August 2023
Serving Hypoluxo Island, South Palm Beach, Manalapan, Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes, Gulf Stream and Coastal Delray Beach
Volume 16 Issue 8
Along the Coast
Boynton outpaces Boca, Delray in downtown density
Five projects in the pipeline to add thousands more residents
By Larry Barszewski When Boynton Beach commissioners approved reduced height limits in January for new buildings downtown, they weren’t so much slamming the brakes on growth as they were gently tapping them. There already are more people per square mile living in or near downtown Boynton Beach than in either Delray Beach’s or
Boca Raton’s downtown — and the city has approved developments in the pipeline that will pack thousands more into the heart of what was once a fishing village. “I’m concerned about the traffic. We have so much traffic already that even when it’s off season, it still feels like it’s in season,” said Boynton Beach Vice Mayor Thomas Turkin, who proposed the reduced heights last year. “I think Boynton Beach is at a very crucial
stage of growth. We’ve already had a bunch of projects approved. Once you start, you can’t go back.” A breakdown of downtown and neardowntown population figures from 2020 U.S. Census tract data shows Boynton Beach with the highest density of South County’s three largest downtowns, followed by Boca Raton’s and then Delray Beach’s: See DENSITY on page 24
Sargassum shift
Unexpected departure of mass is (mostly) good news for coast By Jane Musgrave
When a giant blob of seagrass that fouled area beaches in May and June suddenly dissipated, coastal municipal leaders breathed deep sighs of relief. To the admitted surprise of researchers, who predicted Florida beaches would be inundated with the smelly stuff all summer, the giant mass of sargassum all but disappeared from the Gulf of Mexico and moved significantly away from the east coast of Florida. Calling the retreat “beyond expectation,” oceanographers at the University of South Florida acknowledged that no people would be disappointed that they would not have to share the beach with the large brown clumps that smell like rotten eggs and make swimming unpleasant. “This trend may continue in the next two to
Students attending Waves Surf Academy’s camp at Delray Breakers on the Ocean keep cool while combing sargassum for sea critters. From left are Jenna Miranda, Delray Beach, Hazel Aurelien, Boynton Beach, Mason See SARGASSUM on page 9 Miranda, Delray Beach, Mary Junghans, Montana, and Lena Winikoff, Boca Raton. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Delray Beach
A swale idea? City ponders telling drivers to keep off grass
By Larry Barszewski Delray Beach doesn’t want you parking in swales — the grassy areas along streets in front of homes and businesses — because it could ruin the grass and hamper storm drainage. The city might even make it illegal. But not just yet. At their July 18 meeting, city
commissioners balked at approving a one-sentence change to the city’s ordinances that would have outlawed parking in swales, but they told staff to do more work on the subject and bring back a plan before the end of the year. The proposed ban was designed to satisfy homeowners tired of seeing the lawns in front of their homes torn up by cars parking there, or having the grass
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST PALM BCH FL PERMIT NO 4595
killed by cars continually parking over the same spots. Staff said there was also an environmental benefit: The weight of the cars compacts the ground in swales and makes them less effective at their primary mission of draining storm water that collects on the streets. “A lot of phone calls have come in from people who’ve had the area in front
Cultural Council show highlights women artists. Page AT7
of their property damaged by people parking on their swales,” City Engineer Patrick Figurella said. “This ordinance is an attempt to deal with a lot of requests for ‘No Parking’ signs.” But commissioners feared the ordinance would rile many residents and businesses who use swales to park their own vehicles, or for cars of people See SWALE on page 12
Roadside cameras
Mango sadness
It may be the last season for Hatcher. Page AT1
Cities, towns share license tag info. Page 23
Prime wahoo season
August full moons bring the best time to catch the fish. Page AT17