For nearly two hours Tuesday night, Boca Raton residents ripped the downtown redevelopment plan. When they finished, city officials and council members gave the most comprehensive public defense of the plan since the process began.
Many speakers wore T-shirts saying, “Save Boca,” echoing the social media campaign for “a vote” on the plan. Whatever one thinks of the city’s partnership with Terra/Frisbie, however, no such vote will happen.
For one thing, the city already approved a preliminary agreement with Terra/Frisbie. Going back on that would result in a lawsuit that the city would lose. In addition, none of the critics has said what question the vote might address. In the case of Mizner Park three-plus decades ago, a referendum was necessary to approve bonds for the project. No similar requirement exists for the Terra/Frisbie project.
Critics also have claimed that state law prevents the city from selling—in the form of a 99-year lease—Memorial Park near City Hall. They have claimed that the project would result in a loss of park land. They have argued that Terra/Frisbie’s plan—roughly 1.5 million square feet of private and public use—is too intense. They have criticized the cost of a new police station, which the project will displace, and the loss of recreation.
Finally, some residents who live east of Interstate 95 have accused the council of geographic bias. All five council members live west of I-95.
City Manager George Brown addressed some of the criticism. The city, he said, would need a new police station even without the redevelopment project. The current building is outdated and cramped. The new facility, next to the Spanish River Library, should last “30 to 40 years.” A March referendum will ask voters to approve bonds for the station.
As for Memorial Park, Brown said the name “is not linked to any person or event.” The land, like much in Boca Raton, was part of the Army base used during World War II. Boca Raton, Brown said, “is committed to honoring our past.”
Brown pointed out that the city—in an item on Tuesday’s agenda—is building a new softball complex in Sugar Sand Park. Courts to replace those at the tennis center are envisioned for Meadows Park. A skate track will go up in North Park.
Finally, Brown said the city is following not just state but city rules on public-private partnerships.
Mayor Scott Singer began the council’s response by noting estimates of as much as $3 billion in revenue to the city from lease payments over those 99 years. To the charge that the city has not communicated with the public, Singer said the council has held “27-plus noticed meetings,” including Tuesday’s.
Singer also said, correctly, that Terra/Frisbie’s proposal is the “least dense” of all the council considered. Redevelopment will bring “more value” to taxpayers.
Councilman Marc Wigder said, “There’s so much misinformation out there.” Critics, he said, have claimed that the project would displace 17 acres of parks. In fact, Wigder said, the amount is nine acres, and Terra/Frisbie’s plan calls for that much and more. “There are 18 pocket parks.”
Council members Fran Nachlas and Andy Thomson took different sides, again drawing lines that surely will be part of their respective campaigns for mayor.
Nachlas defended the plan and her responsiveness to residents. “I care about every one of you.” Her daughter, Nachlas said, lives “a three-minute walk” from the site. Nachlas also rebutted dark accusations that the project would cater to less-than-desirable apartment dwellers in “affordable housing.”
Thomson said, “I have a somewhat different position.” The project remains “too much,” and the city is proceeding “too fast.” He questioned what phases Terra/Frisbie will use to build the project. He said the council has given too little thought to what happens if some of those phases don’t get built.
But Thomson also called it “unfair criticism” that council members who live west support the project only because any problems might affect only residents on the east side.
Singer said, “This is an ongoing process.” He noted that Terra/Frisbie has changed its original plan based on resident input. But he also made clear the obvious: Downtown redevelopment along the lines of the current plan will happen. Some residents, he acknowledged, won’t like it in any form. “That’s just life.”
On Thomson’s GL Homes campaign contributions
Speaking of Thomson, I wrote Tuesday about the $5,000 he has received in campaign contributions from GL Homes. The company has no projects in, or planned for, the city.
Thomson told me this week that he has known GL executives “for some time.” They have supported him in previous campaigns. “So, I reached out this time.”
Boca Raton to interview finalists for city manager position
Ignoring the recommendation of its search firm, the Boca Raton City Council will interview seven finalists to succeed City Manager George Brown.
As council members appeared to zero in on seven during Tuesday night’s meeting, a firm representative noted that five candidates is the ideal number. Six can work, he said, but seven can make for “a very long day,” leaving council members fogged as they make the biggest decision any council makes.
Nevertheless, council members stuck with seven. They did so even though the representative said the firm could not “ascertain current employment” for one of the seven—Patrick Jordan. According to news reports, he resigned in December as manager of Ionia County in Michigan—population 66,000—to become chief of staff for an Alaska state legislator.
Among the other six are two of Boca Raton’s deputy city managers—Jorge Camejo and James Zervis. The list also includes Sonia Alves, the city manager in Edison, N.J.; Stan Morris, the city manager of Sunny Isles Beach near Miami; and Mark Sohaney and Victor Spinelli, both of whom have military backgrounds. Sohaney was CEO of the joint base at Pearl Harbor. Spinelli was COO of the Air Force base in Tampa.
Defending the expanded field, Singer said he wanted to be “overinclusive.” Wigder said the council could justify the number “if we learn just one thing.” Council members will interview the seven on Aug. 12 and are expected to decide on Brown’s successor that day.
Boca approves downtown apartment project
Boca Raton has approved a downtown apartment project.
Modera Boca, at 400 South Dixie Highway, will have 306 units. The 12-story project will displace an office condo, whose tenants spoke in favor of it. Because Modera will adhere to downtown design guidelines, the building height will be 140 feet rather than usual 100 feet. One level of the parking garage will be underground.
The developers asked for a reduction in parking from 538 spaces to 468. Staff agreed, citing the fact that the type of units will range from studios on up. At that size, city planners said, the number of expected cars will shrink from what would be the standard for larger units.
The council’s vote Monday, acting as the community redevelopment agency, was unanimous. So were the votes by the community appearance and planning and zoning boards to recommend approval.
Delray commissioners to once again discuss police contract
Delray Beach city commissioners will meet in executive session today to discuss the police department contract. It’s the first such discussion after a magistrate sided with the union on the two remaining financial issues.
According to department figures, Delray Beach has lost 22 officers since January. The old contract expired Sept. 30. Roughly another dozen officers are unavailable because they are on leave or recovering from health problems. Former Chief Russ Mager said the staff shortages were causing serious problems.
This would appear to be the last chance for the commission to resolve the dispute without imposing terms on the union.
The Boca Raton looks to raise building height for additional residences
The Boca Raton wants permission from the city to raise the building height on its property from 85 feet to 100 feet.
Planning and zoning board members will consider the request at tonight’s meeting. The Boca Raton, formerly the Boca Raton Resort and Club, wants to add 76 residences in the proposed building that depends on the city allowing the added height. The change would apply only in areas zoned for multi-family residential that are at least 100 acres in size and have master plans. That applies only to The Boca Raton.
City staff found “no inconsistencies” between the proposal and Boca Raton’s master plan and recommended approval.
Old School Square co-creator Frances Bourque dies
Frances Bourque, the force behind the creation of Old School Square in Delray Beach, died Tuesday.
Under Ms. Bourque, Old School Center for the Arts turned a set of old, fenced-off buildings into the asset that started downtown Delray Beach’s renaissance. It became the city’s Central Park and Lincoln Center, all in one place.
Sadly, a previous city commission in 2021 without warning ended the group’s lease of the site, for reasons that remain dubious. Ironically, though, that decision showed how irreplaceable Ms. Bourque was. Parts of Old School Square remain closed. When the city sought a group to do all the things Old School Square Center for the Arts did, it couldn’t find one.
A longer tribute to Ms. Bourque will be on our website.
Until next time
My next post will be July 31.
