1. ARC-23-090 (ZON-23-068) 206 CARIBBEAN RD (COMBO) The applicant, Walter Wick, has filed an application requesting Architectural Commission review and approval for construction of a new two-story residence with landscape, hardscape and pool on a nonconforming parcel. This is a combination project that shall also be reviewed by Town Council as it pertains to zoning relief/approval.
 
Dear ARCOM Members,
Please include the attached document from Chapter 134 of The Town of Palm Beach RB Zoning Purposes, to my (Alison Reed) previous letter opposing the current design of the new build at 206 Caribbean Road. The highlighted portions of Section 134-897 paragraph (a)(2) describe compatibility of the structure to the site, adjacent properties and the neighborhood as well as the protections allowed to neighboring owners.
Thank you for your continuing consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
Alison V. Reed
1520 N. Ocean Blvd.
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Public Comment, Town of Palm Beach Admin
admin
over 1 year ago
Received via email on 8.18.23:
Please let this email stand as support for the proposed residence at 206 Caribbean that will be presented to ARCOM on August 23rd. I am a neighbor in the 300 foot radius. I understand there are some neighbors who are objecting to a 2 story residence here. In my opinion, the house that was previously on this property was an eyesore, almost condemnable, and the proposed residence is very tasteful and fits in the neighborhood. The property owners should be allowed to build a 2 story residence on this site, it is allowed by Code. I am sure ARCOM will do what they feel is warranted with massing or design revisions, but my basic support is that a 2 story residence be allowed as the property owners have this property right. Thank you for your consideration.
Best, Maura Ziska Christu
1500 North Ocean Boulevard
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Received via email 7.25.23:
Dear Members of the Town of Palm Beach ARCOM:
My friend and neighbor Walter Wick asked me to comment on his proposed home for 206 Caribbean Road. My wife and I live at 250 Indian Road, but we are nonetheless very familiar with his proposed property two blocks away because we walk our two dogs down the complete length of Caribbean Road every single morning and many evenings! Caribbean is a lovely street with ample charm composed of new and older properties.
My friend Walter is a longtime resident of Palm Beach and a very family-oriented and committed member of our community. His proposed new home, which meets the code and requires no variances, fits well with the neighborhood, is attractive, and will be a very beautiful improvement on what is currently an incongruous looking plot of empty grass on an otherwise attractive block.
I request that you approve his application especially so that he can get on about moving into his sparkling new house!
Many thanks,
Tad Smith
Received via email on 7.27.23:
Mayor and Members of ARCOM and Town Council,
As a neighbor in the North End and resident in Palm Beach, I have reviewed the plans for 206 Caribbean Road and find the design to meet all requirements of the current code. The applicant is also a resident in the North End and has great appreciation for our family friendly neighborhood. This new home will add charm and beauty to the Caribbean streetscape.
Please approve this application for 206 Caribbean Road.
Thank you,
Kevin McGann
North End Resident
Received via email on 8.21.23:
Dear ARCOM Members,
Please include the attached document from Chapter 134 of The Town of Palm Beach RB Zoning Purposes, to my (Alison Reed) previous letter opposing the current design of the new build at 206 Caribbean Road. The highlighted portions of Section 134-897 paragraph (a)(2) describe compatibility of the structure to the site, adjacent properties and the neighborhood as well as the protections allowed to neighboring owners.
Thank you for your continuing consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
Alison V. Reed
1520 N. Ocean Blvd.
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Received 7.25.23:
Mayor and Members of ARCOM and Town Council,
As a neighbor in the North End and resident in Palm Beach, I have seen the plans for 206 Caribbean Road and find the design to meet all requirements. The Wick’s are also residents in the North End and have great appreciation for our family friendly neighborhood (and adorable grand children!) This new home will look wonderful on the street.
Please approve this application for 206 Caribbean Road.
Warmly,
Louise Carter
Resident Address: 1465 Laurie Lane
Received via email 8.18.23:
Mayor and Members of ARCOM and Town Council,
We are writing in support of building plans under consideration for 206 Caribbean Road in our North End neighborhood on Palm Beach.
After seeing the plans for the property, we are in favor of the Wicks proposed home. We feel the home is an excellent example of responsible architecture and maintains the character and charm of our neighborhood. In addition, the Wicks have always been excellent neighbors, and have impeccable standards.
Thank you for your work and consideration,
Taylor Barton Smith
210 Debra Lane
Palm Beach, Florida
33480
Received via email 8.16.23:
Members of ARCOM,
I am a six-year resident owner living directly across the street from the 206 Caribbean Rd. property. I am in agreement with all of the surrounding neighbors that the proposed structure is too big for the lot size and will look very dissimilar to our existing houses. My home is on a conforming lot size of 100’ x 130’ and is 3,900 square feet under air. The proposed structure is on a lot size of 9,750 and is planned to be nearly 4,200 square feet under air. This oversized structure will significantly and directly impair the quality of life for the adjacent neighbors and diminish the charm of our neighborhood.
I request that you do not approve this design and urge the owner to build a structure to a smaller size, more in proportion to the lot size, to protect the character of our neighborhood.
Thank you,
Michael Selverian
211 Caribbean Rd.
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Dear ARCOM Members,
As a decades long neighbor of 206 Caribbean, sharing 130 ft. of property boundary, I am greatly concerned with the oversized mass, height and proximity of the proposed new build, and the negative effects it will impose on my interior and exterior living spaces.
My adjacent property is on roughly the same size non conforming lot as 206 Caribbean, with a 1931 sq. ft. house facing North Ocean Blvd. The bulk of my house is built within 10-15 ft. of my west side fence line, with yard, pool and patio to the south and east. The proposed build for 206 Caribbean has loaded the mass of the 2 story house, with minimum setbacks, along this same west side fence line. To further add insult to injury, two balconies with full French doors, have been positioned on the second floor, directly above this fence line, overlooking my patio, pool, and yard. With a 27 ft high roof line, built atop an 8 ft. base slab, the total height of the build is 35 ft. from street level. This will tower over my house and exterior property, intruding on both my interior privacy and that of of my yard, pool and patio as well as obscuring my western exposure to sunlight and spectacular open air views.
This proposed build, at nearly 4,200 sq. ft., on a non conforming 9,750 sq. ft. lot., is twice the size of any other house on a non conforming lot on Caribbean and the surrounding streets. It is bigger still than most houses on even larger, conforming interior lots. As such, it is entirely dissimilar to and not in keeping with the surrounding homes in the neighborhood.
Due to the 75 ft. narrowness of these non conforming lots, care and architectural creativity should be employed to ensure that multiple adjacent properties are not unduly burdened with overbuilt, intrusive structures that rob neighbors of their privacy and peaceful enjoyment of their property. The proposed build at 206 Caribbean has done little to respect these tenets that have long been the hallmark appeal of North End properties, now fast disappearing with outsized, cookie cutter development homes.
The residents of Caribbean and nearby streets are in favor of proportionally scaled houses within their lot size and surrounding homes. We value the low profile character of homes and open air spaces in the North End, which is what drew many of us here to begin with. Preserving a balance between new builds and existing homes is paramount to maintaining the uniqueness and charm of our neighborhood communities. I would urge the developer of 206 Caribbean to rethink the design and size of the proposed build, taking care to be respectful of neighboring properties and the surrounding character of our very special and much cherished community.
Thank you for your consideration and review of this matter.
Sincerely,
Alison Reed
1520 N. Ocean Blvd
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Received via email 8.17.23:
Dear Members of ARCOM and Director Bergman,
We are writing about the proposed home on a non-conforming lot located next door at 206 Caribbean Road.
206 Caribbean Road is a narrow lot at 75’ wide and the proposed 2-story house is 4,139 sf. Its narrow width pushes the second story mass on its abusing neighbors on the east and south side. The proposed design has maxed out the CCR and maxed out the lot coverage. It has placed a gym on the second floor (future bedroom?) and designed a very large family room and a large kitchen on the first floor, as well as a large pool. Perhaps shrinking the rooms on the first floor and moving the gym downstairs near the pool would help reduce its negative impact on neighbors. We don’t oppose the pool being on our side of the home, however, we think the home is too large for the narrow, non-conforming lot and too dissimilar to its neighbors with similar sized lots. While we are grateful the two-story mass is not on our side, it negatively impacts the other abusing neighbors. Maybe the architect could move the two-story mass in the rear more towards the front of the house where it doesn’t impose on the privacy of the neighbors who, like us, live and entertain in their rear loggia and pool areas. Nobody wants a second story looming over them.
Our home on the west side of the proposed home has 4,682 SF under air with approximately 6286 sf total including a pre-existing, grand-fathered, rear apartment. Our 140’X 130’ lot is nearly twice the size of 206 Caribbean.
Bobbie and I agree with our neighbors and hope ARCOM will not approve this oversized house as proposed.
Thank you, Douglas Buck and Bobbie Lindsay
212 Caribbean Road
Palm Beach
Received via email 2.20.23:
Mayor and Members of ARCOM and Town Council,
As a neighbor in the North End and resident in Palm Beach, I have reviewed the plans for 206 Caribbean Road and find the design to meet all requirements of the current code. The applicant is also a resident in the North End and has great appreciation for our family friendly neighborhood. This new home will add charm and beauty to the Caribbean streetscape.
Please approve this application for 206 Caribbean Road.
Yours respectfully,
Robert Frisbie
Resident Address: 220 Arabian Rd
Dear ARCOM Members,
Please include the attached document from Chapter 134 of The Town of Palm Beach RB Zoning Purposes, to my (Alison Reed) previous letter opposing the current design of the new build at 206 Caribbean Road. The highlighted portions of Section 134-897 paragraph (a)(2) describe compatibility of the structure to the site, adjacent properties and the neighborhood as well as the protections allowed to neighboring owners.
Thank you for your continuing consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
Alison V. Reed
1520 N. Ocean Blvd.
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Received via email on 8.18.23:
Please let this email stand as support for the proposed residence at 206 Caribbean that will be presented to ARCOM on August 23rd. I am a neighbor in the 300 foot radius. I understand there are some neighbors who are objecting to a 2 story residence here. In my opinion, the house that was previously on this property was an eyesore, almost condemnable, and the proposed residence is very tasteful and fits in the neighborhood. The property owners should be allowed to build a 2 story residence on this site, it is allowed by Code. I am sure ARCOM will do what they feel is warranted with massing or design revisions, but my basic support is that a 2 story residence be allowed as the property owners have this property right. Thank you for your consideration.
Best, Maura Ziska Christu
1500 North Ocean Boulevard
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Received via email 7.25.23:
Dear Members of the Town of Palm Beach ARCOM:
My friend and neighbor Walter Wick asked me to comment on his proposed home for 206 Caribbean Road. My wife and I live at 250 Indian Road, but we are nonetheless very familiar with his proposed property two blocks away because we walk our two dogs down the complete length of Caribbean Road every single morning and many evenings! Caribbean is a lovely street with ample charm composed of new and older properties.
My friend Walter is a longtime resident of Palm Beach and a very family-oriented and committed member of our community. His proposed new home, which meets the code and requires no variances, fits well with the neighborhood, is attractive, and will be a very beautiful improvement on what is currently an incongruous looking plot of empty grass on an otherwise attractive block.
I request that you approve his application especially so that he can get on about moving into his sparkling new house!
Many thanks,
Tad Smith
Received via email on 7.27.23:
Mayor and Members of ARCOM and Town Council,
As a neighbor in the North End and resident in Palm Beach, I have reviewed the plans for 206 Caribbean Road and find the design to meet all requirements of the current code. The applicant is also a resident in the North End and has great appreciation for our family friendly neighborhood. This new home will add charm and beauty to the Caribbean streetscape.
Please approve this application for 206 Caribbean Road.
Thank you,
Kevin McGann
North End Resident
Received via email on 8.21.23:
Dear ARCOM Members,
Please include the attached document from Chapter 134 of The Town of Palm Beach RB Zoning Purposes, to my (Alison Reed) previous letter opposing the current design of the new build at 206 Caribbean Road. The highlighted portions of Section 134-897 paragraph (a)(2) describe compatibility of the structure to the site, adjacent properties and the neighborhood as well as the protections allowed to neighboring owners.
Thank you for your continuing consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
Alison V. Reed
1520 N. Ocean Blvd.
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Received 7.25.23:
Mayor and Members of ARCOM and Town Council,
As a neighbor in the North End and resident in Palm Beach, I have seen the plans for 206 Caribbean Road and find the design to meet all requirements. The Wick’s are also residents in the North End and have great appreciation for our family friendly neighborhood (and adorable grand children!) This new home will look wonderful on the street.
Please approve this application for 206 Caribbean Road.
Warmly,
Louise Carter
Resident Address: 1465 Laurie Lane
Received via email 8.18.23:
Mayor and Members of ARCOM and Town Council,
We are writing in support of building plans under consideration for 206 Caribbean Road in our North End neighborhood on Palm Beach.
After seeing the plans for the property, we are in favor of the Wicks proposed home. We feel the home is an excellent example of responsible architecture and maintains the character and charm of our neighborhood. In addition, the Wicks have always been excellent neighbors, and have impeccable standards.
Thank you for your work and consideration,
Taylor Barton Smith
210 Debra Lane
Palm Beach, Florida
33480
Received via email 8.16.23:
Members of ARCOM,
I am a six-year resident owner living directly across the street from the 206 Caribbean Rd. property. I am in agreement with all of the surrounding neighbors that the proposed structure is too big for the lot size and will look very dissimilar to our existing houses. My home is on a conforming lot size of 100’ x 130’ and is 3,900 square feet under air. The proposed structure is on a lot size of 9,750 and is planned to be nearly 4,200 square feet under air. This oversized structure will significantly and directly impair the quality of life for the adjacent neighbors and diminish the charm of our neighborhood.
I request that you do not approve this design and urge the owner to build a structure to a smaller size, more in proportion to the lot size, to protect the character of our neighborhood.
Thank you,
Michael Selverian
211 Caribbean Rd.
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Dear ARCOM Members,
As a decades long neighbor of 206 Caribbean, sharing 130 ft. of property boundary, I am greatly concerned with the oversized mass, height and proximity of the proposed new build, and the negative effects it will impose on my interior and exterior living spaces.
My adjacent property is on roughly the same size non conforming lot as 206 Caribbean, with a 1931 sq. ft. house facing North Ocean Blvd. The bulk of my house is built within 10-15 ft. of my west side fence line, with yard, pool and patio to the south and east. The proposed build for 206 Caribbean has loaded the mass of the 2 story house, with minimum setbacks, along this same west side fence line. To further add insult to injury, two balconies with full French doors, have been positioned on the second floor, directly above this fence line, overlooking my patio, pool, and yard. With a 27 ft high roof line, built atop an 8 ft. base slab, the total height of the build is 35 ft. from street level. This will tower over my house and exterior property, intruding on both my interior privacy and that of of my yard, pool and patio as well as obscuring my western exposure to sunlight and spectacular open air views.
This proposed build, at nearly 4,200 sq. ft., on a non conforming 9,750 sq. ft. lot., is twice the size of any other house on a non conforming lot on Caribbean and the surrounding streets. It is bigger still than most houses on even larger, conforming interior lots. As such, it is entirely dissimilar to and not in keeping with the surrounding homes in the neighborhood.
Due to the 75 ft. narrowness of these non conforming lots, care and architectural creativity should be employed to ensure that multiple adjacent properties are not unduly burdened with overbuilt, intrusive structures that rob neighbors of their privacy and peaceful enjoyment of their property. The proposed build at 206 Caribbean has done little to respect these tenets that have long been the hallmark appeal of North End properties, now fast disappearing with outsized, cookie cutter development homes.
The residents of Caribbean and nearby streets are in favor of proportionally scaled houses within their lot size and surrounding homes. We value the low profile character of homes and open air spaces in the North End, which is what drew many of us here to begin with. Preserving a balance between new builds and existing homes is paramount to maintaining the uniqueness and charm of our neighborhood communities. I would urge the developer of 206 Caribbean to rethink the design and size of the proposed build, taking care to be respectful of neighboring properties and the surrounding character of our very special and much cherished community.
Thank you for your consideration and review of this matter.
Sincerely,
Alison Reed
1520 N. Ocean Blvd
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Received via email 8.17.23:
Dear Members of ARCOM and Director Bergman,
We are writing about the proposed home on a non-conforming lot located next door at 206 Caribbean Road.
206 Caribbean Road is a narrow lot at 75’ wide and the proposed 2-story house is 4,139 sf. Its narrow width pushes the second story mass on its abusing neighbors on the east and south side. The proposed design has maxed out the CCR and maxed out the lot coverage. It has placed a gym on the second floor (future bedroom?) and designed a very large family room and a large kitchen on the first floor, as well as a large pool. Perhaps shrinking the rooms on the first floor and moving the gym downstairs near the pool would help reduce its negative impact on neighbors. We don’t oppose the pool being on our side of the home, however, we think the home is too large for the narrow, non-conforming lot and too dissimilar to its neighbors with similar sized lots. While we are grateful the two-story mass is not on our side, it negatively impacts the other abusing neighbors. Maybe the architect could move the two-story mass in the rear more towards the front of the house where it doesn’t impose on the privacy of the neighbors who, like us, live and entertain in their rear loggia and pool areas. Nobody wants a second story looming over them.
Our home on the west side of the proposed home has 4,682 SF under air with approximately 6286 sf total including a pre-existing, grand-fathered, rear apartment. Our 140’X 130’ lot is nearly twice the size of 206 Caribbean.
Bobbie and I agree with our neighbors and hope ARCOM will not approve this oversized house as proposed.
Thank you, Douglas Buck and Bobbie Lindsay
212 Caribbean Road
Palm Beach
Received via email 2.20.23:
Mayor and Members of ARCOM and Town Council,
As a neighbor in the North End and resident in Palm Beach, I have reviewed the plans for 206 Caribbean Road and find the design to meet all requirements of the current code. The applicant is also a resident in the North End and has great appreciation for our family friendly neighborhood. This new home will add charm and beauty to the Caribbean streetscape.
Please approve this application for 206 Caribbean Road.
Yours respectfully,
Robert Frisbie
Resident Address: 220 Arabian Rd