Article Courtesy of Boca
News Now
Published August 24, 2019
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BOCA RATON — The Spanish Isles Homeowner’s Association repeatedly warned the
Palm Beach County School District and Whispering Pines Elementary School that
land directly in front of the school belongs to the HOA and must not be used for
parking.
When the warnings were
ignored, the HOA voted to authorize a towing company to
remove cars. Towing signs were installed in front of
Whispering Pines Elementary School Friday afternoon.
“The school board was aware of this,” said Spanish Isles HOA
Secretary Joe McTague — an attorney who does not represent
his board but was authorized to speak to BocaNewsNow.com.
“They were put on constructive notice.”
At issue is a significant piece of land that runs the entire
length of Whispering Pines Elementary School, directly in
front of the school. Property records confirm that the
Spanish Isles Homeowner’s Association owns the land, even
though it is across the street from the Spanish Isles
development.
School personnel, aides, and parents have parked on this
grassy area for years if not decades. Principal Barbara
Riemer — even after the school district was reportedly
notified of the issue — continued to instruct parents to
park on the grass. With the school locked down during the
day, there is no other place for cars. The school abuts the
busy Lyons Road.
The Spanish Isles Homeowner’s Association recently underwent
a bankruptcy reorganization. Now on its own, with a brand
new board, the HOA says it’s standing up for what’s right.
“Over the past couple of years (traffic and parking have)
become a nightmare,” said McTague. Now that we have a Board,
we are trying to respond accordingly.”
Whispering Pines was built for a few hundred students in the
early 1980s. Enrollment is now near 1000.
The towing signs, installed Friday afternoon, were removed
Monday morning. The HOA has no idea who took them or why
they’re down. The Palm Beach County School District did not
respond immediately to a request for comment. PBSO had a
deputy in front of the school for much of Monday morning.
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Towing signs are down — for now — in front of
Whispering Pines Elementary, but the Spanish Isles HOA says the
School District and Palm Beach County need to solve the parking and
traffic problem.
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As
for the end game, McTague said there is no demand at this point other than for
parking and traffic to be brought under control.
“We may not be able to do something about the traffic,” said McTague, “but we
are able to do something about the parking.”
Whispering Pines parents remain confused. Principal Barbara Riemer has not
provided alternate parking plans to parents who first heard from her in a
robocall Sunday evening, more than 48 hours after the towing signs were
installed.
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