The Gazette 4/27/23 V10iss8

GAZETTE

WILTON MANORS

COMMISSIONERS REVIEW ECONOMIC PLANS FOR WILTON MANORS

By John Hayden

A lot of change has come to Wilton Manors since 2016, some noticeable, some behind the scenes.

During the city commission on April 11, commissioners were given an update on the Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP). Renee Miller of R. Miller Consulting Group looked at completed goals, what is in progress, and what ultimately turned out to be unfeasible.

The five-year plan, with an extra year thrown in due to pandemic, had six goals, most of which focus on promoting growth through promotion of infrastructure, redevelopment, and improved regulatory conditions. Progress has been made on all six. Of 79 strategies laid out at the start, 71 are complete or ongoing. Four are not complete and four are not viable due to circumstances beyond the city’s control.

Noting changes in the city, Miller laid out six points to stress over the next five years. They are adopting a brand identity for Andrews Avenue, increasing awareness among the types of businesses and residents the city wants to attract, attracting private investment, recruiting and retaining new business, promoting tourism, and more.

The report also lays out goals for improving livability, such as installing more shade trees,

an increased presence of art, and more mixeduse projects.

HARE TODAY… GONE TOMORROW

Residents of Jenada Isle are hopping mad over a situation that is only going to multiply. The neighborhood on the northwest side of

Wilton Manors is seeing an outbreak of bunny rabbits. City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson says this is likely the result of two domesticated rabbits being released into the area.

Now there are about forty running around the area because, as Henderson pointed out, “Bunnies are gonna do what bunnies do.” The dilemma commissioners wrestled with is that

the problem is only going to grow, but right now may not be big enough to warrant city action.

Unlike iguanas, bunnies are considered domestic animals, meaning people are not urged to humanely trap and destroy them. The city expects to monitor the situation.

Wilton Manors City Commission Hall. Photo by Carina Mask.

LGBT TRAVEL ADVISORY DISPUTED BY WILTON MANORS

By John Hayden

A travel advisory urging LGBT to think twice before deciding to move to, or vacation in, Florida is getting backlash. On April 11, Equality Florida released the warning, citing attacks on LGBT youth, health, book bans, education, and more.

During the Wilton Manors City Commission meeting on April 25, commissioners responded saying it will likely do more harm than good.

“They issued an advisory that it might not be safe for them using words like ‘harm’ and ‘assault,’” Commissioner Chris Caputo said. “This has been acknowledged with disappointment by the CVB, our local business community, and many businesses that I’ve spoken to.”

Caputo is concerned that, while the advisory is long and lays out credible arguments,

people are just reading the headline and top bullet points and not getting the nuance.

“It’s a little misleading and it’s definitely causing harm to tourism and our local businesses. It’s clear when you read the comments, they have not read the advisory in detail to learn why Equality Florida did it.”

Brandon Wolf of Equality Florida responded to the commission’s comments, saying, “The advisory is an honest look at the current and impending landscape in Florida so that people from across the globe can make informed decisions based on their own personal situation.”

Wolf says the travel advisory is having

a positive effect because it has people discussing ways to fight back.

“We are grateful for the robust discussions being had about how best to welcome visitors and new residents amidst DeSantis’ policy onslaught. We crafted this advisory in response to the litany of questions we have been receiving, especially from transgender people and those with transgender family members, about how policies that criminalize bathroom access, ban health care coverage, break up child custody agreements, loosen gun safety guardrails, and more may impact them.”

Mayor Scott Newton echoed his support for rallying the city.

“I understand why they said it but at the same time you’re hurting the state of Florida, especially South Florida. I don’t think that was their intention.”

Commissioners will look to craft a statement saying the city is open for business, open to all, and open to tourism. It will likely be discussed at the next meeting.

April 27, 2023 • Volume 10 • Issue 8

2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305

Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943

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“The advisory is an honest look at the current and impending landscape in Florida so that people from across the globe can make informed decisions based on their own personal situation.”

- Brandon Wolf Equality Florida

THE SHOPPES OF WILTON MANORS REDEVELOPMENT

CITY-CENTRIC PLAN

The plan to add 252 midrise units for the 2200-2292 Wilton Drive property is not “Wilma on the Drive!” This redevelopment plan has not been conceived based on what is best for our city. It is not Wilton Manorscentric planning. It will not allow our unique neighborhood to thrive.

We are a unique community with a distinct character. Our neighbors have been under the most political and cultural intolerance to threaten our freedom since the '50 Lavender Scare. Arts, education, and freedom of expression have been penalized and swept away with the vociferous approval of State Legislators and a despotic governor. Innovative urban planning to foster community-focused development is critical to preserve Wilton Manors’ heritage. This plan does not.

Eight-story high-rise? 252 units? Seriously? Recently Wilton Drive was reduced to two lanes. The effect has been to give the Drive neighborhood a smalltown feel. Will an eight-story building in the middle of our entertainment and service hub create impossible traffic congestion?

Thirty-month construction plan (let’s call three years, three years, folks – delays caused by weather, etc., etc.) The lounges, restaurants, services organizations, and retail stores along the Drive may be challenged with another specter of decreased revenue as yet another possible threat to our small businesses settles over our community. In addition, the neighborhoods behind and adjacent to Alibi Plaza could be negatively impacted by this proposed stress on the infrastructure and aesthetically detrimental presence of an eight-story high-rise.

Skinny parking spaces to provide more spaces? Given how intricate and delicately balanced social and economic ecosystems are within a community, city leaders must take extra care when introducing supposedly innovative ideas such as this. An aging population, folks with mobility issues, and families with children will struggle with smaller parking spaces.

This project brings into question the entire planning process for the development of Wilton Manors. Our city needs our commissioners to facilitate a more transparent citizen-centric plan for a smart city that will foster community-focused development. How to solve the parking

issue? How do we deal with aging structures and infrastructure? How do we encourage sound social and economic growth to strengthen our community and enable it to thrive? Is there only one way to develop that property? How does this proposal fit into an overall plan for city renewal?

Our city’s development needs call into question the process, leadership roles, and stakeholders’ needs. We need to avail ourselves of the “industry’s best.” What are the top-quality urban developers saying about the best way to ensure life is better in our community? (Check out Nick Williamson’s TEDx Talk on YouTube, “It’s Time for Citizens to Take Back Urban Planning.”)

Our community leaders must place people first. Our community development must begin with a consideration of the needs and behavior of our Wilton Manors neighbors and our interactions with our surrounding material environments and each other.

City leaders, local authorities, management companies, and developers must be committed to co-created development plans engaging local residents rather than simply "consultation" after projects have been already constructed (“Here’s what’s proposed. Any comments?”). These stakeholders must ensure they have a solid, smart city communication strategy with a genuinely engaging presence on social media and an outreach to those without access to technology.

With these ideas in mind, city leaders can innovate Wilton Manors’ planning to empower residents to actively shape our unique neighborhoods and preserve our city’s uniqueness through co-created development plans that work for the community, not just for developers’ wallets.

— THOMAS PAUL SEVERINO WILTON MANORS, FLORIDA

The Shoppes of Wilton Manor via Google Street view.

IMPORTANT APPOINTMENTS TO WILTON MANORS PLANNING & ZONING BOARD

By John Hayden

The Planning & Zoning Board (P&Z) may be the most powerful entity in Wilton Manors.

With the city on the verge of major construction and redevelopment, P&Z holds major sway over which plans move forward and which one’s go away.

At their April 11 city commission meeting, city commissioners attempted to fill four openings (three seats and one alternate) on the board. Eight candidates got up to state their case before commissioners voted for their choices. Mayor Scott Newton was absent from the meeting, despite attempts to attend by phone. Therefore he did not participate or vote.

Tim Moses and Tim Theissen were re-

appointed to the board. Justin Proffitt will join them as the third member who got the most votes. William Hayden and Scott McCoy tied with two votes each to fill the alternate spot. A revote with just those two also ended in a tie. Commissioners decided to delay filling the alternate P&Z spot until the next meeting when Newton is expected to return.

Candidates were grilled by commissioners, who seemed most concerned that P&Z members know the conditions for granting variances as well as their knowledge of the city. Most candidates said they would use the recently revamped city code as their guide.

BIG DECISIONS

The board will face many decisions on development. From east of 26th St. and Five Points to Shoppes of Wilton Manors (aka Alibi Plaza), thousands of new units are to be built.

Up first will be Alibi Plaza in the heart of the city. P&Z Board was supposed to discuss it at their April 17 meeting, but moved the discussion until May 8. Multiple insiders tell SFGN that developers asked for more time because they didn’t feel they had the votes to move forward.

The project would destroy the building with the gym and Pride Factory, and put up a parking garage. The parking lot in front would become home to mixed use residential with about 250 units

Wilton Manors City Hall. Photo credit: Carina Mask.

The board will face many decisions on development. From east of 26th St. and Five Points to Shoppes of Wilton Manors (aka Alibi Plaza), thousands of new units are to be built.