Brenda Montague says good bye to Delray; Wal-Mart gets OK for entrance
By DAVID SEDORE, Palm Beach Business.com
DELRAY BEACH — City commissioners officially said good bye to Brenda Montague Tuesday evening, honoring her for her service to the city.
Montague, who has served on the commission since 2006, winning reelection unopposed in March, is resigning her seat effective the end of business Friday. Montague is moving to California, where her husband recently accepted a job.
Mayor Rita Ellis, left, with Brenda Montague.
Commissioners approved a resolution honoring Montague for “her dedicated public service” to the city. The resolution outlined the many local boards on which Montague served, including Delray’s Community Redevelopment Agency, which she chaired, Community Land Trust, Downtown Marketing Cooperative and the Palm Beach County Affordable Housing Task Force.
“I thought I would fade quietly into the night,” an emotional Montague said. “That’s not how it’s turning out.
“Although it is a very exciting time for my family, it’s bitter sweet that I must leave my Delray Beach family. Thank you for allowing me to serve. God bless you and God bless Delray Beach.”
Wal-Mart's grand entrance
Commissioners approved a waiver allowing Wal-Mart to build a 48-foot entrance to its Military Trail store. City code normally allows a maximum of 36 feet, but larger entrance will provide better traffic flow out of the property.
The approval is significant in that it is the last waiver Wal-Mart needs to secure from the city in order to expand and redesign the store and parking lot.
The larger entrance will allow for two left turn lanes onto Military Trail, a right turn only lane, plus one lane into the property.
Bigger is better
Commissioners also approved plans for a larger than usual sign for La Cigale Mediterranean Restaurant on South Federal Highway. City staff recommended against the waiver, arguing that the restaurant could design a smaller sign that would not exceed the city’s maximum limits.
City code limits signs to 20 square feet; the restaurant wanted — and got — 28 square feet.
La Cigale attorney Michael Weiner said the restaurant’s proposal for a waiver from the 20-square-foot limit met city code requirements. Staff argument that the waiver should be denied because the sign could be redesigned to meet the requirement was a policy not supported by law.
Commissioners also granted a landscaping waiver to Aloha Cleaners on South Federal Highway. Code requires a 10-foot landscaping stripping between the parking lot and the road; the property has only a two-foot strip. The narrower width wouldn’t matter except that Aloha is expanding the building it occupies.
