My name is David Kelso, and I live at 255 Monterey Road.
I urge the Town Council to deny this request for a Permit Time Extension for 223 Monterey Road. Instead, you should ask the property owner and contractor to appear before you to explain why their request should be approved. Available penalties and sanctions should be part of that discussion.
There are many reasons for this action:
The property owner and contractor knew (or should have known) in early December 2023, that this project could not be completed by 1/29/2024. This request is three months late. Why?
The property owner and contractor have received numerous Code Enforcement warnings and violations during the construction. These include: fencing, parking on the street, early morning deliveries, equipment staging on the street, working outside of allowed hours, etc.
The property owner and contractor’s reasons for the extension do not hold up. The lot size and parking were known to them when they requested the permit. The screening isssue was a result of their own code violations. Don’t believe their color-coded work plans… as a Monterey Road resident, I can state that on many, many days during the construction period, little or no work was being done on the site.
Extending this permit is a hardship to the current residents of Monterey Road. With 3 on-street parking permits and trucks going in/out of this site, they have created a serious bottleneck for traffic at the east end of Monterey Road. Remember, there are three more active construction projects on this street !
The permit expired on 1/29/2024, but work has continued at the site. Isn’t that illegal?
Neighboring residents (including me) were not properly notified of this Permit Time Extension request. The carelessly written, undated letter from Mr. McAlees gives testimony to the quality of their efforts during this project.
The property owner and contractor have not earned and do not deserve a “no-questions-asked” approval of this Permit Time Extension. Shut down all work on this project and tell them to come before the Town Council to explain why, with this record, they should be granted an extension. Assess penalties to discourage this behavior in the future.
Public Comment, Town of Palm Beach Admin
admin
about 1 year ago
Received via email 3.11.24:
Dear Mayor and Town Council members,
The request for an extension of a building permit for a single family home, which project has been in progress for about 5 years, is on the Wednesday agenda. The letter is undated, indicating it was written after the permit expired, and my guess is that the project won't be completed in April as requested. While we received no notice of the request, we are frequently stopped by numerous construction vehicles parked on the street in front of that project because sometimes another truck is parked on the other side of the street, completely blocking traffic.
You must be tired hearing about the horrific noise, dust, working hour violations, car thefts, etc., that have been ongoing all over Monterey Road and other parts of the North End and elsewhere, that diminish our quality of life.
Yes, we've learned when not to drive to town, to avoid Publix during certain times of the day, to run out with a phone when you hear a mammoth construction vehicle bellowing in front of your home to document any damage if it veers off our narrow street, to place traffic cones and chains on our driveway when we're away during the summer and pray as we attempt to safely exit our home onto the street.
However, we have no control whatsoever regarding construction mishaps that resulted twice in the loss of all our internet, television and land line services (including ADT monitoring) which were caused by severing the main AT&T cable twice.
But what will be the long lasting effects of developer rule. For us, it will be looking at a Mc Monster home across the street that is so oversized for the lot that our AT&T repairman remarked on it and another Mc Monster is in progress at 249 Monterey, where a lovely Fatio designed home was demolished last year. What ever these new additions lack in esthetic architectural design, they more than make up for in massive size and optimal lot coverage.
And we can never forget the absurd, DIY looking addition at 284 Monterey, that was approved by Landmarks and The Council to be built less than 5 feet from our property, It might even be laughable if it were located somewhere else. This same project was previously considered, along with the fire station and Royal Poinciana theater, regarding excessive demolition.
Of course, the contractors are nothing if not creative, Several weeks ago, our housekeeper was threatened by a construction employee at 284 Monterey with a $200. construction parking fee if she parked on the street; so, it appeared the contractor had taken control of the public roads away from the town. Fortunately, it appears that at least some of the signs forbidding street parking, including several from AMC Construction, have been removed.
The oppressive construction noise is unabated although I seem to recall an earlier time when very loud construction noise was prohibited during the season. That must be a false and wishful memory because now the belief that noise that is louder is better seems to prevail year round. However, the ever resourceful contractors have a new addition to their concert of cacophony. I guess they thought we were tired of the incessant beeping and have added an attention getting "clown car horn" that doesn't evoke happy memories of a circus.
Anyway the beat goes on, even after work hours, with significantly increased helicopter traffic and what sounds like small planes. We had no idea that so many immigrants were landing on our beaches, although this is the reason given for the helicopter flights.
You may remember the battle over the protected trees at 274 Monterey that residents fought to save. Fortunately, ARCOM, sided with saving the trees and against development plans that most certainly would have killed them. Did you know that someone is attempting to revise the Comp Plan so that it would be easier to destroy protected trees. And just who would benefit from that.
And now the rampant development machine has moved its attention to midtown, where traffic is already extremely congested during part of the day and will get even get worse based on runaway residential construction in West Palm Beach, along with other projects and ongoing renovations already in progress here.
You don't have to be Nostradamus to foresee our future. Just open your eyes and look across the bridge. Then imagine the opening of the Royal Poinciana cultural center and restaurant and look at other approved projects. I seem to recall a new school was approved that will be close to Publix. Of course, we can't forget that there are many older buildings in the area that will always require repair and renovation, which is now happening at The Palm Beach Hotel.
And of course, any valid traffic study, in addition to knowledgeable staff, can verify that some important intersections in that neighborhood are already failing, without taking the foregoing into account.
The Town must be proactive in responding to this traffic tsunami or we'll lose the town we know and love. Careful adherence to the Comp Plan and common sense are good starting points. Ensuring that any traffic study considers the residential explosion in West Palm Beach, along with other projects already under construction or approved here, in addition to those that are being proposed, is essential.
And don't give development interests carte blanche to devour the rest of the town like it has done in the North End. Looking into a crystal ball, we can imagine a future in which the town has a huge tax base, the construction/development complex enjoys gargantuan profits and the residents experience severe deterioration in their quality of life.
We have already seen the results of granting massive numbers of variances without any hardship, along with special exceptions and other concessions. The deluge of these requests continues to expand and certain applicants will never be satisfied. Do you think that The Carriage House is finished requesting more special consideration from the town.
Our future is at a tipping point and only courageous decisions by our leaders will save the day. The monetization of our town must stop now.
For years now the welcome mat and later, the red carpet, was put out for the construction/development interests. Now, if it's not too late, please roll them up and think of the future, not only of the town, but also its residents.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration.
Pamela Dunston
282 Monterey Road
My name is David Kelso, and I live at 255 Monterey Road.
I urge the Town Council to deny this request for a Permit Time Extension for 223 Monterey Road. Instead, you should ask the property owner and contractor to appear before you to explain why their request should be approved. Available penalties and sanctions should be part of that discussion.
There are many reasons for this action:
The property owner and contractor knew (or should have known) in early December 2023, that this project could not be completed by 1/29/2024. This request is three months late. Why?
The property owner and contractor have received numerous Code Enforcement warnings and violations during the construction. These include: fencing, parking on the street, early morning deliveries, equipment staging on the street, working outside of allowed hours, etc.
The property owner and contractor’s reasons for the extension do not hold up. The lot size and parking were known to them when they requested the permit. The screening isssue was a result of their own code violations. Don’t believe their color-coded work plans… as a Monterey Road resident, I can state that on many, many days during the construction period, little or no work was being done on the site.
Extending this permit is a hardship to the current residents of Monterey Road. With 3 on-street parking permits and trucks going in/out of this site, they have created a serious bottleneck for traffic at the east end of Monterey Road. Remember, there are three more active construction projects on this street !
The permit expired on 1/29/2024, but work has continued at the site. Isn’t that illegal?
Neighboring residents (including me) were not properly notified of this Permit Time Extension request. The carelessly written, undated letter from Mr. McAlees gives testimony to the quality of their efforts during this project.
The property owner and contractor have not earned and do not deserve a “no-questions-asked” approval of this Permit Time Extension. Shut down all work on this project and tell them to come before the Town Council to explain why, with this record, they should be granted an extension. Assess penalties to discourage this behavior in the future.
Received via email 3.11.24:
Dear Mayor and Town Council members,
The request for an extension of a building permit for a single family home, which project has been in progress for about 5 years, is on the Wednesday agenda. The letter is undated, indicating it was written after the permit expired, and my guess is that the project won't be completed in April as requested. While we received no notice of the request, we are frequently stopped by numerous construction vehicles parked on the street in front of that project because sometimes another truck is parked on the other side of the street, completely blocking traffic.
You must be tired hearing about the horrific noise, dust, working hour violations, car thefts, etc., that have been ongoing all over Monterey Road and other parts of the North End and elsewhere, that diminish our quality of life.
Yes, we've learned when not to drive to town, to avoid Publix during certain times of the day, to run out with a phone when you hear a mammoth construction vehicle bellowing in front of your home to document any damage if it veers off our narrow street, to place traffic cones and chains on our driveway when we're away during the summer and pray as we attempt to safely exit our home onto the street.
However, we have no control whatsoever regarding construction mishaps that resulted twice in the loss of all our internet, television and land line services (including ADT monitoring) which were caused by severing the main AT&T cable twice.
But what will be the long lasting effects of developer rule. For us, it will be looking at a Mc Monster home across the street that is so oversized for the lot that our AT&T repairman remarked on it and another Mc Monster is in progress at 249 Monterey, where a lovely Fatio designed home was demolished last year. What ever these new additions lack in esthetic architectural design, they more than make up for in massive size and optimal lot coverage.
And we can never forget the absurd, DIY looking addition at 284 Monterey, that was approved by Landmarks and The Council to be built less than 5 feet from our property, It might even be laughable if it were located somewhere else. This same project was previously considered, along with the fire station and Royal Poinciana theater, regarding excessive demolition.
Of course, the contractors are nothing if not creative, Several weeks ago, our housekeeper was threatened by a construction employee at 284 Monterey with a $200. construction parking fee if she parked on the street; so, it appeared the contractor had taken control of the public roads away from the town. Fortunately, it appears that at least some of the signs forbidding street parking, including several from AMC Construction, have been removed.
The oppressive construction noise is unabated although I seem to recall an earlier time when very loud construction noise was prohibited during the season. That must be a false and wishful memory because now the belief that noise that is louder is better seems to prevail year round. However, the ever resourceful contractors have a new addition to their concert of cacophony. I guess they thought we were tired of the incessant beeping and have added an attention getting "clown car horn" that doesn't evoke happy memories of a circus.
Anyway the beat goes on, even after work hours, with significantly increased helicopter traffic and what sounds like small planes. We had no idea that so many immigrants were landing on our beaches, although this is the reason given for the helicopter flights.
You may remember the battle over the protected trees at 274 Monterey that residents fought to save. Fortunately, ARCOM, sided with saving the trees and against development plans that most certainly would have killed them. Did you know that someone is attempting to revise the Comp Plan so that it would be easier to destroy protected trees. And just who would benefit from that.
And now the rampant development machine has moved its attention to midtown, where traffic is already extremely congested during part of the day and will get even get worse based on runaway residential construction in West Palm Beach, along with other projects and ongoing renovations already in progress here.
You don't have to be Nostradamus to foresee our future. Just open your eyes and look across the bridge. Then imagine the opening of the Royal Poinciana cultural center and restaurant and look at other approved projects. I seem to recall a new school was approved that will be close to Publix. Of course, we can't forget that there are many older buildings in the area that will always require repair and renovation, which is now happening at The Palm Beach Hotel.
And of course, any valid traffic study, in addition to knowledgeable staff, can verify that some important intersections in that neighborhood are already failing, without taking the foregoing into account.
The Town must be proactive in responding to this traffic tsunami or we'll lose the town we know and love. Careful adherence to the Comp Plan and common sense are good starting points. Ensuring that any traffic study considers the residential explosion in West Palm Beach, along with other projects already under construction or approved here, in addition to those that are being proposed, is essential.
And don't give development interests carte blanche to devour the rest of the town like it has done in the North End. Looking into a crystal ball, we can imagine a future in which the town has a huge tax base, the construction/development complex enjoys gargantuan profits and the residents experience severe deterioration in their quality of life.
We have already seen the results of granting massive numbers of variances without any hardship, along with special exceptions and other concessions. The deluge of these requests continues to expand and certain applicants will never be satisfied. Do you think that The Carriage House is finished requesting more special consideration from the town.
Our future is at a tipping point and only courageous decisions by our leaders will save the day. The monetization of our town must stop now.
For years now the welcome mat and later, the red carpet, was put out for the construction/development interests. Now, if it's not too late, please roll them up and think of the future, not only of the town, but also its residents.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration.
Pamela Dunston
282 Monterey Road