Serving Hypoluxo Island, South Palm Beach, Manalapan, Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes, Gulf Stream and Coastal Delray Beach
August 2015
Delray Beach
Along the Coast
Gulf Stream
Town tax rate soars 42% as legal fees rise
iPic push meets with planning board rejection By Jane Smith The iPic movie theater team reached for the stars before the Delray Beach Planning and Zoning Board meeting. To be allowed to build a luxury theater in the city’s downtown, the team used robo calls, TV spots, email blasts and Facebook and Twitter posts. Representatives stood outside City Hall just before that meeting to hand out royal purple T-shirts that read: “I pick iPic.” The commission chamber was standing room only with board members looking out to a sea of people dotted with folks wearing the T-shirts. Even iPic’s land use attorney, Bonnie Miskel, wore one over her navy blue suit during her presentation. Despite the strong showing, board members denied the three key items that iPic requested to build an eight-screen theater complex on 1.59 acres that used to house the city library, a parking lot and the Chamber of Commerce offices. The advisory board denied all three of the iPic requests: abandoning an alley, increasing the height from 48 to 59.5 feet and using the site as a theater. The height denial was unanimous. The alley See iPIC on page 8
Volume 8 Issue 8
By Dan Moffett
A powered parachute flies above a sunset yoga class taught by Jessica Om on July 19 at Atlantic Dunes Park in Delray Beach. Om has been teaching the Sunday class since 2010. She recently added a Wednesday class. The classes meet 5:30-7:30 p.m. A $10-$15 donation is suggested. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Gulf Stream consistently ranks among the state’s most affluent communities, which helps explain how the town has been able to absorb a stunning increase in budget expenses that few other municipalities could. Over the last two years, residents have watched their tax rate soar about 42 percent — from $3.497 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2013, to $3.90 in 2014, to the current proposed rate of $5 per $1,000. This comes at a time when the town’s n Town to appeal property RICO suit ruling. values have Page 9 been soaring, n Letter to the editor. Page 2 too — up 14 percent in 2014 over the previous year and up another 10.6 percent over that this year to $965 million. The town’s total budget has almost doubled from about $3.1 million three years ago to the $5.8 million proposed for the next fiscal year. Where has all the new revenue gone? Most of it is going to legal bills, which now account for close to 20 percent of the entire budget. Gulf Stream officials blame two litigious residents for the See GULF STREAM on page 9
Along the Coast
Shrinking habitats bring foxes to coastal towns By Cheryl Blackerby
This gray fox is a frequent visitor to Briny Breezes. Photo courtesy Marcela Viglianchino
In early morning, a gray fox peeked out of dense foliage by the Little Club golf course in Gulf Stream and trotted with its distinctive bounce across the grass, its ears straight up and alert. “Look, a red fox!” exclaimed a birdwatcher looking for birds, not foxes. The little fox was actually a gray fox with red fur on its ears, neck and sides. It quickly disappeared into the bushes. Gray foxes are native Floridians that usually hide in dry forests. But as their inland natural habitats succumb to development, they are being driven into coastal communities. If there are increased sightings, it probably means construction has run them out of
Inside
Full sail ahead
Sail Inn bar set to reopen after months in dry dock. Page 20
See FOX on page 8
Teen scene
Recall case costly
Legal fees may top $50,000 for Ocean Ridge. Page 10
woodlands. “Unfortunately, their natural areas are getting bulldozed and construction is pushing animals out. They’re losing habitat,” says Ricardo Zambrano, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission regional biologist. “And we’ve lost a lot of large predators such as bobcats, panthers and coyotes that prey on foxes.” Urban dwellers tend to love them or hate them. But Florida wildlife experts say there’s a lot to love and admire about the foxes, particularly their choice of food — mostly rats and mice. “People should rejoice when they see foxes because they keep the rodent population down,” says Sherry Schlueter, executive director of the
Mr. Robotto
Morikami exhibits showcase Japan’s cultural interest in both robots and fanciful creatures. Page AT7
The Delray Beach 505 Teen Center provides social, cultural and athletic outlets for city’s youths. Page H1