WMG Volume 4 • Issue 22 December 6, 2017
Wilton Manors Gazette
Community
Swim School Denied Expansion by Planning and Zoning Aquachamps may leave city By Michael d’Oliveira Expansion plans by Aquachamps, a what kind of wall and landscaping is swim school on Northeast 26 Street, have needed. Ken Shalley, who said he lives directly been at least temporarily denied by the next door to Aquachamps, said at the city’s Planning and Zoning Board [P&Z]. At the Nov. 13 P&Z meeting, meeting that he thinks too much is being Aquachamps’ owners presented their made of the noise generated by the plans to redevelop an existing property children. He added that the real issue is adjacent to their existing location in order parking and traffic. But others who live near or next to to add more parking, an ADA accessible pool, and improve landscaping and walls to Aquachamps say the noise is a big problem. Maria Pazos is one of further decrease the noise them and said she is unable generated by the children to enjoy her backyard. who use the school. Pazos, who is also a realtor, According to a record of added that she was unable the meeting provided by to sell a neighbor’s home the city, members of the because of the school. public who support the In an interview with school say it provides a The Gazette, P&Z Member valuable service to children Constance Ruppender who learn to swim. Dan said she voted against Vawter, co-owner and head Aquachamps’ plan because coach of Aquachamps, said - Dan Vawter it was the “Wrong project. if the ADA pool is built co-owner of Wrong place.” She also then the school would be Aquachamps said the intended use of able to offer aqua therapy the ROS-C zoning district classes to senior citizens where Aquachamps is located is to and people with disabilities. Those who spoke against Aquachamps encourage quiet, office-based businesses say the school is a traffic hazard on to locate there. “They’re supposed to live Northeast 26 Street, parents park in their there,” she said. At the meeting, P&Z Chair Nick Berry driveways, and the children make too much noise. Vawter said everything possible has said he thought the new plan was an been done to reduce the noise, including improvement on the safety of the current hiring acoustical engineers to determine situation.
Coach Mary with the intermediate Mudskippers. Photo courtesy of Aquachamps, Facebook.
“We just have a bad taste with this whole process.”
In an interview with The Gazette, Vawter said he’s not happy about the current situation with the city and P&Z over this issue. He said the whole process has left him and his partners irritated. Asked if Aquachamps would appeal the P&Z’s decision, he said he doesn’t know yet. “We’d like to find a home that’s business friendly. We might move [to another city].
We just have a bad taste with this whole process. It was mismanaged from the beginning.” He added that Aquachamps is good for the city’s economy. “We bring thousands of families into Wilton Manors [who then shop at local business and eat at local restaurants] who normally wouldn’t have visited.” WMG
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • www.WMGAZETTE.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 •
December 6, 2017
12.6.2017 •
27