04-12-48SpMtg APRIL 12, 19&8
A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Delray Beach was
held at the Delray Beach Civic Center Building at 8:00 P M, with Mayor
L H Brannon in the Chair, and City Attorney John ~oore, City ~anager Chas.
E Black, and the following Councilmen present: ~ ~ DeWitt and John N Kabler,
a quorum being present.
Mayor Braraaon explained that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss
and consider the adoption of an over-all zoning map for the City of Delray
Beach, including a change in the zoning of West Atlantic Avenue from Swinton
Aven,le to the Seaboard Air Line Railway, 173 feet north of the center line of
West Atlantic and 173 feet south of the center line of West Atlantic Avenue,
to a Special Business Zone.
The audience was then given an opportunity to address the Council.
Nr S Eugene Burd requested information as to what the City proposed to
do about opening up Avenues in the West Atlantic vicinity.
Ur Brannon explained that this matter had not been gone into at the
present ti~e, but would be a City project or undertaking in a future street
program, and should be looked into. He explained further that should the
super highway materialize, it would be greatly benefited by the rezoning of
West Atlantic Avenue, which would eliminate the building of structures which
would be below the standard set by this type of zoning.
0 D Priest, Jr, in addressing the Council, stated that he felt a 53'
set-back from the center line would take off too much of the oro~erty, and
is more than is needed. He explained that some lots in that vicinity are
quite shallow in places and the 53' set back would take practically all the lot.
Mr Black, City Manager, explained that in considering the width of
West Atlantic Avenue, the Zoning Board more or less agreed at the figure of
53' for a set-back, or a possible 86' street on the previous information on
the recuirements of th~ State Road Department. He stated that the State
Road Department want a minimum of 66' and would like 80' if possible, so the
Zoning Board allowed 86' on West Atlantic Avenue with a 10' sidewalk on each side.
There being no more discussion on this particular subject, Mr Black
explained another change to be considered on the zoning map, being Gleason
Street between Shulson and Casuarina. The following petition was read for
consideration:
· Mr Charles E Black, City Manager
Delray~Beach, ~lorida
Dear Mr Black:
The undersigned property owners on the east side of Gleason Street
from Schulson to Casa,zrina earnestly request that the property facing
west on this street be zoned for apartments instead of residential A.
APRIL 12,
There are several reasons for this. First, the property across the street
in John B Reid's Village is zoned for apartments which would make undesir-
able development of this area for residences. Gleason Street has just been
recentlF paved which will open the area up and cause the construction of
considerable units; in fact, we understand Mr Reid has already embarked
upon a development program.
Second, the property as it now stands is not being used in any way and is
an economic waste. Changing the zoning to apartments would force it into
improvement and would materially increase the income of the City from a
tax standpoint.
Your prompt action on this petition will be very much appreciated.
George Bissitt, Jr
~ S Ocean Blvd
Lucie M Robbins, Agent
W 125' of N 100' of Beach Lot 30
~Frederic L Duggan
&lO-5 Ocean B~d.~
J H Ruff in
Rhoda Corwin Pickins
&02 S Ocean Blvd"
Mr Stevenson,who owns property on Nassau Street, addressed the Council
stating that many people owning property on Nassau Street had gone north and
would not have a chance to voice their opinion. Mr Stevenson stated that he
knew there was a violent objection to ~he rezoning, and 5e himself had spent
a great deal of money on his property and felt it unfair to rezone the property
adjoining Nassau Street.
In addressing the Council, Mr Warrington, another resident of Nassau Street,
strenuously objected to the rezoning. He stated that they are attempting to keep
Nassau Street a nice, quiet little street and he had purchased a great deal of
property in order not to have 50 or 75 foot lots. Nr Warrington felt that since
there is no scarcity of landfor apartment houses, the people on Nassau Street
should not be penalized.
Mr Black, at the request of Mr Warrington, then read a petition signed by
l0 pro?erty owners on Nassau Street.
"April 10, 19&8
Mr Charles E Black
City Manager
Delray Beach, Fla
Dear Sir:
AWRIL 12, 1948
The undersigned resident owners of the district concerned hereby
register their determined objection to the proposed cha~e of Zoning
from Residence A to Apartments for the area West 150 feet of Ocean Lots
29, 30, 51, 52, between Shulson and Casuarina, as delineated in your
communication.
The principle involved in any zoning ordinance h~s as its object the
protection of property owners concerned. The value and the charm of oar
district rests in its auiet residential atmosphere. Any zoning ordinance
loses it entire purpose if it is to be altered at will for the interest
of a minority group. It .can not be denied that there remains ample room
for expansion within thr present apartment house area, and likewise no
possible sound reason for destroying the few remaining Residence A areas.
In the event your board rules adversely on this petition we earnestly
request that final decision be deferred until next season, when many
other resident owners now in the North may be heard.
Th~ HILDRETH T~'$T
Henry A Hildreth, Trusts
J C Grymes
Edward Fuchs
J E Warrington
A R Silvester
A Marion Silvester
H C Dieffenbach
Helen L LeClere
Philip Stevenson
Albert H Greenwood
M S Thomas"
Mrs Pickens, one of the signers of the petition requesting the
rezoning, stated that since the property on the. opposite side of tha street
from
nez pro?try had been zoned for apartments, it depreciated her property
and made it difficult to disposs of it unless it is zoned for apartments.
Mr S Eugene Burd stated that he did not own property on the beach, but it
had always been the policy of the town to keep the ocean residential property
and he could see no reason for changing it.
In expressing her opinion, Mrs Silvester stated that since the minority
groupe in this case desire the change in zoning, and the majority does not
want it, she felt it unfair to the people who purchased Residential A property
for protection to rezone the adjoining property.
There being no more discussion, Mayor Brannon stated that action would be
taken by the Council at the reqular meeting to be held at the City Hall on
Tuesday, April 15th., at 7:30 P
Meeting was adjourned
City Clerk
APPROVED:
Mayor