Deborah Hartz-Seeley's Blog (741)

Elizabeth Thompson’s painting, Undulation.  Courtesy image

By Mary Jane Fine

Elizabeth Thompson’s house…

“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s

going to know whether you did it or not.”

— Oprah Winfrey

Who knows if Oprah really said this, or if one her writers provided these sage words, but in any case, I believe it’s true.

And it’s what we practice behind the scenes at The Coastal Star. I’m sure readers aren’t aware of the…

Workers prepare the concrete cap for replacement of one of many

seawalls damaged during Hurricane Sandy along the beach in Manalapan.

 …

Live, Work, Play: Third of a three-part series looking at the downtowns of  Delray Beach, Boca Raton and Boynton Beach…

Fran Marincola, owner of Caffé Luna Rosa in Delray Beach,

has donated his baseball photographs to the Delray Beach

Public Library. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star…

By Rich Pollack

Responding to concerns of residents living near the Intracoastal Waterway and the beach, Delray Beach city commissioners have once again put off approval of any changes to the city’s controversial noise ordinance until representatives of all sides of the issue can have their say.  

After being presented with a compromise amended noise ordinance hammered out over several weeks by the city legal staff with input from area restaurant…

An ordinance is in the works in Ocean Ridge that would require rental properties to register with the town, pay a fee and undergo inspection. Commissioners directed Town Attorney Ken Spillias to prepare the document at its February meeting.

Commissioners and residents discussed the measures to regulate rentals, such as illegal vacation rentals under 30 days. 

Resident suggestions  including limiting the times a home can be rented each year, as well as the number of unrelated…

Ocean Ridge Town Commission gave thumbs-up at its February meeting to a site plan that would replace an apartment complex with townhouses at 3 Adams Road, just east of A1A.

The developer, Ernie Varvarikos of Ocean Breeze LLC, plans to demolish Ocean Breeze, a 15-unit apartment and develop seven townhouses with small individual pools and parking spaces. 

Former Mayor Ken Kaleel represented Ocean Breeze before the commission.

— Margie Plunkett

With the North Atlantic Drive/Beach Curve drainage project complete, Lantana is prepared to begin paving the roads and doing additional drainage improvements on Hypoluxo Island.

At its Feb. 26 meeting, the town approved a contract with M&M Ashpalt Maintenance Inc. for the paving and drainage work on North Atlantic Drive, Beach Curve Road and Barefoot Lane from South Atlantic Drive to the Intracoastal Waterway in an amount not to exceed $269,999.

Work is to be completed…

By Betty Wells

An analysis comparing the 1985 value of nearly 2,000 acres in Delray Beach to current value is nearly complete by the Community Redevelopment Agency staff.

Compiling the numbers is the first step in researching whether the city should cut the size of the CRA district. Money that now goes to the CRA could then be redirected to the city. Commissioner Angeleta Gray has said the city needs the money, and that there are a number of areas in…

Delray Beach city commissioners have given their blessing to plans that will split the historic oceanfront property that was the 1930s home of famed cartoonist Fontaine Fox.

City commissioners voted in February to advance developer Frank McKinney’s plan and for a name change to “Historic Fontaine Fox House Properties” in the Local Register of Historic Places. The city’s Historic Preservation Board unanimously approved the project.

McKinney wants to divide the parcel into two…

Candidates for Delray Beach mayor and commissioner are scheduled to discuss issues important to Delray Beach and how they relate to the city’s commitment to environmental responsiblity at a forum scheduled for March 4 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 188 S. Swinton Ave. The 6:30 p.m. forum is free and open to the  public. 

The “Red, White and Green” event is  sponsored by the grass roots group Delray Beach Green. 

— Staff report

Election Results

Question: Yes - 52, No - 14

By Tim O’Meilia

There’s a revolution on the Manalapan Town Commission.

The mayor and three commissioners are out. Three new commissioners and a familiar face as mayor are in. All without a shot being fired or a ballot being cast. 

To be accurate, there’s something…

Election Results

Question One: Yes - 5,307, No - 460

Question Two: Yes - 3,784, No - 1,994

Question Three: Yes - 3,344, No - 2,385

Question Four: Yes - 4,264, No - 1,459

Question Five: Yes - 3,650, No…

By Margie Plunkett

Ocean Ridge has started investigating the costs and concepts of creating a commercial zone at the town’s south end with an eye toward making recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Commissioners agreed that Town Manager Ken Schenck should contact planning firm Urban Design Kilday Studios, which previously did work for Ocean Ridge, to talk about potential costs to create such a commercial zone. 

Former Mayor…

Municipal elections will be held in a number of towns and cities in Palm Beach County on March 12. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Town or city clerks can provide answers to any election-related questions.

Briny Breezes

There is no election in Briny Breezes, where three incumbents — Mayor Roger Bennett and Aldermen Sue Thaler and Karen Wiggins — are unopposed. Bennett will serve a one-year term and Thaler and Wiggins, who had both been…

Election Results: Cary Glickstein - 3,180 | Tom Carney - 2,926

On Nov. 12, voters will elect a mayor and one commissioner for two-year terms. Commissioner Adam Frankel was automatically re-elected when his opponent dropped out of the race.

Tom…

Election Results: Shelley Petrolia - 3,324| Kurt Lehmann - 1,570 | Alexander Christopher - 1,049

Kurt Lehmann

Personal: 39,: Real estate broker, owns Lehmann Realty…

By Tim O’Meilia and 

Mary Thurwachter

The town of Lantana has agreed to pay the cost of working around water and sewer lines discovered on the east side of the Intracoastal Waterway where the East Ocean Avenue bridge is being rebuilt.

The discussion over whether the town or Palm Beach County, which is building the $32 million replacement bridge, should pay has not stopped or delayed construction, both county and town…

All four public meetings in March to discuss a new comprehensive plan for Briny Breezes will be held in the town’s community center at 5000 N. Ocean Blvd. at 4 p.m. 

The town’s planning and zoning board will hold a public hearing March 7 and a regular meeting March 14. The Town Council will hold a public hearing March 21 and a regular meeting March 28.

The new plan could lead to the construction of traditional single-family homes, two- or three-story condos and additional…