RPB SETS REWARD TO CATCH VANDALS SEE STORY, PAGE 3
ANOTHER TOUGH BUDGET FOR COUNTY SEE STORY, PAGE 7
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TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
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Referendum Will Ask RPB Voters To OK Three-Year Terms
Volume 35, Number 24 June 13 - June 19, 2014
Serving Palms West Since 1980
THE PHILIPPINE SUMMER FESTIVAL
In a 3-2 decision, the Royal Palm Beach Village Council approved a referendum last week that will ask voters to increase council members’ terms from two to three years. The referendum will take place next March. Page 3
Amphitheater Kicks Off Summer Concert And Food Trucks Series
It was a full house for the kickoff event of the new Tribute Concerts & Food Trucks series at the Wellington Amphitheater on Saturday, June 7. The evening started with a tribute to Frank Sinatra and was followed by a tribute to 1950s music. There was plenty of dancing, singing and snacking. Page 5
The Philippine American Society presented its 2014 Philippine Summer Festival on Saturday, June 7 at Yesteryear Village on the South Florida Fairgrounds. The festival was dedicated to Filipinos who were affected by Typhoon Haiyan last November. Guests enjoyed traditional costumes, food and music, as well as games, carnival rides and vendors. Shown here, participants get ready to parade in traditional clothing. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 10 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
RPB Postpones Resolution To Hear Minto West Presentation
Wellington Art Society Hosts ‘Meet The Artists’
Wellington Art Society held “Meet the Artists,” a juried summer art show and artists’ reception, on Tuesday, June 10 at the gallery inside the Wellington Municipal Complex. There are 25 original works of art on display for the summer. Page 16
OPINION Let Traditional Schools Keep Money For Arts
Palm Beach County is considering a referendum that, if passed by voters, would continue the existing .25-mill property tax levy that has helped fund cashstrapped schools. Last week, the Palm Beach County Commission postponed approval of the referendum when charter school representatives came forward to ask that they be included in the revenue sharing. While it might be necessary to change the wording of the referendum, changing the formula is a bad idea. Page 4
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By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Royal Palm Beach Village Council postponed approval of a resolution last week opposing the controversial Minto West project. Minto Communities Inc. has requested comprehensive plan amendments from Palm Beach County that would allow for more than double the currently allowed intensity of use on the 3,900acre former Callery-Judge Grove property. The Palm Beach County Commission is expected to hold hearings on the project this summer and fall. The site, which is designated by the state as an agricultural enclave, has current approvals for 2,996 homes and 235,000 square feet of commercial space. Minto recently applied to revise the comprehensive plan to allow 6,500 residential units and 1.4 million square feet of non-residential space on the site. A resolution before the Royal
Palm Beach council May 5 would have formally opposed the proposed amendments because it would negatively affect village residents. Vice Mayor Dave Swift asked to have the resolution proposed by Mayor Matty Mattioli pulled off the consent agenda for discussion. “I’m concerned that we have such an important topic to all the western communities on the consent agenda,” Swift said. “This needs to be discussed by the council with information that we can have a dialogue.” Swift also asked why the village had not invited Minto representatives to make a presentation on the proposed development. “We need to know how this development affects our roads, transportation and drainage systems, and what, if any, benefits this development could provide for our residents,” Swift said. “My goal is to get the facts.” Swift said he would also like
to have an experienced negotiator, such as Village Manager Ray Liggins, sitting at the table with county staff and other affected parties to address not only how Minto West will affect the area, but also other developments slated for construction, including GL Homes, Avenir and Highland Dunes. “Bottom line is we need to support a regional planning approach to solve the traffic and drainage problems associated with these projects,” Swift said. “The mayor’s resolution does not do this.” Swift said that if the council felt it must pass a resolution opposing Minto West, he recommended one similar to the one approved recently by the Indian Trail Improvement District. “I took the liberty of drafting an alternate resolution,” Swift said. That resolution strongly urged the county commission to take whatever action is necessary to address on a regional, multi-jurisSee MINTO WEST, page 7
New Principals Tapped For Wellington El, Emerald Cove
By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington Elementary School and Emerald Cove Middle School will have new principals this coming school year. Dr. Eugina Smith Feaman is moving from Wellington Elementary to Emerald Cove, where she will be replacing Dr. Nancy Lucas, who is retiring. Maria Vaughan, who has been working in the Area 3 office as an instructional support team leader, will take over for Feaman at Wellington Elementary. After three years at Wellington Elementary, Feaman has quite a few memories and feels she is leaving behind a strong legacy. “The school was already an excellent school,” she said. “I think that the love that I have for the
children and for them to succeed, and for the staff to succeed, and for the parents to see the success of their children — I think that’s the legacy that I’ll leave.” Under Feaman’s leadership, the school moved from a B rating to an A, which she considers a great accomplishment. The literacy night at the Wellington library this year provided a lasting memory for her. The school had a scavenger hunt there, and students came with their parents and grandparents to participate. “With everyone coming together — staff members, community, parents, students — I think that’s probably my fondest memory,” Feaman said, recalling the smiles on the children’s faces. As she hands over the keys,
Feaman wants to remind the students about her morning news segment, “Words of Wisdom.” Her final words for the children are a reminder, “to make every day a great day, to make sure that they are doing the right thing, that they are trying their hardest and that they are giving their best every single day.” As principal, Feaman always tried to do what is best for the children, and that is a practice she recommends to Vaughan as she takes over as principal. Wellington Elementary isn’t going to be completely new for Vaughan, who is already acquainted with many of the staff, teachers, parents and students. “I was at Wellington Elementary See PRINCIPALS, page 7
Tougher Code Penalties Divide Wellington Council
By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report The decision to deny developers building permits if they have open code enforcement cases divided the Wellington Village Council on Tuesday night. In a 3-2 decision, council members pushed the ordinance forward but asked staff to look into its legality before its final reading. Florida state law may require construction permits to be issued if a project complies with building codes. Councilwoman Anne Gerwig and Councilman Howard Coates dissented, asking for the item to be tabled while the issue is discussed. “We don’t have the ability to supersede state law,” Gerwig said. “If we’re going to be pre-empted from doing this, I’d rather know now.” The ordinance is an attempt by Wellington to prevent property owners with outstanding code violations from getting building permits or project approvals. In the past, council members have expressed frustration, mostly with larger developers, who they say have ignored code violations with no penalty.
Growth Management Director Bob Basehart told council members that the change in the code would allow Wellington to not issue permits or even suspend permits on property where there are outstanding violations. He stressed that a violation means the issue has already gone before the special magistrate. “It’s only if the special magistrate has already ruled,” Basehart said. “There is no suspension of permits or refusal to issue permits on cases that are pending.” But if the special magistrate has ruled the property in violation, Wellington could suspend permits and not allow the property to be used. “No activity could occur until the violation is resolved,” Basehart said. Gerwig said she read the Florida statutes about permitting, which says the village has to issue a permit if the property meets state building codes. “Do you know anything about that?” she asked Village Attorney Laurie Cohen. Cohen said she did not. “I can See CODE, page 16
MBSK FUNDRAISER
My Brothers’/Sisters’ Keeper Charitable Trust held a fundraising dinner Sunday, June 8 at Asador Patagonia restaurant in Royal Palm Beach. There were Argentine tango and folk dancing performances, as well as a live auction. Shown here are the auction’s “Sheriff for a Day” winners. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 17 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
Eastwood Canal Project Will Go Ahead As Planned
By Lauren Miró Town-Crier Staff Report Trees in the Eastwood community blocking Wellington’s canal right of way probably will be cut down this summer so workers can complete a canal maintenance project in the area. Despite protests from some residents, members of the Wellington Village Council gave the go-ahead on the project, which is part of drainage improvements to help water flow throughout the village. “At the end of the day, you recognize what has to be done,” Councilman Matt Willhite said. “Work the best you can. Try to impact the residents as little as possible, but make sure the rest of our homeowners are not affected by the fact that the canal has to be worked on to improve drainage [throughout Wellington].” During a presentation Tuesday
night, Public Works Director Mitch Fleury told council members that village staff wants to dredge the canal and must remove any trees or other objects within 25 feet of the canal bank. Trees, fences and bushes are blocking the way, some of them even growing atop major water mains, he said. “Even if it’s just one tree on the canal, we won’t be able to go down it,” Fleury said. Although Wellington owns the property within 35 feet of the canal, many residents have allowed plants and trees to grow, and some have put up fences blocking the easement. “[Village Engineer] Bill Riebe asked for 35 feet — 25 feet is our compromise,” Fleury said. The village has already completed several similar projects in communities across Wellington See EASTWOOD, page 4
FDOT Engineer Reports All’s Well For SR 7 Extension
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Florida Department of Transportation Project Engineer Beatriz Caicedo-Madison reported Wednesday that plans for the State Road 7 extension to Northlake Blvd. appear to remain secure. Caicedo-Madison, speaking at a meeting of the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors, recalled the public hearing March 21, 2012 at the South Florida Fairgrounds where residents of The Acreage and other interested communities overwhelmingly favored the project. “It’s incredible,” Caicedo-Madison said. “Two years ago already.
It was a tremendous event. Actually, an unusual event for this kind of project.” She said about 800 people attended the event, divided between SR 7 pros and cons. “I actually thought you were very well-behaved,” CaicedoMadison said. “We received about 5,000 comments, cards that we had to review, read, and now we have to submit to the Federal Highway Administration just to let them know we had that public meeting.” Since that meeting, FDOT has been coordinating the plan with other agencies, especially the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “One of the issues is that we
are close to areas where the [endangered] snail kite is found,” she said, explaining that under the Environmental Protection Act, the Federal Highway Administration is required to receive a biological opinion from U.S. Fish & Wildlife for environmentally sensitive roads before it releases funding. “That biological opinion states that the project will not affect the bird or any other species that is endangered,” Caicedo-Madison said. “This is why it’s taking this long.” She said a lot of controversy has also surrounded the project, which runs along the west side of the West Palm Beach Water Catchment Area.
“We have been addressing the issues related to possible contamination of the waters,” she said, explaining that design features will contain any highway spills. In order to get the biological opinion, FDOT had to develop a mitigation plan, and part of that included some right of way it owned for future road expansion and buffering. “We are going to release that to be under preserve,” CaicedoMadison said. “Also, north of Northlake, there is another portion of the range line that we are also going to release for conservation.” She said releasing that land to conservation — originally re-
quired by the South Florida Water Management District as a buffer — also reduces the footprint of the highway. During the public hearing, the City of West Palm Beach requested that FDOT look at possible corridors farther west, she said, adding that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also made that recommendation. “The department decided to do some analysis, and we call it the Corridor Addendum,” CaicedoMadison said. “The analysis was done using 60th Street going west and then using 130th and 140th avenues to See ITID, page 7