The Citizens’ Association of Palm Beach recently convened its annual meeting, honoring residents, installing its new executive board and directors and hearing from the mayor on issues affecting the town’s South End.
The event, held at the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in Manalapan, was followed by an election forum featuring Group 1 Town Council candidates Lew Crampton and John David Corey. Incumbent Crampton and challenger Corey are campaigning for the March 10 election.
The Citizens’ Association represents the interests of residents living south of Sloan’s Curve.
In a brief address to attendees, Palm Beach Mayor Danielle Moore highlighted ongoing projects and initiatives benefiting those residents.
She thanked retiring Town Council member Bobbie Lindsay for her decade of service, noting her leadership on environmental advocacy, the town’s green initiative and the town marina renovation project, which Moore said added $14 million to the town’s budget.
“All of that credit belongs to Bobbie, because she spearheaded it,” Moore said.
She also highlighted other South End improvements, including the ongoing renovation of Phipps Ocean Park and the relocation of the Little Red Schoolhouse there. She also mentioned the redevelopment of the Ambassador Hotel site, which she praised as a “win for the South End” after overcoming town-approval hurdles.
Moore recognized Crampton for advocating for a new traffic light at the Par 3 golf course, which she said added additional safety for residents crossing the street.
She concluded her remarks by thanking her fellow council members and town staff, and emphasized the importance of collaboration across the town’s North and South Ends.
“This is a team effort,” she said. “We work together, and we rise and fall together. This is one town.”
Citizens’ Association co-directors Skip Aldridge and Rick Salvadore also addressed attendees, highlighting the group’s work over the past year, and introducing the inaugural Richard Kleid Citizen of the Year Award.
The award was presented to Fernando Wong and Tim Johnson, principals of Fernando Wong Outdoor Living Design, a landscape-design firm with offices in Palm Beach and Miami Beach.
The award honors the late Palm Beach Town Council member and community volunteer Richard Kleid, who died in September. It recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the town’s character, sustainability and civic life.
“We are proud to introduce this inaugural award to honor two exceptional members of our Palm Beach community,” said Kay List, an association board member. “Fernando and Tim have helped shape and reshape the beauty, sustainability and vitality of our town.”
Following the association’s annual meeting, Crampton and Corey participated in an hour-long forum moderated by Oxbridge Academy Assistant Head of School for Advancement Jay Boodheshwar, a former deputy town manager for Palm Beach.
Several Oxbridge Academy students assisted with the forum, posing questions and collecting inquiries from the audience.
Corey, a real estate portfolio manager who served two terms on the town’s Architectural Commission, and Crampton, a four-term council member who also serves as president pro-tem, announced in October that they had filed to run for the Group 1 seat.
During the forum, Corey and Crampton addressed a range of town-related issues, with several questions focused on issues affecting South End residents.
When asked about a pair of A1A projects and the town’s coordination with the Florida Department of Transportation, Corey said he would serve as a liaison to the DOT to ensure the town’s interests are represented.
The A1A projects include a 2.3-mile repaving and safety upgrade along South Ocean Boulevard from South County Road to Royal Palm Way, with new pedestrian signals, upgraded lighting and decorative traffic signal mast arms. Construction on a separate section from Royal Palm Way south to Emerald Beach Way, near Mar-a-Lago Club, has been paused until early this spring.
“When I first got to town in 2012, I created a group called Palm Beach Walks,” Corey said. “Many residents came to me with issues, and we were solving problems like crosswalks across DOT and town roads. If I get to serve with your help on March 10, I would be honored to perhaps be the liaison. I think the council could have a liaison directly with the DOT, and I can be the go-to guy for those types of projects.”
Crampton emphasized safety and caution regarding state road improvements.
“We all remember that the A1A widening was a very controversial issue here,” he said. “There were several public meetings held, and I advocated vigorously against expanding the bike lanes. Why? Hordes of lycra-clad bicyclists on Saturday and Sunday mornings, 30 to 50 of them you can’t get around. That’s what these widened bike lanes could bring unless there’s strong enforcement.”
The candidates also were asked how redevelopment in predominantly residential areas, such as the South End, should be evaluated. Both Corey and Crampton cited the redevelopment project on the site of the Ambassador Hotel as an example.
Corey focused on zoning compliance and lot-coverage limits, saying the Ambassador project exceeded certain vested rights and underscored the need for clearer development standards.
Crampton said he served as a liaison between the developer and neighboring condominium boards, helping address concerns about sightlines, density and drainage and securing funds from the developer for independent impact studies.
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach mayor highlights South End priorities at annual meeting
Reporting by Jodie Wagner, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
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