Thursday, January 29, 2015

Officers Tisch & Pekral
 General Meeting, January 27, 2015

Happy New Year, Croissant Park Neighbors!

Our annual Pot Luck Supper January meeting was a big hit, with good attendance that had many people renewing their CPCA membership along with some new members signing up.  It’s never too late to send in your $20 to become a voting member of Croissant Park Civic Association. Good to see familiar neighbors and great to meet new neighbors.  

Our new FLPD Officers Meredith Tisch and Eric Pekral reported that we had a significant decrease in neighborhood crime this past period.  Ofc. Tisch told us that the only crimes reported were two vehicle burglaries that occurred on Davie Blvd. and on SR 84.  They remind us to lock our cars at all times and to never leave any valuables in plain sight inside the car. If you must leave anything of value in the car, put it in the trunk and make sure you lock the car.  Officer Tisch can be contacted by email at mtisch@fortlauderdale.gov and by cell at (754) 333-0993.


foreground - Maylou & Nina
There was some lively discussion about the imminent arrival of All Aboard Florida.  Our President, Pat has attended a City meeting in which she brought up the AAF subject and received no information regarding our concerns.  Neighbors are asking who we can talk to about the trains, what will happen to our property values, and whether the rumors about street closures across the tracks are true, i.e. 15th Street, our “gateway to the Wave” that will give us access to Andrews Avenue and the Wave stops. Our February meeting will provide some answers regarding the proposed Wave transportation throughout downtown Fort Lauderdale.  Hope to see you there if you want to find out the latest poop on that subject, along with any more info we might be able to obtain on the All Aboard Florida trains that will affect our neighborhood in a major way.

Joe & Virginia Russell
After all the spirited discussion we were let loose to fill our plates at the Pot Luck table that consisted of a hot wing appetizer, healthy and delicious salads, hearty entrees and sublime desserts.  Coffee was generously supplied by Suzy at Expresso on Andrews, soft drinks and water were available too.  Paul Stickl won the 50/50 raffle.  Thank you Lisa (community center) for all your help.  

Dessert Destruction
New neighbors - The Bowers
Minutes by Virginia, CPCA Secretary
pics by Rhonda






Paul Ruble - left, Peter Bowker - right

Alys, Heather, Michele, George, Pat & ?

Paul Stickl won the 50/50







Friday, January 16, 2015

Vice Mayor Romney Rogers January 2015 Newsletter

Vice Mayor and District IV Commissioner Romney Rogers
HAPPY NEW YEAR! May you have a healthy, safe, and prosperous 2015!

Come One, Come All District IV Neighborhood Reps to my Pre-Agenda Meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, at 5:30 PM in the 8th Floor Conference Room at City Hall. (City Hall will be closed on Jan. 19 for the Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday; the City Commission will meet on Jan. 21.) Please be ready to review 2014 accomplishments and to let me know what issues you would like to focus on in 2015.

2014 was a banner year that saw Fort Lauderdale make impressive gains in key industry sectors, including capital investment, employment, housing, marine, tourism, and transportation. The national media is taking note. For example, The Wall Street Journal article about our City’s economic renaissance is at http://fortlauderdale.gov/Home/Components/News/News/195/16.

New on the Riverwalk! – During the Citywide Visioning process, our neighbors consistently identified activating the Riverwalk as a top priority essential to making Fort Lauderdale “The City You Never Want to Leave.” On Jan. 5, we took another step toward fulfilling this vision by partnering with Riverwalk Trust to launch two new initiatives. Located near Huizenga Plaza, Riverwalk Gourmet Delights features three food kiosks – Wholly Crepe, Expresso, and Nacho Bizness. Riverwalk Recreation offers a variety of activities to encourage active, healthy lifestyles. Located in the Las Olas Riverfront Plaza at 300 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 111, Riverwalk Recreation is a “one stop shop” for activities along the river, including guided bicycle, quadracycle, and Segway tours; paddleboard and kayak rentals; yoga classes; photography classes; dog training; and more. Please help spread the word and stop by soon!

Bryant Peney Park – My sincere thanks are extended to everyone, who participated in the Community Playground Build at this park, located at 2100 SW 4th Avenue. Following the build on Jan. 10, a dedication was held to honor the life and memory of Officer Bryant Peney, who was killed in the line of duty in 1996 at age 27.

New Process for Advisory Board Applications – If you or someone you know is interested in serving on a board or committee, please apply here: http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/advisoryboards and click on “Vacancies” to view current openings. If you need additional information, have questions, or would prefer a printed application form, please contact Arleen Gross in the City Clerk’s Office at 954-828-5288 or ArleenG@fortlauderdale.gov.

LauderServe – For customer-service requests, go to http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/government/lauderserv. The link provides drop-down menus with reporting forms and other helpful information on the following topics: Animals, Building Permits, Code Compliance, Flooding, Graffiti, Parking, Public Safety, Roads & Streets, Sanitation, and Utilities. Neighbors can also call 954-828-8000 for 24-hour Customer Service.

Staff Transition – Jenni Morejon is the new Director of the Department of Sustainable Development. Since coming on board in 2000, she has moved up the ranks of our organization. As Director, Jenni will oversee the day-to-day operations of the entire department, including Building Services, Code Compliance, Economic and Community Reinvestment / Community Redevelopment Agency, Housing and Community Development, and Urban Design and Planning. Jenni can be reached at JMorejon@fortlauderdale.gov or 954-828-5849. Your Input Matters! If you have a comment, concern, or suggestion about a City service, program, or event, I encourage you to share your ideas with me and help build an even better community. For example, during my Pre-Agenda Meetings, you can tell me what’s on your mind. I would also welcome your feedback at a neighborhood meeting (call my office to schedule*). Or, you can send an e-mail to me at RRogers@fortlauderdale.gov. Thank you. Ways to Get Involved – The City is creating a vibrant network of public / private partnerships made up of neighbors, civic associations, and business leaders by engaging citizens in solving City problems to achieve measurable impact on pressing local challenges, such as education, health, sustainability, and disaster preparedness. For these and other volunteer opportunities, please contact Jorg Hruschka in our Neighbor Volunteer Office at 954-828-5568 or jhruschka@fortlauderdale.gov. To stay up-to-date on City happenings, you can find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cityofFortLauderdale?ref=bookmarks. To follow us on Twitter, go to https://twitter.com/FTLCityNews. To receive Fort Lauderdale Currents, the City’s monthly e-newsletter, please contact Shannon Vezina at 954-828-4743 or SVezina@fortlauderdale.gov. 2015 City Elections – I am pleased to report that no other candidate filed and qualified to run in District IV, apart from yours truly, so I have the privilege of serving you and the rest of our City neighbors for the next three years without an election! However, please remember to go to the polls or vote at home (absentee) in the Primary on Tuesday, Feb. 10, as there are three mayoral candidates.

 My City Hall Office Hours are Mondays from 2 – 5:30 PM and Tuesdays from 9 AM – Noon (in non-Commission weeks).
* To schedule a meeting, please contact MJ Matthews at 954-828-5028 or mmatthews@fortlauderdale.gov.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Rezoning affecting Croissant Park

Whether you agree or disagree, here is the information that has been sent to the Association - use it as you please:

original email from Elizabeth Fulford:

Here is the short version:
The property called Pina del Rio, running parallel to Davie Blvd from SW 9th Ave to the New River is slated for rezoning to multiple family occupancy. It will be called River's Edge.
The proposal is to build 7 (seven) 5 story rental buildings which will hold 280 units.
This will mean about 300 more cars in our area plus all the ensuing traffic difficulties.

What you can do:
Thursday, January 15 there will be a meeting open to the public at 6:30 pm on Thursday, Jan. 15th at the River Reach Community Center. The letter sent by the City says Angelyn Widdon, et al / River's Edge will be holding the meeting.  The Widdons own the largest pieces of the property. The proposal is to rezone the property to R25 (multiple dwellings) and construct seven 5 story buildings which will hold 280 rental units. Please try to attend this meeting.
Thursday, January 20, 6:30 PM at City Hall 100 N Andrews Ave there will be  meeting to discuss the rezoning. Please see attachment. If you need a ride, let me know.

On Tuesday, January 22 the rezoning item will be on the City Commission's agenda at City Hall. Please attend to protest this issue.

If you cannot attend, PLEASE email all of the following to protest this development: One email will do. Just include all of them in the address.
Brad Cohen        lawronin@aol.com
James G. McCulla    jim@jmiconsulting.org
Leo Hansen        lchaia@gate.net
Michael Ferber        mferber@bellsouth.net
Patrick McTigue    pmctigue@aol.com
Pete Witschen        witschen@nova.edu
Richard Heidelberger    RCHeidelberger@gmail.com
Stephanie Desir-Jean    mrs.jean@comcast.net

City Commission / Mayor / City Manager:

City Manager: Lee R. Feldman   mailto: lfeldman@fortlauderdale.gov
Mayor: John P. "Jack" Seiler     mailto: jack.seiler@fortlauderdale.gov
District 1 Commissioner: Bruce G. Roberts    mailto: BRoberts@fortlauderdale.gov
District 2 Commissioner: Dean Trantalis   mailto: dtrantalis@fortlauderdale.gov
District 3 Commissioner: Robert L. McKinzie   mailto: rmckinzie@fortlauderdale.gov
District 4 Vice Mayor: Romney Rogers   mailto: RRogers@fortlauderdale.gov

Please carbon copy (cc:) your emails to Eric Engmann, Planner II, at mailto:eengmann@fortlauderdale.gov

Sample email: Feel free to copy & paste this.
Sample email:

I am writing to protest the rezoning of the property called Pina del Rio, located on the NW corner of Davie Blvd and SW 9th Ave. west to the New River.
   The addition of 280 living units to this area does not seem to fall within the City’s plan for Sustainable Development. The City states that it “provides programs and administers plans and policies to enhance the quality of life for our neighbors and visitors by guiding quality development, promoting economic prosperity and environmental and social equity, and protecting the health, safety and welfare of the community.”
   How can the addition of approximately 300 vehicles to this area support the city’s guidelines which are meant to encourage orderly growth and promote well-designed development and redevelopment through sound planning principles?
If this development is allowed to proceed here is what will happen to the traffic on Davie and SW 9th:
   At this time, there is no intent to put a traffic light on Davie Boulevard where the planned east and west exit from River's Edge is being considered. How can motorists go east on Davie Boulevard from River's Edge without using the traffic light at SW 9th Avenue? 
That means that SW 9th Avenue is going to have additional traffic from all those residents exiting River's Edge wanting to go east.
   There will be no "right turn lanes" on Davie Boulevard into any of the 4 entrances to River's Edge.
This means that every time a resident wants to pull into River's Edge from Davie Boulevard, traffic on Davie Boulevard will have to slow down to approximately 5-10 mph, which is a reasonable speed to negotiate a right hand turn.
   There was discussion by the developers to provide a right-of-way for a right turn lane at SW 9th Avenue and Davie Boulevard; however, no right turn lane is currently being planned because it would cost $400,000 (four hundred thousand dollars) to move the big black traffic pole.
   That means motorists wanting to go south on SW 9th Avenue would completely tie up traffic for all those wanting to go west on Davie Boulevard.

The above traffic issues will not enhance the quality of life for anyone living in or travelling through this area.

The rezoning of this property to high density occupancy will contradict the Urban Planning Mission statement for the city of Fort Lauderdale which begins, “Welcome to the Urban Design and Planning Division! Our mission is to shape urban development outcomes through creative thinking, sound civic planning and urban design solutions that result in a sustainable, high-quality of life for our residents, incomparable experience for our visitors and an exceptional sense of place for all.”