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With their
permission, we are collecting
speeches from past public meetings from our members and placing them here for
your reading enjoyment! If you have a speech related to an issue involving the
Jensen Beach Group, please email to:
webmaster@jensenbeachgroup.org
Below is a compilation of the LPA meeting speeches by our
residents:
Dr. Thomas Fullman of Jensen Beach
There is something happening here.
What it is has become very clear.
For what it’s worth, the people of Jensen Beach and Martin County have had it.
Regardless of one’s address, there is a wave of opposition to the irresponsible
growth in Martin County.
There is something happening here. People are discovering a new “SHARED VISION.”
This shared vision was articulated very clearly at the recent LPA meeting where
the recommendation for Pitchford’s Landing comprehensive land use amendment was
defeated 4-1. You see, a “shared vision” is one in which many people see the
future of their lives together and want to create or build a way of life or “
quality of life” for years to come.
Some leaders have personal visions that do not match the people they represent.
Their picture of the future is not the picture in the minds of the people. When
the “trust me I know better” proclamation does not “pan out” as in some of the
horrendous projects found around the county, people begin to talk about change
and a shared vision develops.
Make no doubt about it. You cannot force people to change they must want to
change. You cannot force people in our great country to quiet their voice of
opposition and you cannot stop the momentum of the “Shared Vision” of the people
of Martin County.
Therefore, it is very clear. The people of Martin County want responsible
growth. Leadership must recognize there is something happening here countywide.
More importantly, what sustains this shared vision lies outside the advocacy of
each group, neighborhood, and political district. It is found in the
capabilities of community leadership that communicates with those closest to the
market…the people.
Therefore, commissioners must reject the Pitchford’s Landing Amendment on August
15.
Mike Cilurso of Jensen Beach
"Good Evening: My name is Mike Cilurso,
President of the Jensen Beach Group, resident of Jensen Beach and Co-Defendant
in a frivolous lawsuit filed by our good neighbors. My wife and her family have
been permanent residents of JB since the early 70’s and I myself am a native
Floridian. Everyone has their “dream home” and everyone has their “vision”. My
vision and dream home came to fruition after my first son was born and my wife
and I decided that the town she grew up in would be perfect to raise our
family. Specifically Skyline Drive. Scenic views, beautifully remodeled homes
and NO home owners association – my kind of neighborhood. Before we closed on
our home we weighed all the pros and cons of living on Skyline Drive. Yes,
there are people who drive too fast down our road. Yes, people do use it as a
cut through. I also stood out on what would be my future deck and saw a river
and a river of green. Directly to the north east of the home, nestled among the
trees, was a trailer park that had been there for many years which I could not
see from my deck. Directly behind the home was native Florida brush. All of
the mentioned parcels are zoned mobile home density with a future land use of
mobile home density/zoning. So, we made an investment and then another
investment until our home was exactly the way we dreamed it would be. Recently
the mobile home park was sold to Mr. Reily, an investor, business
owner-developer from New Jersey. His “vision” was to change the existing RV
park to a large condominium community with a few single-family homes. It’s
true; developers have the right to expect a reasonable return on their
investment. They also too, should do their due diligence. There are people
that call the RV Park home. There are also many folks from the North that come
down every year in their Prevos and high motor coaches that love the park. Due
diligence would have pointed Mr. Reily in the proper direction. Clean up the RV
park for the full time residents and make them proud to say where they live and
revitalize the parcel to make it the best RV Park in Florida. His team’s
failure to do this is where the mistake was made. Who told Mr. Reily he was
entitled to a land use change? Who told Mr. Reily this was a perfect fit for
the community? Who told Mr. Reily this was good for a community he knew nothing
about? I did my due diligence. I bought a lovely home, in a lovely
neighborhood with a lovely view that, according to the Martin County
Comprehensive Plan, should / and will remain that way. Also, Camp Reily fails
to hear to voice of thousands of folks that will be adversely affected by his
vision and don’t want it there. They developer also fails to
understand/acknowledge that the a land use change could, in fact, create the
most heinous snow ball effect in Jensen Beach history as the land to the
immediate south on his parcel could be developed as well creating a cluster of
condos, town homes and unnecessary congestion. You will here or have heard
tonight, I am sure, that change is good and inevitable and we should embrace
change. And, more than likely it will come from the mouth of a developer, a
friend of a developer, an employee of a developer or someone who stands to gain
financially from the change. Change is only good when it is welcomed and
embraced this project, is not."
Renee Delahunty of Jensen Beach
My name is Renee Delahunty and I am a
resident of Jensen Beach.
My neighbor, Mr. Reilly is here tonight to request a zoning change from mobile
home density to medium density. If this request is granted he plans to build
Pitchford's Landing. We can't ignore his intentions; his proposed project is
being promoted through his website, newspaper advertising and this colorful
brochure mailed to the residents of Jensen Beach.
I have read the brochure and looked at the drawings. This proposal, as
presented, would be rejected by the state & the county for several reasons. Mr.
& Mrs. Reilly have proposed a public waterfront park, a playground for children,
and a swimming pool. The drawings in Mr. Reilly's brochure depict these
amenities and parking east of Indian River Drive on property that does not
exist. The flyer states he will build a protective seawall. In order to create
land on which he intends to build, he will have to truck in hundreds of yards of
material to backfill his wall. If you have driven north on Indian River Dr.,
north of the Jensen Beach round a bout you will notice native plants, vegetation
and a sandy shoreline. There isn't enough land on which to build anything and
our state & county government does not allow for it.
The Martin County Comp Plan allows construction of a sea wall only when erosion
is causing a serious threat to life or property. There are exceptions to this
but the building of private swimming pools, parking lots and parks do not meet
the criteria. The preferred shoreline stabilization is native wetland and/or
transitional upland vegetation. Take a ride that's what you will see there. A
sea wall is not necessary. I ask that you deny Bill Reilly's request for a
zoning change. This property is zoned mobile home use and Mr. Reilly has not
presented a viable reason to change the zoning in any way.
When I purchased my home, I knew I could not open a concession stand in my front
yard. For this reason I was able to purchase the property for less money than I
would have paid if it were zoned commercial use. Many people live in gated
communities, there are restrictions which must be adhered to even though they
are sometimes inconvenient. Mr. Reilly bought a mobile home park he should be
required to remain within the building guidelines of a mobile home park.
Good day,
My name is John Gannon. Mt wife and I moved to Jensen Beach in 2004 from North
Carolina. My wife and I had been vacationing in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm
Beach for many years. However, when it came time to retire, there was no
question that Jensen Beach would be our paradise for the rest of our lives. This
small village with it's old hometown flavor, it's beautiful beaches, it's
fishing and golfing history and Martin County's deliberate controlled growth
convinced us to remain here forever. However, Changing it now for the sake of
indivdual profit and for what others call civic progress would be a big mistake.
Mr. Riley of Pitchford Landing is calling his proposed project affordable
housing. Come on now, whose kidding who. We all know that new Condominiums will
bring high prices and high density that the "work force" can not afford. Land
use change that includes displacement of "work force" citizens is wrong and will
be a county nightmare in the future.
John & Eileen Gannon
315 NE Moonstone Drive
Jensen Beach
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