Letter: Development out of control; Palm Beach council doesn't deserve praise

To compare projects like the Par 3 Golf Course, etc., which was initially unpopular, with projects proposed now is inaccurate because these previous ventures served residents without substantially affecting their quality of life [Editorial: “Palm Beach is not a well-kept secret anymore,” May 5, 2024].

Some of us just aren’t feeling the love from a proposed large private dining club with valet parking on Royal Palm Way to be located at the Paramount Center; however, we will be suffering from the traffic jams along with the inability of emergency vehicles to arrive at residents’ homes or hospitals in a timely manner. We are aware that we have yet to experience the traffic from many approved but incomplete projects and those presently requesting approval, as well as the deluge from West Palm Beach.

While I was happy to hear that the police can now remotely access traffic signals, recently I was stopped for several green lights near Publix because the traffic in front of me couldn’t move forward. Realistically, it appears that our traffic woes can’t be fixed by remotely controlled traffic signals or bridge-closing adjustments.

Already in the North End, we can see the results of what the developer-centric mindset has meant for residents. Our streets have become parking lots, our neighborhoods, hideous, noisy, dirty construction zones, where it may take you 10 minutes to navigate the length of your street as you dodge cranes, cement mixers and miscellaneous construction vehicles blocking your way. Some of the contractors even decided that they had control of the street and put up signs saying that no one was allowed to park on the street, threatening our cleaning lady with a $200 fine if she did so. And please don’t ever leave your car unlocked in your driveway: We heard that two were stolen on our street last year.

Of course, we shouldn’t forget the long-term aesthetic advantages of having so many McMansions on our street. When they’re completed, we’ll be able to marvel and be fascinated by the appearance of so many massive homes that appear to be struggling to escape the confines of their undersized lots. Our AT&T repairman has already commented on the mismatch between the size of the house and the lot at the home across the street.

Unfortunately, many council members rarely encounter a variance they don’t like, so, if you want to supersize your dock or return to get another variance for a swimming pool that had been approved for a variance already, step right up because you’re in the right jurisdiction. And if a concerned council member asks you what is the hardship you are suffering to entitle you to this variance, you can just answer something like you need it to entertain a 6-year-old.

While we understand that New Urbanism is where the town is most likely being directed to land and that this concept is beneficial to the real estate, development and investor complex, it certainly seems inappropriate for a narrow barrier island with limited roads along with the ability to widen them, or its residents, who didn’t choose to live in Palm Beach to be enduring big city traffic and unending construction of McMansions encroaching on setbacks and destroying the peaceful enjoyment of their former paradise. It does appear that only the most egregious projects are rejected while their somewhat pared-down substitutes will be approved.

One wonders why the shift from very strict adherence to the code that we experienced in the past to the approval of so many variances and projects that wouldn’t have been seriously considered previously. What happened to create this change of course from town-serving to development-serving? We recall being told that our swimming pool couldn’t be built during the season because of the disturbing noise. Now it appears that anything goes, all year round, and even repeated violations of the existing code requirements by contractors are routinely ignored and persist, usually without penalty.

Is this a slimmed-down version of the West Palm strategy of “we’ll just make it fit and collect massive tax revenue” or something more sinister. We understand what has been happening. But why it is happening remains elusive.

We’re relative newcomers to the development wars, but observations from watching council meetings are disturbing. For example, the disparity in treatment of someone who must receive tremendous fees from representing residents and developers who seek variances, special exceptions, etc., and who is treated with exceptional courtesy, respect and good humor while the treatment of our neighbor, who voluntarily, and with decorum, relates actual conditions on our street, is rude and dismissive. This leads to the conclusion that they really don’t want to hear from residents suffering from town-approved development.

The editorial’s finale, praising the town’s elected and appointed council, commissions and staff as doing a great job serving and protecting the town is also concerning. We can be certain that whoever wrote it doesn’t live on the North End.

This is the same group who initially failed to notice or advise traffic engineers performing a traffic study to take into account the effect of massive development across the bridge and the numerous projects that will negatively affect traffic conditions upon completion, which has necessitated a redo. A traffic study without consideration of these elements would appear to benefit development interests.

If you really love this town, you should realize that decisions you are making will permanently change its character, charm and livability along with its reputation of being truly unique among numerous destinations and resorts worldwide.

While the “why” question hasn’t been answered, it would appear that we’ll get another question answered over the remainder of this year, when we’ll know whether nothing, or anything, is going to change.

Pamela Dunston is a resident of Palm Beach's North End.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Letter: Palm Beach council is developer-centric, not town-centric