LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Posted on 13 February 2014 by LeslieM

RE: Charter changes

Dear Editor:

The mayor of Deerfield Beach wants to do away with the codes that protect the beach from over-development, codes that were overwhelmingly voted in by the residents.

She seems to think that allowing larger development on the beach will eliminate drug rehab and “sober” houses, in her words, in last week’s Observer, “what is being proliferated in the beach area today” on the barrier island.

These establishments are a protected use, according to the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Blaming the current code for this is beyond absurd. The argument that property owners are being forced into selling their properties to the rehab folks just doesn’t hold water. No one can be forced to sell or rent to someone if they don’t want to.

The mayor wants the commission to “step up and create its own new ordinance to deal with the changes in the beach area.” She doesn’t say what she wants in the ordinance. She may have forgotten, but the city attorney, and the commission, put in place all the legal restrictions they could in regard to group homes.

Allowing codes that would allow higher and wider development on the beach goes against everything the residents of Deerfield Beach want. As a witness, the 75 percent vote count in favor of the referendum on building codes. Beach property owners are able to build 55 ft. tall buildings, which should be enough for anyone to make a big profit in 2014, as well as in 2002.

Far from threatening development on the beach,Charter Section 11.01 is protecting what we have and allowing rational building, as witnessed by the new hotel on the beachfront, which is built to code.

Bett Willett

Deerfield Beach

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