News

By Tim Pallesen

    The long-awaited Trader Joe’s shopping center goes before city commissioners July 9, but still with concerns that shoppers might not have enough parking.
    The city’s Site Plan Review and Appearance Board on June 12 finally recommended approval for the Delray Place shopping center, on the southeast corner of Linton Boulevard and Federal Highway, after 18 months of controversy and delays.
    Trader Joe’s is eager to compete with a new Fresh Market under construction across the street.
    But SPRAB Chairman Scott Porten, who studied the demand for parking at other Trader Joe’s locations, warned that the new Delray Beach location might require more parking spaces than the developer is willing to provide.
    “I don’t think the parking works,” Porten told developer Joe Carosella. “If your center is successful, you will have parking problems.”
    Board member Rustem Kupi agreed. “Parking is going to be a nightmare,” he predicted.
    After the meeting, Porten said the highly popular specialty grocer is drawing unexpectedly large crowds wherever it opens.
    “When I researched, I learned Trader Joe’s is having inadequate-parking problems all over the country,” he said.
    But Porten, the incoming chairman of the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, joined a chorus of business leaders to praise the overall Delray Place project, which also will have Dick’s Sporting Goods and several restaurants as tenants.
    “This project will kick-start redevelopment on the South Federal Highway corridor,” city Economic Development Director Vin Nolan said.
    “The developer has done what is prudent and then some,” SPRAB board member Jose Aquila said. “I think it’s time to say thank you.”
    “We need to cut to the chase and get this going,” said Kelli Freeman, president of the Tropic Isle Homeowners Association.
    The Tropic Isle neighborhood had been split over the next-door shopping center, with the closest homeowners objecting to it. But Ron Kolins, the attorney for 12 families who opposed Delray Place, reported June 12 that all but one homeowner now favors the project after negotiations with the developer. “Our issues have been satisfactorily resolved,” Kolins said.
    The lone holdout, Nancy Schnabel, appealed to the advisory board. “Please help us. This is a real intrusion on our lifestyle,” she said.
    But her next-door neighbor Steve Michael said Delray Place will improve his quality of life. “These developers are quality guys. This center will be a great addition to our area,” Michael said.
    The advisory board fussed with the developer over the design that motorists will see at the intersection of Linton and Federal Highway, striving to achieve what city planner Ron Hoggard described as an “importance to the site.”
    Everyone agreed a fountain with a colonnade and clock tower will do. Trader Joe’s and other tenants must post their signs away from the corner.