Public Comment

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November 5, 2021, Story published in WPB Watch, and a comparison will be made between Cohen Brothers development of the Tent Site and City property discussed at the City Commission meeting held 9/6/2022.

“The Tent Site is a piece of city owned property that has been dormant and a terrible eye sore for 24 years, until the Cohen Brothers has a vision to build “West Palm Point”

It’s the end of the meeting and Commissioner Peduzzi, James was absent, asks the City Clerk if there are any comments emailed to the City. Well, yes there are. In fact there are 77 comments to be read. Due to the amount the Clerk is advised to just read the names and addresses, and if they are in favor or opposed to the project. I listened and wrote every name and address down.

All 77 comments were opposed to the project, and if that’s not surprising to readers this should be. The vast majority who opposed live in my area, District 2, called the Villages and live many miles from the Tent Site.

Sept. 6, 2022 City Commission Meeting.

8.4. “Resolution No. 240-22 finding that City property located at the corner of Quadrille Plaza Drive and Clematis Street is not needed for City purposes, declaring the property as surplus, and authorizing the conveyance of the property through negotiation of the sale with NL 512, LLC.”     Who are they?

Mr. Rodney Mayo sent email to the City on Tue, Sep 6, 2022 @ 4:24 am, and can be read below. If you own and love a dog as many of us do, please take the time to read the email. The picture was included with Mr. Mayo’s email. Click to enlarge.

“Dear Commissioners,

Although I do not oppose the sale of this strip of land in hopes that it will be put to a better use I must express my disappointment over our repeated attempts over the past 4 years to utilize this public property as an art installation and most recently a dog park.

In 2019 we first approached the CRA who claimed ownership and control over this strip of land. We proposed an art wall installation similar to the Wynwood Walls in Miami’s art district. We offered several different proposals at no cost to the city or the taxpayers. We just wanted to create an inviting environment for residents and visitors to downtown. As the entrance to the 500 block from the east, that strip of land is the first thing people see heading west. We have tried over the years to make the 500 block a destination by creating entrance planters, weekend street closures and events. We offered all the usual criteria , safety plan, liability insurance, agreement to remove and restore the lot. We asked the DDA for help to get it approved but was told it was CRA property and they could not help.

After some time waiting for approval we were told we could not use the lot and that the CRA had plans they could not disclose.

We then approached the CRA and the DDA together to create a dog park on that site. Again paid for by private business and at no cost to the city, CRA, DDA or taxpayers. After a few months of getting bounced around we were finally told that the lot belonged to the city and we would have to contact them. I am confused as to why for 3 years we were told by the CRA the lot was under their control.

We proposed a dog park with irrigation, dog bag dispensers, obstacle course, seating and shade. We offered to do this as a pop up with no strings attached. If the lot was sold or needed for another use we would remove everything and restore to its current state. (Currently the lot is not maintained, it is half sand and mud, there is no irrigation and the hedges are dying.)
We were told no by the city representative.

Even if this lot sells or goes under contract to a private entity the time frame for construction is Atleast 12-18 months away.

We would like the opportunity in that time, for what ever time, to create a pop up dog park for our community. The lot currently is used as an impromptu dog park, we would just like the opportunity to beautify , maintain and perhaps save a puppy or 2 from the barrage of sand spurs that currently exist.
After all this is taxpayer property and it would be nice if the taxpayers could actually benefit from it before it is disposed to a private developer.
Sincerely

Rodney Mayo
Subculture Group”

9/6/2022 Discussion by City Officials on the piece of surplus land.

The area under discussion is the red section on the right. Click to enlarge.

Jennifer Ferriol, Director of Housing and Community Development, made the presentation for Resolution No. 240-22.

James: “Now we have a number of items that came from the portal and have been distributed to you Commissions. Madam City Attorney, are we obligated to read these out loud with comments coming from the portal?” City Attorney: “You have the comments in front of you so you can read them and take into consideration as you make your decision. We will keep the comments as public record.”

Residents who took the time to email the City with their comments and submit them by 2pm requesting a dog park were ignored, their name, address and comments were not read out loud for their opinion as was done at the Cohen Brothers project when 77 residents asked the City to deny their project. It appeared to me James did all he could to keep Cohen Brothers away from the Tent Site.

We don’t know how many emails were sent, and I will go out on a limb and suggest all emails were in favor of a temporary dog park. Did City Commissioners have the time to read residents emails in the Portal before making their decisions?

The Parcel proposed for surplus is 25’ wide and when Commissioner Fox asked the length of the property. Ms. Ferriol admitted she didn’t know but would have an answer when they meet for the second vote.

So, who is NL 512, LLC.    See definition of LLC below.

NL 512, LLC is a Florida Domestic Limited-Liability Company filed On August 25, 2022. The company’s filing status is listed as Active and its File Number is L22000372131.

The Registered Agent on file for this company is Jones Foster Service, LLC and is located at 505 South Flagler Drive, Suite 1100, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. The company’s principal address is 285 Banyan Boulevard, West Palm Beach 33401 and its mailing address is 285 Banyan Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.
The company has 1 contact on record. The contact is Navarro Lowrey, Inc. from West Palm Beach FL.

NAVARRO LOWREY, INC. 285 Banyan Boulevard West Palm Beach, FL. 33401

“Navarro Lowrey is a focused commercial real estate provider that owns, develops, leases and manages commercial real estate properties from its corporate headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida.”

What is the meaning of a limited liability company?
“A limited liability company (LLC) is a business structure in the U.S. that protects its owners from personal responsibility for its debts or liabilities. Limited liability companies are hybrid entities that combine the characteristics of a corporation with those of a partnership or sole proprietorship.”

Jones Foster Service, LLC filed On August 25, 2022 with the Florida Department Of State Business Registration, 13 days before the City Commission met to decide on a piece of surplus City owned property. If I didn’t know better I would think Jones Foster or Navarro Lowery had a heads up. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence both have the same business address: 285 Banyan Boulevard. Will the City request an appraisal and accept bids on the land, or has the decision been made?
https://www.bizapedia.com/fl/nl-512-llc.html

The end.