Citizens seek redress in court to protect property and quality of lifeA three-judge appellate panel has ruled that Flagler Investments LLC will have to request approval for a zoning waiver from the city of West Palm Beach’s Planning and Zoning Commission for its 22-story luxury condo to be built on the controversial Chapel by the Lake site.

The Citizens For Thoughtful Growth, a grassroots group, challenged the legality of city commissioners bypassing the city’s Zoning and Planning commission when it granted the zoning waivers to the developers. The judges agreed.

The developers have stated that the ruling was an issue of protocol and they they would go to the P&Z commission for its approval and did not expect any change to their plans.

Citizens for Thoughtful Growth went to court to block the highrise on  the waterfront land, saying the land had been promised for public use as a peaceful sanctuary and that the land area of 3-plus acres was too small for the proposed development per the city’s zoning regulations. They argued that waivers needed to be weighed in on by Planning and Zoning before the city commissioners ruled and voted  on such waivers.

See RELATED Letter to the Editor:

Stop Condo Project to Hand Rich and Powerful a Loss
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/opinion/letters-stop-condo-project-to-hand-rich-powerful-a/njdbx/

Sources:

Palm Beach Post 12/24  http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/local/citizens-group-claims-court-victory-over-south-fla/njZRT/

12/22 http://westpalmbeat.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2014/12/22/judges-send-west-palm-beach-chapel-condo-back-to-city/

Background: http://www.wpbf.com/news/money/real-estate/city-facing-lawsuit-over-chapel-by-the-lake-project/24587868#ixzz3MkaQVuQS