One week after an onslaught of public criticism, Terra/Frisbie on Monday announced major changes to its redevelopment plan for downtown Boca Raton.
Gone is the plan for 912 apartments. That number has dropped to 740. Gone is the 150-room hotel. Gone is the plan for 350,000 square feet of office space. Within the 30 acres of the project area around City Hall, the number is 250,000 in two buildings. A third office building would be on private land. Terra/Frisbie has cut the square footage for restaurants and shops from roughly 140,000 to about 80,000.
In are more tennis courts and an “enhanced” Memorial Park, part of the development team’s effort to “prioritize green space and recreational amenities.” In is a “mobility center” to encourage transportation other than car travel. In is a plan to keep the Singing Pines Museum downtown rather than move it to Meadows Park. In is a “potential post office” if the city council approves a hotel that would displace the current facility south of Mizner Park.
Principals of Terra Development and Frisbie Group revealed these changes to city council members for the first time during the workshop meeting. Terra Development CEO David Martin said of those who have opposed using a private developer, “We hope you are open to hearing” details of the new version.
Addressing those behind the Save Boca petition for a charter change that would kill the project, Frisbie Group Managing Partner Ron Frisbie, Jr. said, “This is not unchecked development.” He showed a slide that compared proposed building heights in the new plan with heights in other sections of downtown.
As for recreation, Terra/Frisbie would include eight courts within the project. Tennis enthusiasts had criticized the city’s plan to put 10 courts—the number at the downtown center—to Meadows Park. Frisbie said there could be even more courts. Terra/Frisbie would keep the banyan trees behind City Hall at that location—even with the new city hall moving north—and build a playground and basketball court near the trees that would replace those near the current community center.
With less density, Frisbie said, the city would receive less money. Under the earlier version, Terra/Frisbie projected $3 billion over 99 years, though the city had not verified that number. This version, Frisbie said, would bring $2.1 billion.
Council members’ reactions were measured, since they were hearing details for the first time. “Thanks for listening,” Councilman Mark Wigder said. “There’s more work to be done.”
Councilwoman Yvette Drucker called it “a lot to digest.” Vice Mayor Fran Nachlas said, “We’ll need time” to respond fully.
Councilman Andy Thomson, the only one to vote against the interim master plan, said, “I appreciate the changes.” The many changes make it “tough to distill” the new plan. Thomson, though, said he would condition any vote on whether the plan would be subject to a public referendum.
Notably, Mayor Scott Singer said the proposed Oct. 28 vote on the final master plan could not happen. City planners and their consultant weren’t close to finishing their reviews of the first plan. Any vote might not happen until next year.
Terra/Frisbie plans at least two public forums. The first will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the downtown library. The second will be at the same time on Oct. 6 at the library on Spanish River Boulevard. The first reaction, of course, will come at tonight’s council meeting.
Save Boca requests larger venue for city council meeting
Last week, Save Boca asked the city to move tonight’s council meeting. In an email, the group said the facility at 6500 Congress Ave. is too small to hold all those who want to speak against the Terra/Frisbie project.
The city declined, as meeting venues require technology to allow broadcast and recording for those tuning in remotely. During the pandemic, the city moved the meetings from the smaller downtown council chambers. Plans are for the new city hall to have council chambers that will hold more people.
Save Boca backer to run for city council
Out of Save Boca’s opposition has come the first council candidate in the March election.
Meredith Madsen filed last week to challenge Wigder in Seat B. Madson spoke forcefully against the Terra/Frisbie project at last week’s meeting. Wigder, a real estate lawyer, is seeking a second term in Seat B. He has supported the project, saying it would provide needed revenue for the city.
After speaking, Madsen told me Monday, she “saw no one running against” Wigder and decided to enter the race because she felt “dismayed” by the council majority’s defense of the project. A 10-year city resident who lives in Palm Beach Farms, Madsen said “ungated neighborhoods” east of Interstate 95 “feel unrepresented.” All five council members live west of I-95. Opposition to the project is concentrated in those areas.
Madsen is vice president of the PTA at Boca Middle School, which her younger son attends. She owns an advertising agency and sells environmentally sustainable cosmetics. “I am not anti-business,” Madsen said. As a candidate, though, she wants to “remain untethered to development.”
Mayor Singer responds to downtown campus criticism
Mayor Scott Singer won’t be on the March ballot because he’s term limited. But news reports have speculated that he might run for Congress, and even Singer—who has pushed the Terra/Frisbie project more than any other member of the council—is no longer talking past the criticism.
Sunday evening, just before Terra/Frisbie announced its changers, Singer emailed “an update on the downtown campus opportunity.” Singer acknowledged that “voices have been raised and passions higher.” It has led to “confusion and frankly, some misinformation and increasing rumors. Let’s see if we can reset the conversation—together.”
Terra/Frisbie had advised Singer that a new plan was coming. “I would expect to hear some changes from them based on recent discussions.” The city will do more “communicating.” He promised “additional emails that will explain the project, clear up misstatements and respond to concerns.”
Wigder told me last week that he favors delaying the scheduled October vote on the final master plan. “If this process takes longer than the current timetable,” Singer said, “that’s alright [sic]”
New Boca city manager starts job this month
Boca Raton’s next city manager will start work this month.
On the agenda for tonight’s city council meeting are approvals of the contract for Mark Sohaney and a contract revision for George Brown that would allow him to serve as city manager emeritus until Jan. 4. That had been Brown’s planned retirement date when the search for his successor began.
Sohaney will start Sept. 29. He will make an annual salary of $300,000. Brown has been making $303,000. Each year, the city will pay 6% of Sohaney’s salary into a retirement account. He also will receive a $500 per month car allowance. Within one year, he will have to live in Boca Raton or within five miles of the city limits.
Though Brown will not have “authority” as city manager, the item reads, “[He] will serve in an advisory and consultative capacity” to Sohaney, the council and City Attorney Josh Koehler “as appropriate.” Sohaney is new to Boca Raton. Brown “will be available to provide institutional knowledge and professional expertise to ensure continuity of operations.”
City employee pensions on Boca agenda
Also on tonight’s agenda is approval of an item that would help Sohaney avoid a problem that arose for Brown.
It would allow a one-time, lump sum payment to non-first responder employees who have retired. Some of those employees had complained to council members that higher inflation was eroding their pension benefits. After a review, Brown’s memo states, the payment is “justified.” The cost will be roughly $600,000 and have “no effect” on the pension fund for general employees.
Boca fire station to be renamed in honor of former fire chief
Another item on the agenda is renaming Boca Raton’s Fire Station 3 on the beach for former Chief Kerry Koen.
Koen, who died in April, began his career with the department in 1964. In 1985, he became chief in Delray Beach, where he significantly upgraded the department’s standards and performance. In 1994, he came back to Boca Raton as chief. Among other things, Koen started the paramedic program and required sprinklers in large buildings. An unfailingly cordial man, Koen was a regular at city meetings in retirement.
