mansion - News - The Coastal Star2024-03-29T01:18:19Zhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/mansionBoca Raton: Last-minute revisions delay beach duplex discussionhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/boca-raton-last-minute-revisions-delay-beach-duplex-discussion2018-10-31T14:58:28.000Z2018-10-31T14:58:28.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960830285,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960830285,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="410" alt="7960830285?profile=original" /></a></p>
<p><strong>By Steve Plunkett</strong></p>
<p>A long-anticipated review of controversial plans to build a four-story duplex on Boca Raton’s beach has been delayed indefinitely.<br />The city’s Environmental Advisory Board was scheduled to review the proposal for 2600 N. Ocean Blvd. on Oct. 18, but its meeting was canceled Oct. 12.<br />“The applicant for 2600 submitted last-minute revisions to the plans that required review by staff and the consultant,” city spokeswoman Chrissy Gibson said. “I don’t have an estimate on how long that might take, but the item will be rescheduled for EAB when staff and consultants have had time to review the changes.”<br />Property owner Grand Bank N.A. proposes building each side of its 14,270-square-foot duplex with four bedrooms, five and one-half baths, a glass elevator and a four-car garage, according to Delray Beach-based Azure Development, which is marketing the site. The duplex would also have a 40-foot boardwalk and a rooftop swimming pool.<br />The site needs the Boca Raton City Council to grant a variance for building seaward of Florida’s restrictive Coastal Construction Control Line. The City Charter directs the Environmental Advisory Board to advise council members “on the environmental impact of proposed developments which contain environmentally sensitive lands, listed species, or wetlands … and to recommend ways in which adverse environmental impact might be minimized.”<br />The idea of building on the beach erupted into public view in 2015 when the council approved a variance for the owner of 2500 N. Ocean Blvd. two lots south to build a four-story, 10,432-square-foot “mini-mansion.” <br />Both lots are east of State Road A1A between Spanish River Park and the undeveloped Ocean Strand parcel.<br />“2500 is under review and has not been scheduled,” Gibson said. <br />The council’s newest member, Andy Thomson, reported Oct. 23 that a lawyer for 2600 N. Ocean told him the owner is still willing to sell the lot. The council told city staff to ask if the price has come down.</p></div>Boca Raton: Beach building plan set for environmental reviewhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/boca-raton-beach-building-plan-set-for-environmental-review2018-10-03T14:21:12.000Z2018-10-03T14:21:12.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><strong>By Sallie James</strong></p>
<p>A plan to build a controversial 49-foot-tall, 14,270-square-foot duplex and a mansion on the north end of Boca Raton’s beach is slated for review Oct. 18 by the city’s Environmental Advisory Board. <br /> The EAB advises the Planning and Zoning Board and the City Council about the possible environmental impact of proposed development and recommends ways to minimize adverse environmental impacts.<br />Exactly what can be built on privately owned oceanfront property has been a hot topic in Boca Raton since 2015, when a four-story mega-mansion was tentatively approved for an undersized oceanfront parcel at 2500 N. Ocean Blvd. <br />The duplex is proposed to be built at 2600 N. Ocean Blvd.<br /> Residents complained at the time that the structure would change the face of the beach, disorient nesting sea turtles and set a precedent for more development. That project has not yet been constructed.<br /> “It’s a big deal,” said Councilwoman Andrea O’Rourke. “I understand the staff is not recommending it. The EAB will then have to take the staff report into consideration, their own findings into consideration and what the petitioner wants to build there. Then the EAB makes a recommendation that will ultimately come to City Council.” <br /> O’Rourke was not on the City Council when the first residence was approved in 2015. She said it was that approval that spurred her to eventually run for City Council.<br /> “At the time I was up in arms,” O’Rourke said.<br /> The EAB will base its recommendation on environmental impact, she said.<br /> “It’s just a question of whether the land is viable to build on,” O’Rourke said.<br /> City resident Jessica Gray formed the group Boca Save Our Beaches after the first project was proposed, and has been vocal in her opposition to any beachside construction.<br /> “We need to preserve what is left of nature for future generations, and respect the habitat of other organisms, who lived here first,” Gray said. <br /> Boca Save Our Beaches opposes both projects and posts its opposition regularly on Facebook.<br /> “Here you have it: a green sign of death at 2600 N. Ocean. Coming soon, construction at a beach near you!!” read an August post. “Once our beaches are gone, we can never get them back. Say no to $$$$ and yes to the environment.”<br /> The proposed structure for 2600 N. Ocean Blvd. is imposing. Each side of the duplex will have four bedrooms, five full baths, one half-bath, a glass elevator and a four-car garage, according to Delray Beach-based Azure Development, which is marketing the site. It would also have a 40-foot boardwalk and a rooftop swimming pool. <br />No sale price has been set for the duplex.<br /> Gray is especially concerned about the long-term impact on endangered sea turtles.<br /> “When the 2500 and the 2600 N. Ocean structures are completed, the turtles nesting on the property will be forced to nest closer to the erosion control line, which would put them at more risk of destruction by wave action and washout,” she said.<br /> Gray is also worried about erosion if the dunes are compromised due to construction.<br /> “The dunes of 2500 and 2600 will be permanently destroyed and almost nonexistent. Dune systems protect existing buildings west of the Coastal Construction Control Line during storms,” she noted. “When a large dune is not present, more damage is done by wind and water to the west side of A1A.”</p></div>Boca Raton: Planned seaside mansion leads city to explore beach property acquisitionshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/boca-raton-planned-seaside-mansion-leads-city-to-explore-beach-pr2015-12-30T17:30:00.000Z2015-12-30T17:30:00.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p><strong>By Sallie James</strong><br /> <br /> A city decision to allow construction of a four-story beachside mega-mansion on an undersized oceanfront parcel is having a ripple effect.<br /> In the wake of the controversial Dec. 8 City Council decision, the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District has agreed to identify all privately owned, buildable beachfront properties, obtain available market values for the parcels and find out if council members would support an acquisition if it had public value.<br /> “I am certainly not opposed to evaluating the possible acquisition of what beachfront property is available and how it could be used by the public,” said Commissioner Robert K. Rollins. “Let’s make sure we have the consensus of the City Council for us to move forward with this. They are our partner and would be responsible for going through with a bond issue.”<br /> The discussion on beachfront property was spurred by a Dec. 16 letter from Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie requesting the district take such action. What could be built on privately owned oceanfront property has been a hot topic in Boca since the mega-mansion was approved for 2500 N. Ocean Blvd.<br /> City Council members on Dec. 8 reversed a Zoning Board of Adjustment decision that prohibited construction of the 10,000-square-foot house. The Zoning Board of Adjustment had refused to approve variances for property width and front yard setbacks.<br /> City Council members defended their decision, claiming the city would likely face litigation because more than a dozen such variances had been approved in the past.<br /> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960620683,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960620683,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="296" alt="7960620683?profile=original" /></a> Outraged residents warned that the four-story house would forever change the face of the beach, disorient nesting sea turtles, and set a precedent for future development.<br /> Originally, property owner Natural Lands LLC had sought two variances to build the 10,432-square-foot house: an 11.5-foot variance from the minimum lot width of 100 feet; and a 14.7-foot variance from the minimum front yard setback of 25 feet.<br /> When the issue was appealed to City Council on Dec. 8, the request for a front yard setback was dropped. Natural Lands LLC attorney Charles Siemon told the council the house was a “reasonable” use for the nonconforming parcel and the width variance was essential to make an economically beneficial use of the property.<br /> Resident George O’Rourke said the city’s decision to approve the huge house on a nonconforming lot instantly increased the value of other beachside properties.<br /> “What they have effectively done is made the (undeveloped) property more valuable. And now the mayor is suggesting that another entity (the district) buy remaining surrounding properties,” O’Rourke said. “What they have done is create extra value in these other properties now.”<br /> Jack Fox, president of the Beach Condominium Association of Boca Raton and Highland Beach, was pleased to learn the district will begin researching the availability of undeveloped, privately owned beachfront properties.<br /> “We were shocked the city would vote 4-1 to reverse the decision of their own zoning board,” Fox said. Fox said his condo association had worked with the city to get beach lighting reduced to better protect nesting sea turtles, noting that the city had even embedded lights in the roadway to help reduce area lighting.<br /> “Here we are, after doing all that work, and someone wants to plop a 10,000-square-foot residence right on the beach that will have big windows and spread light everywhere,” Fox said. “The last thing we wanted was this monstrous residence built on these beaches.” Ú</p></div>