Serving Hypoluxo Island, South Palm Beach, Manalapan, Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes, Gulf Stream and Coastal Delray Beach
June 2018
Delray Beach
Volume 11 Issue 6
Ocean Ridge
Town OKs moratorium on new construction Commission wants to close loopholes in building code By Dan Moffett
archivist at the historical society her late husband had helped to establish. “Go through them,” she told Teves, “and take what you want.” The archivist began exploring the artifacts. “I know most of the main families
Ocean Ridge commissioners have taken the extraordinary step of halting new construction until they can close loopholes in the town’s building code that could allow the approval of large, potentially commercial residential projects — sober homes, for example. On May 7, the commission unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance that calls for a temporary moratorium on permitting and development orders. Mayor James Bonfiglio says the shutdown “is not a propertyspecific action” but rather a “work in progress” intended to address building issues that the commission has confronted for months. “We’re not trying to ban any home,” Bonfiglio said. While Ocean Ridge hits the pause button on builders with new projects, the hope is the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission can come up with recommendations that will tighten building rules and allay fears of sober homes for the long term. But
See ELDERS on page 12
See ZONING on page 11
Wise Elder Circle members Wanda Machek, 79, and Roy Simon, 87, pore over vintage photos in an effort to identify people in the images. The Delray Beach Historical Society started the group this year. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
A community’s memory bank
Longtime residents fill in gaps, share stories of Delray Beach history By Ron Hayes Lonnie Cook Jr. was born here in 1932, and except for a few years in Cleveland back in the 1950s, he lived all his 80 years in Delray Beach. He owned Hand’s Office Supply store for nearly 50 of those years, and he was a founding member of the Delray Beach
Historical Society. When Lonnie Cook died on May 2, 2012, he took a lot of Delray Beach memories with him. But he left a lot behind, too — enough to fill two big boxes with photographs and yellowed newspaper clippings. In November, Mary Ellen Cook delivered those boxes to Kate Teves,
Delray Beach
Installation under way on Atlantic Avenue metered parking By Jane Smith
Free parking in downtown Delray Beach is coming to an end. In late May, the city started installing 32 smart parking kiosks on Atlantic Avenue from Fifth Avenue west to Swinton Avenue. One block north and south of Atlantic also will have metered parking. The changes were in anticipation of the City Commission’s second vote set for June 5 on paid parking along Atlantic Avenue. The times and rates were still to be determined.
Royal wedding watch Viewers don fascinators and top hats to watch Prince Harry get married. Page 16
Paid parking in downtown Delray Beach has been discussed for more than a decade. On May 28, Dede Tanzer, 66, wondered why the change was being made. “They overbuilt this small town by allowing a movie theater, hotels and large restaurants to come in,” said Tanzer, a retired choreographer and theater critic. “Why can’t the city be content with the extra property tax dollars from those projects?” she asked. Tanzer Tanzer sat outside Starbucks at 205
A look at #MeToo
Young actors discuss impact of movement on budding careers. Page AT5
E. Atlantic Ave. with her companion, Steve, who would not give his last name. “It’s a way to get more money for the town,” said Steve, 68, a retired architect. Both have lived in Delray Beach for five years. Steve suggested the city use Lanier Parking employees to monitor the parking spots to keep the vehicles from staying more than two hours and not install the paid parking system. At the May 15 commission meeting, new Public Works Director Susan Goebel-Canning suggested See PARKING on page 12
Father Knows Best
Local dads pay tribute to the men who raised them. Page AT1