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Delray commissioners move on transient housing restriction

By David Sedore, Palm Beach Business.com

DELRAY BEACH — Delray Beach city commissioners on Tuesday took a first step toward limiting transient housing in single-family neighborhoods.

Without comment, commissioners unanimously passed first reading of an ordinance reducing the number of times an apartment can be rented during a calendar year from six to three.  A house may be rented six times during a year, same as present.

The idea is to make it difficult for drug rehab centers to operate residential centers in single-family neighborhoods. Residents of the eastern neighborhoods in particular have complained about the growing centers operating in the city.

Residents paraded before commissioners announcing their support for the measure during a public hearing on the proposed change.

“We urge you to hang tough and get it right,” one resident told commissioners.

But one resident, who said she depends on income from renting her home, said the proposed restriction lessens the value of her property. She said the city should find a way to restrict the centers without limiting the rights of homeowners.

No one from the industry appeared before the commission. Final reading of the ordinance is slated for Feb. 21, but the city is anticipating that the matter eventually will be decided by the courts and has hired two outside law firms to defend any new regulations that might be put in place.

Also Tuesday, commissioners allowed a proposed spa-restaurant on South Swinton Avenue to operate outdoor dining despite concerns over parking voiced by Planning and Zoning Director Paul Dorling.

Dorling wanted to include a provision that would allow commissioners to review and possibly revoke the outdoor dining privilege if the establishment would have three code violations.

But project architect Bob Currie said that restriction would make it impossible for the owners to secure loans needed to finance construction.

And commissioners found the restriction a bit too much.

“I just see it as a hindrance to a project that otherwise is tremendous for South Swinton Avenue,” Mayor Woodie McDuffie said.

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