2008.01.17_BAA_Minutes_Regular• TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
QUARTERLY/PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES
January 17.2008 _ _. _ 2:00 n.m.
Chairman Jack Halpern called the Quarterly/Public Hearing meeting to order at 2:00 p.m.
In attendance were Chairman Halpern, Vice Chair Merton Rubin, Secretary Anthony
Ruotolo and Members Peter Corrales and Neil Burd. David Stem and Terry Colarullo
were absent. Also present were Town Attorney Thomas Sliney, Building Official Bob
Dawson and members of the general public.
APPROVAL OF h~IINUTES
Upon MOTION by MR. BURD/MIZ. RUBIN the minutes of the November 15, 2007 and
the December 11, 2007 meetings were unanimously approved.
OTHER BUSINESS
Election of Officers for 2008: Upon Motion by unanimous vote, Jack Halpern remains as
Chairman of the Board. As Merton Rubin's tenure is complete in February, unanimous
vote was taken to appoint Neil Burd as Vice Chairman. Unanimous vote was taken to re-
appoint Anthony Ruotolo as Secretary. All Motions carried.
• Chairman Halpern closed the Quarterly Meeting and opened the Public Hearing.
PUBLiC HEARING
CONSIDERATION OF THE APPLICATION OF DALE HIGHTOWER FOR
INSTALLATION OF A BOAT LIFT WITHIN TWELVE FEET OF THE PROPERTY
LINE. PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4416 TRANQUILITY DRIVE. OWNER: DALE
HIGHTOWER.
Chairman Halpern suggested that the Board hear the application first, then if they so
desire, conduct a site visit. The Board members concurred with this.
Recording secretary sworn in all who would be testifying. Notification of certified
mailings of hearing and newspaper publications are in the applicants file.
Attorney Les Stevens was present to represent Mr. Hightower, and noted that the boat lift
was constructed without Mr. Hightower knowing that a permit was needed, as he is from
the Miami area where regulations are different, and assumed the installer obtained the
necessary paperwork prior to installation. Mr. Stevens also said that the reason for this
public meeting is to correct the error that was made by constructing the lift without a
permit. The Chairman asked for public comments.
•
• Board of Adjustment & Appeals
January 17, 2008 Page 2 of 3
Lou Stem, Chairman of the Highland Beach Planning Board, noted that the applicant
came before the Planning Board and explained the issues the Board found with Mr.
Hightower's application. Mr. Stevens felt these issues were inadmissible to today's
hearing, with Mr. Sliney stating he has the right as a citizen to state his facts as he saw fit.
Mr. Dawson clarified that Mr. Hightower put the lift in without a permit. When Mr.
Hightower testified at the Planning Board he said that it had been installed by Miami
Boalift. As Miami boatlift did not have a license in Palm Beach County, Mr. Dawson
believes that Miami boatlift asked East Coast to pull the permit. While Mr. Hightower
had forgotten who he dealt with, Mr. Dawson said it was difficult to get involved and
figure out the circumstances in the situation.
Sharon Stein, President of the Bel Lido Homeowners Association, read a letter into the
record (attached hereto) noting the Association's request for denial of the application.
Gerry Marshall, resident of Bel Lido and a member of the Association board, stated that
all the applicant need to do to come into compliance with code would be to move one
piling.
• Resident Eileen Carlson, Bel Lido spoke on her objection to the application, noting that
there are other residents who want to do the same thing, and this would just set a
precedent. She encouraged the board to deny the application
Mr. Stevens noted that Mr. Hightower was called out of town unexpectedly and requested
the hearing/decision be postponed until a date when he would be in attendance. The
Chairman stated that this issue had "dragged on long enough" and a decision needed to
be made at today's hearing. The Chairman asked the Board if they felt a site visit was
necessary, of which the members felt it was not. The following MOTION was made by
MR. BURDIMIZ. RUOTOLO:
THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT & APPEALS DENIES THE
APPLICATION OF DALE ffiGHTOWER FOR A BOAT LIFT FOR
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4416 TRA,NQUILTTY DRIVE, BEL LIDO.
MOTION met with unanimous vote.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Board, Motion to Adjourn was made by
Chairman Halpern/Mr. Burd at Z:55 p.m.
Board of Adjustment & Appeals
January 17, 2008 Paae 3 of 3
APPROVE:
Jack A. Halpern, Chair.
Merton Rubin, V.Chair
Anthony Ruotolo, Sec.
Peter Corrales
Theresa Colarullo absent
k ~.
Neil Burd ~~~ `'
David Ste absent
Attest: Date: L~ ~ ~
•
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND APPEALS
DECISION ON PETITION FOR VARIANCE
Petition No. 11-07-96 Public Hearing Date Jan. 17, 2008
Town Code _ Chapter 30; Accessory Marine Facilitvl Sec 68
Petitioner DALE HIGHTOWER
Property Address 4416 Tranquility Drive.
In the above numbered Petition, by vote as shown in the official Minutes and
recorded on the reverse side of this form, it was determined and ordered that
the requested variance be granted [ ]; denied [XX]; granted subject to the
following conditions and safeguards [ ]:
In reaching its decision and order, the Board has found/has not found in the
case of the above numbered Petition that:
1. Special conditions and circumstances exist which are peculiar to the
land, structure or building involved, and which are not applicable to
other lands, structures or buildings in the same district.
2. The special conditions and circumstances do not result from the action of
• the applicant.
3. Granting the variance requested will not confer on the applicant any
special privilege that is denied by the ordinance to other lands,
structures or buildings in the same district.
4. Literal interpretation of the provisions of this ordinance would deprive
the applicant of rights commonly enjoyed by other properties in the same
district under the terms of the ordinance, and would work unnecessary and
undue hardship on the applicant.
5. The reasons set forth in the applicant's petition justify the granting of
the variance, and the variance granted is the minimum reasonable variance
that will make possible the reasonable use of land, structure or
building.
6. Granting of the variance will be in harmony with the general purpose and
intent of the ordinance, and will not be injurious to the neighborhood or
otherwise detrimental to the public welfare.
Chapter 30 Zoning Code/Article III; Sec.30-40(h) A variance, when
implemented in accordance with the approval granted by the Board of
Adjustment and Appeals, shall run with the land in perpetuity. Unless a
lesser time is approved by the Board of Adjustment and Appeals, a variance
that is not implemented shall expire eighteen (18) months following approval.
Extensions of variance approvals shall not be granted by the Board of
.Adjustment and Appeals.
,~
Board of Adjustment and Appeals
January 17, 2008
Page 2
=07-96 (DALE H
SIGNATURES
WRITE "FOR" OR "AGAINST" PETITION
f~~.gli~~~`j"
Ja A. Halpern, airman
Merton Rubin, Vice Chair
Peter Corrales
Ant ony P. uotolo, Sec.
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Theresa M. Colarullo
Neil W. Burd
~_
David Stern
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O'~Z1u i c~ nt
NOTE: ANY PERSON, OR PERSONS, OR ANY TAXPAYER, BOARD, DEPARTMENT,
OFFICER, BOARD OR BUREAU OF THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH AGGRIEVED BY
A DECISION OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND APPEALS, MAY, WITHIN
THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER RENDITION OF THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF
ADJUSTMENT AND APPEALS, APPLY TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF PALM BEACH
COUNTY, FLORIDA, FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTE
163.250.