "You've got an area here with no commercial property on the ocean side."District commissions have yet to agree; their lawyer is looking into the proposal.
"They said, 'We can think about this,' " said Bob Langford, park district executive director. "But there's a ton of things to think about. "The proposed beach club is critical to development of Via Mizner, a $1 billion redevelopment project at the northeast corner of Federal Highway and Camino Real, Penn-Florida Companies says. The mixed-use development, approved by Boca Raton's Community Redevelopment Agency in 2006, could consist of a 118-room luxury hotel, office space, 192 condominiums and high-end retail stores and restaurants. Penn-Florida has stressed to city and park district officials that the beach club would be a necessary amenity to attract an exclusive international hotel that has expressed interest in the Via Mizner project. And that hotel is critical to the success of Via Mizner overall.In an April 27 letter to City Manager Leif Ahnell, Penn-Florida President Mark Gensheimer asked the city to help the developer get access to the oceanfront portion of the Ocean Strand property to build a "low-rise beach club.
"In addition, a western portion of the property would be needed for beach club parking. In addition, Gensheimer said, Penn-Florida would help develop the Ocean Strand property as a passive park. In response, and at the direction of the City Council, Ahnell wrote to the park district board, stressing the importance of Via Mizner to the downtown and "its huge economic development potential. "He said the council was interested in exploring the beach club idea and getting public input. The developer's lawyer proposed the beach club to the district in December. Although at the time, the commissioners didn't know who the lawyer was representing or what major development he was referring to, Langford said. That had been the only contact the district had with Penn-Florida, he said.
At the December meeting, the developer's representative explained that the developer would want to lease the oceanfront property for the private beach club. But many questions remain unanswered: How much land does the developer want? How much is the developer willing to pay? When would the developer want to build the beach club?And a critical question for the park district is whether it should turn over public land to a private entity that wants to develop it.
"We haven't been too aggressive about building anything out there," Langford said. "We didn't buy it to develop it. We didn't buy it for any particular use. "The district bought it because neighbors and the city didn't want the previous owners to move forward with plans to build 79 condominiums and six beachfront homes on the site.Since the purchase, the district has done very little with the property.
Early on, it removed some old homes and duplexes. But nothing else has been done. And the land gets very little use. Neighbors seem to like that. They worry a beach club would bring traffic and noise. "It's basically like a nightclub in the middle of a residential area," said Mike Graham, who lives just north of the Ocean Strand property.While he approves of the Via Mizner project Penn-Florida plans downtown, he is skeptical about the district leasing prime real estate to a developer for a fraction of what it's worth."I'd sure like to know more about it," he said. "The beaches are nice. The traffic is minimal. It's our last piece of prime ground.
"Penn-Florida stressed it would work with neighbors to create a low density, low-rise beach club that would enhance the neighborhood, said Bonnie Kaye, a Penn-Florida spokeswoman. "The plans are conceptual," she said. "Nothing is finalized because the goal is to work with the city and the neighbors in a collaborative effort. The plans are to make it a showpiece and a welcome part of the community."
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