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Delray commissioners table office building controversy
Vincent Nolan, Delray Beach's new economic development director, addresses city commissioners Tuesday evening.
By David Sedore, Palm Beach Business.com
DELRAY BEACH — An otherwise obscure office building on the site of one of Delray’s more prominent historic properties became the center of debate during Tuesday evening’s meeting of the city commissioners. At issue: whether it’s been open legally — for the last 16 years.
The site, 85 SE Sixth Avenue, is home of Café Loredana, formerly the Blake House, which was built in 1903 and continued as a residential use until converted to retail in 1995. The lot also is the location of two other buildings, one of which is a rather mundane looking 1,000-square-foot office. According to the city Planning and Zoning Director Paul Dorling, the office building, converted from a garage 16 years ago, is illegal because it doesn’t provide required parking either on site or through other means.
The owner, through attorney Michael Weiner argued otherwise and presented several documents indicating so. Meanwhile, commissioners scratched their heads wondering how a controversy dating back more than a decade and a half could still have life.
Part of Weiner’s argument was that converting part of the lot into parking not be compatible with the historic nature of the property — the owners would rather use the space for a tea garden.
Weiner also argued that there was sufficient public parking in the area, including a city lot across the street that, according to city records, typically is half empty.
But Dorling said that essentially puts the burden for providing parking on the taxpayers.
“I find that argument absurd,” Dorling said.
Commissioners were not unsympathetic to Weiner’s arguments.
Said Commissioner Adam Frankel: “I’d rather see a tea garden than six parking spaces.”
But there was also sentiment that it would be wrong to allow the lot owner to get away without providing any parking at all.
Commissioners tabled the matter and urged a compromise.
Vincent Nolan, the city’s new economic development director, made a brief appearance at the meeting basically to introduce himself to commissioners. Nolan is from Norwalk, Conn. He served as a city councilman in Danbury, Conn., and served as a staff member to a state senator.
Nolan acknowledged that this isn’t the best time to be an economic development director, given the state of the economy, but he also that makes the job more important than ever. He also said that Delray Beach has its strengths as well.
“I look forward to the challenge,” Nolan said.
Commissioners ratified separate three-year collective bargaining agreements with police lieutenants and police officers and sergeants who are members of the Police Benevolent Association.
The two agreements are similar in content. Both cut the work week to 40 hours from 42, with an equal reduction in pay; eliminate two paid holidays; allow of the contracts for pay raises the first year but freeze wages in the second, with a provision to negotiate pay in the third year.
Both require the employees to kick in 3 percent more for their share of pension costs, and just like pay, the two sides can negotiate again in the third year of the contract. The deal also allows the city to negotiate different pension benefits and employee contributions for police hired after Oct. 1, 2012.
The contract for the officers and sergeants is retroactive to Oct. 1, 2010, while the lieutenants contract went effective on Saturday. That’s the only substantial difference between the two contracts.
Also Tuesday, commissioners hiked residential garbage rates by 7.7 percent because of increases in the consumer price index and the cost of fuel as mandated by the city’s contract with Waste Management.
