News

South Palm Beach Election: Candidates

By Tim O’Meilia

The South Palm Beach Town Council unanimously rejected a third attempt by owners of the Palm Beach Oceanfront Inn to change the town’s land use plan to allow a 10-story, 99-unit motel-condominium.
Inn co-owner Pjeter Paloka blasted town officials for not notifying him that the item would be on the Feb. 22 agenda. “It’s further proof that it is impossible for the Inn property to have a fair hearing,” Paloka told the council.
Town Attorney Brad Biggs said the proposal was advertised according to law in the Feb. 14 edition of The Palm Beach Post and that applicants typically are aware of when their proposals will be considered. The Inn item was listed on the meeting agenda.
Paloka also complained that he tried to withdraw the proposal earlier in February.  Biggs said Paloka failed to fill out a formal withdrawal form as required by law. Town Clerk Janet Whipple said a motel representative picked up the form Feb. 11, but it was never returned.
Paloka said he was not prepared to present his plan at the meeting because he had not been notified. The council rejected it with little discussion on its merits. The proposal was nearly identical to the 2009 redevelopment plan that was turned down by the council. A 14-story plan was rejected in 2007.
The town’s Planning Board recommended denial by a 3-2 vote in December. The denial by the council means the Inn cannot apply for a change in the town’s land use plan for a year.
The 50-year-old motel is the only commercial building in town. The Inn, which has two stories, 58 units and a restaurant and bar, has been a lightning rod of controversy since the Palokas first applied for changes five years ago.
While supporters said it would be an upgrade and greatly increase property tax revenue for the town, opponents said it would increase traffic, dwarf nearby condominiums and cut off the neighbors’ oceanfront view.
On March 8, town voters will consider two charter changes that would make it more difficult for the Inn to redevelop. Approving the amendments would limit the height of new buildings east of State Road A1A to 60 feet and would prohibit additional or expanded nonresidential buildings, except public buildings.
In other business, the council learned that a $15 million to $25 million breakwater project won’t begin until 2013, if any money can be found to pay for it.
“We have funding for the design and permits. There is no funding for the project itself,” said Leanne Welch of Palm Beach County’s Department of Environmental Resources Management.
The 1.3-mile project would stretch from southern Palm Beach to the Ritz Carlton resort in Manalapan.
Sixteen visible breakwaters averaging 120 feet long would be placed 200 to 250 feet off shore. Instead of breakwaters, nine 115-foot submerged groins would be placed in front of the Lantana public beach.
Neither the county, the state nor the federal Corps of Engineers has money budgeted for the project. “There is no money for breakwaters,” Welch said. “Our only hope is FEMA and that’s only in case of a hurricane and no one wants that.”
The final design is nearly complete and Welch said the county plans to apply for state and federal permits in the next two months. However, the first draft of an environmental impact study will not be completed until December.
“We need to get the permit finalized, then duke it out for the money,” said Councilman Brian Merbler, who had led the town’s effort to obtain more protection against erosion.
Welch agreed. “The best way to get funding is to have a permit,” she said. State officials want to know “are
you shovel-ready?”