The stretch of land east of the Palmetto Park Bridge is home to a close knit and diverse community of families with one common goal: preserving our beach lifestyle and sharing this federally protected natural resource with our winter visitors. Dotted with ancient buttonwood trees, mangroves and rare nesting turtles, the area and the beach itself belong to everyone who calls this city home.
The history of Boca Raton is written in the sand from East Palmetto Park Road to 40th Street.
The residents of the barrier island welcome a place of worship to our neighborhood, but we are not quite sure what we are getting. To date, the city of Boca Raton has not required a traffic impact study for the unknown number of cars and buses bringing museum visitors, students and people using the cafe, gift shop and day care [of the 18,000-square-foot Chabad expansion project].
Boca Raton Fire Rescue located on A1A has not been asked to weigh in regarding safety and officials have not been asked about the ramifications of bridge openings and what that will do to an already horrendous traffic situation during seasonal months.
Local citizens have had to dip into their pockets to hire a legal team to bring some clarity on the proposal.
City Council has sent the project back to Planning and Zoning for another review. We hope all aspects of the complex will be studied carefully and adjustment made where necessary.
Crowds wearing “Pro 770” T-shirts will be marching over to City Hall on May 7 for the Planning and Zoning hearing. Once again, Boca Raton residents will be shut out. Concerned citizens are being labeled a “nasty name” by some who are hoping to see the plans pass as they currently stand.
We are not against a house of worship. We are attempting only to preserve the ambiance of our seaside community and enjoy the quiet of our beachside lifestyle.
Decades of Boca Raton residents have preserved our coastal neighborhood and we are determined to leave the same legacy for generations to come.
Surf’s up dudes!
Those interested in additional information are asked to visit http://Save BocaBeaches.com.
Katie and Ian MacDougall
Boca Raton

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