Community VoicesAfter a lawsuit, the conversion of the water park site into a police station returns to city boards for final approval.
By Community Voices
The Riviera Beach Planning and Zoning Board voted May 14 to reapprove the site plan for its $35 million police headquarters that a lawsuit had temporarily halted at the Barracuda Bay Aquatic Center.
Catch up quick: Tradrick McCoy, a former City Council member, sued to block the initial decision, citing public notices with incorrect addresses and parcel numbers and arguing that it deprived residents of their voice.
Why it matters: A judge dismissed the lawsuit, but the Planning and Zoning board reheard the full presentation with the corrected address and asked further questions about the plans for the new headquarters.
What they’re saying: Vice Chair Frank Fernandez questioned whether the three spherical barriers at the Avenue S main entrance provided sufficient security.
“Our brothers and sisters in blue are going to be in that building. Those little three things you have there, that ain’t gonna protect anything going through there. … In today’s day and age, this has to be overprotected.”
The other side: Senior Planner Juan Suarez, Joby Balint of PGAL Architects and police Maj. Steven Thomas told Fernandez that the plan assures adequate protection. Balint added that the building is fully bulletproof and will have Category 5 hurricane protection.
The bottom line: The site plan passed, 4-1. Board member Rafer Williams dissented with no explanation. On May 20, the City Council unanimously passed the site plan on first reading.
Who wrote this story: This story was reported by Community Voices writer Kelvin Verhovlyak.
What is CV: Community Voices is a partnership between Stet News and Inlet Grove High School. Stet News is underwriting the pilot to train and pay students to cover Riviera Beach.
Inlet Grove journalism teacher C.B. Hanif and Stet’s Liz Capozzi contributed to this story.
