News

By Steve Plunkett

Roads in the town’s core district won’t be torn up in 2022 or 2024, but get ready for detours in most of 2023.
Gulf Stream commissioners decided on Aug. 13 to make improvements to streets, drainage and water mains on both the west and east sides of the core area of town instead of spreading the work out over three years. Construction will begin in January 2023 and end 11 months later.
Commissioners were pleased to be told that they might save 5% on the roadwork construction costs by combining the core-area projects and that the town has enough money to pay for the work without borrowing.
“We’ve got a very healthy fund balance in the general fund. We have the money,” said Rebecca Tew, the town’s chief financial officer.
At their Sept. 10 meeting commissioners learned that motorcycle companies are seeking a zoning change in Delray Beach to allow dealerships east of Federal Highway and north of George Bush Boulevard, where automakers already have showrooms backing up to Place au Soleil.
Assistant Town Attorney Trey Nazzaro said the chosen area, if approved, would have minimal effect on Delray Beach residents.
“Therefore it’s going to impact us the most,” he said, promising a vigorous lobbying effort against the change.
In other business in August and September, commissioners:
• Adopted the rollback rate, $3.67 per $1,000 of taxable value, for fiscal 2022, which began Oct. 1, meaning the town will take in the same amount of property taxes as it did the previous year. Gulf Stream has adopted the rollback rate or below for the past six years.
• Rejected an appeal from 3247 Polo Drive to not have to replace a 25-foot gumbo limbo tree. New owner Graham Conklin said the tree was cut down before he bought the property in January. Town staff said it was removed Jan. 14. The Architectural Review and Planning Board had ruled he must remove a stump and plant a suitable replacement.
• Approved a request by The Little Club to build two pickleball courts 600 feet from the nearest neighbors. An earlier application for courts only 50 feet from residences had been denied.