One of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by the West Boca Community Council in its 30-year history has finally come to an end. 

For the better part of the last decade, various entities in Broward County pushed hard to re-route commuter traffic from 441 through the westernmost section of West Boca by bridging the Hillsboro Canal.  Broward’s success would have fundamentally transformed this quiet, peaceful residential area west of 441 into several major thoroughfares. 

This long fight is finally over, and West Boca has won!

Had it gone the other way, the resulting heavy traffic whizzing past the area’s many schools would have posed a danger to thousands of children.  The noise and congestion would have diminished this residential area’s quality of life and lowered its property values.

Not in my back yard?  Yes.  Sometimes “NIMBY” can be a noble cause.  West Boca should not have paid the price for inadequate development planning to the south of us.  Besides, as West Boca Community Council President Sheri Scarborough said many times, “this is about keeping our residents safe, not about keeping would-be residents out.”

To celebrate this great victory with all of West Boca, as well as the Council’s 30th anniversary, there will be a blow-out party at the Sunset Cove Amphitheater on December 4 featuring the Fabulons, whose musical repertoire ranges from the Golden Oldies of the 50s to the present. 

Many people and organizations whose own back yards were not threatened stood by our cause and fought at our side, including Commissioner Burt Aaronson, Commissioner Jeff  Koons, Representative Jeremy Ring, County Administrator Bob Weisman, PBC attorney Amy Petrick and Alex Muxo of Huizenga Holdings, as well as Senator Ted Deutch, whose back yard was.

We are indebted to our sister organizations the Alliance of Delray Residential Associations and the Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations, as well as to the many Council member associations east of 441 such as Century Village and Boca West who supported this fight all the way.

As a newcomer to the Council, I was not part of this prolonged struggle.  I salute those of my colleagues who devoted many thousands of hours and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for legal fees to wage this campaign -- Ellen Winikoff, Tom Berger, Janet Sherr, Pete Capellani, Lou Caplan, Marvin Manning, 2nd VP and Secretary Al Grubow, WBCC Chairman Emeritus Milton Brenner, and 1st VP and School Board Member Frank Barbieri.

We might not be celebrating this victory but for the relentless leadership of one indefatigable and very savvy person.  Thank you, Sheri Scarborough, for keeping our kids safe and our homes beyond the reach of urban blight.
 

Alan Kellock