[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6471445,"mediaKeyId","5777993-c13124b1d688498e1b79cfc2eb75bd55","parentId",5777993,"title","Developers present revised downtown campus plan that reduces density, increases park space; residents demand more time and public input","audioSeconds",5003,"startMs",3195000,"endMs",8198000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777993-c13124b1d688498e1b79cfc2eb75bd55&start=3195&end=8198","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777993-c13124b1d688498e1b79cfc2eb75bd55/thumbnail_3195000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6471445/Boca-Raton/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Developers-present-revised-downtown-campus-plan-that-reduces-density-increases-park-space-residents-demand-more-time-and-public-input","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471445-cdd071bcecbb4e5306c4da5879d09eb5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770632405&Signature=LM93Yfz8-l5ZOCOJSV9lSyVznuDyj0uDPhr1d7j5QV2mS3gdU2~5mMMFJOemTc5VrwgtaApk4~UvX1CGMCosq9jCLcrBt6kjWYYFOlWRIFVF~QcdejnCGXVMUHOcPhDLNQ1Xdf2BKcwMqzZSaRqsWsGtk2091R3~aOF3a-Gj-CUrSr8ssBdnjfPbSijiMNFrEGgxA98jYAiKdhI91CS98~L1SCQ7ZGFVw7~4pZezyyH2ciTUwIghlczryqxbY-GprtizOr4tu2l0QhuduXAZp6fPfjczvL~Trhq2eRX8ZWDumczwf1df7UxthlRWB2~3KMf-dugP6Ndups2TqoBR2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Boca Raton","date","2025-09-08T14:10:00Z","article","David Martin and Robert (Rob) Frisbie of the Terra/Frisbie development team presented a substantially revised plan to redevelop the 30‑plus‑acre downtown government campus, saying the latest iteration reduces residential and commercial intensity, preserves existing banyan trees and adds recreation and open space while funding new civic facilities through the proposed public‑private partnership.

Martin said the team has held more than 30 public meetings and revised the plan after community input. \"We couldn't agree more, and we're committed to working with the city and the veterans groups on this,\" he said when describing plans to enhance what the developers called Memorial Park with a dedicated monument and more green space. Martin also said the project would keep six banyan trees in place and relocate the children's playground adjacent to them.

Robert Frisbie said the updated plan removes a hotel and one office building from the earlier proposal, reduces retail from an earlier figure (team cited roughly 140,000 square feet previously) to about 80,000 square feet, and lowers total residential units from about 1,100 in the initial plan to approximately 740 in the latest iteration. Frisbie said the changes increase public parkland, add a 300‑by‑200‑foot multipurpose field, and maintain a minimum of eight tennis courts with the option to provide more.

Frisbie described a \"mobility hub\" east of City Hall for electric vehicle charging, bike/scooter parking and shared mobility; widened shaded sidewalks and protected bike lanes; and a phased approach intended to deliver early civic and recreation amenities. He said the developer still expects to deliver substantial revenue over a 99‑year lease term and cited updated gross and net present value estimates (the presentation referenced approximately $2 billion in gross receipts and $228 million in net present value for the revised plan).

Councilmembers said they had only received the newest iteration recently and asked for more time to digest traffic, fiscal and infrastructure impacts. Councilmember Reeder urged delaying any planning‑and‑zoning or formal actions and said public workshops should precede hearings. Councilmember Thompson said a final decision should be conditioned on a public vote and repeated his call for extended timelines.

Public commenters sharply divided the room. Some residents and speakers welcomed the reductions in density and additions of green space; others opposed any privatization of the site or changes to what they called Memorial Park. John Perlman and other speakers argued the site is historically dedicated to veterans and said it should remain public parkland. Several residents demanded appraisals, questioned the 99‑year lease length and asked for clearer fiscal disclosures. Jonathan Ongian and others raised concerns about the land sale process for a separate city purchase and referenced Florida Statute 166.045 regarding confidentiality exemptions and appraisals; city staff said the city did not assert the confidentiality exemption and that commercial data was shared with council prior to decision points.

Developers announced public workshops for the revised plan on Sept. 29 and Oct. 6 and said they would provide a project website and additional outreach. Mayor Scott Singer and several councilmembers said the council would not move forward on an October 28 vote deadline and signaled the need for more public engagement and staff analysis before any final decision.

No formal council vote or final contract action was recorded at the workshop. Staff and developers agreed to provide additional detail on green‑space calculations, phasing, traffic analysis and fiscal terms for further review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Boca Raton - City Council Workshop","oneSentenceSummary","Developers presented a scaled‑back redevelopment plan for Boca Raton's downtown government campus that reduces residential and commercial intensity, increases parkland and keeps existing banyan trees, but councilmembers and residents said the revised plan requires more time, detailed fiscal and traffic analysis, and broader public outreach.","taxTitle","Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, Florida","taxId",3932,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471450,"Boca Raton outlines activation plan for Wildflower Park, underpass lighting and murals to be installed",1868,176000,2044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777993-c13124b1d688498e1b79cfc2eb75bd55&start=176&end=2044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777993-c13124b1d688498e1b79cfc2eb75bd55/thumbnail_176000.jpg","/articles/6471450/Boca-Raton/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Boca-Raton-outlines-activation-plan-for-Wildflower-Park-underpass-lighting-and-murals-to-be-installed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471450-ac8b1d52eb29359da5310613475a6d0b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770632405&Signature=Ez~90EXYDczXCDYeY-GRfPCaR-nPNd9V71oZ2iRnMLmEqJMeKIKYq4EPogEPsMlCTHlIilkQFhzlQoFnLGFnZc2BTnP-xoGcwLHJ1UorKZvCdjD-m610jHKoBPRDJ7z9lYRfQ3Y3~5XmzMN0LWsGr2s1Z3NrTOy3aANqBSo1gZTt4u0YjcHRBFn--mGKsz67uIdhkL0eO7y0bPcmV5cSzIqA2Nc0bMjuSM1Uc3iqdXp1H4jPYuAKb2cdAwgc2TfepfN534d7s1YqPXNBqAotyf8CNatGR1h~OZh5XEetLTijQC4EnqJCvy8dBWt6AdLMjlzL4qpiEGvHynYDWAKhGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a phased plan to activate Wildflower Park and install aesthetic and safety improvements under the Palmetto/Silver Palm bridge, saying the effort will focus on fitness, public art and neighborhood‑oriented programming while addressing limited parking and neighborhood impacts.

Greg Stevens, a city staff member, told the council staff had formed an in‑house programming committee to assess recreation services and prioritize activation of Wildflower Park, saying the vision will emphasize \"fitness, art, and community experiences\" and a mix of passive, vendor‑led, staff‑led and volunteer programs. Stevens said examples of passive programming include permanent public art already on the site (swings, a mural and asphalt art at the splash pad), plus optional pavilion reservations and park games.

Zach Beer, Public Works Engineering Director, described separate but related infrastructure work under the bridge that staff negotiated with Palm Beach County. Beer said the underpass scope includes painting the bridge to an approved county color, installing a decorative fence that accommodates county maintenance access, adding color‑changing uplighting and placing four murals on the columns that face the pedestrian walkway. Beer said staff anticipates completing the underpass elements in October, subject to weather and county approvals.

Councilmembers and residents questioned parking, shade and how to attract steady visitor flow. Councilmember (Ms.) Drucker, who said she has repeatedly advocated for activation, urged bolder, faster steps and added that food and beverage availability matters in Boca Raton's warm climate. \"People are not gonna visit a park if there's nothing for them to eat or drink,\" Drucker said. She argued activation should include more than intermittent food trucks and suggested vendor or small retail arrangements to keep people on site after programming ends.

Staff identified the parking constraint as a key operational issue: Stevens said Wildflower has 50 total spaces (four accessible) and Silver Palm provides 12 adjacent spaces — about 58 total. Staff discussed options including metered parking to increase turnover, resident parking or beach‑permit integration, and shuttle service from Meisner Park for larger events.

Other programming ideas described by staff include monthly recreation field days showcasing the recreation department's offerings, pop‑up events timed to downtown activity, volunteer‑maintained elements such as a butterfly garden, and clubs (walk/run groups) using Wildflower as a hub. Stevens described a sample calendar that aims to reach near‑daily activity by 2026 and emphasized marketing, signage and a web presence to build a Wildflower brand.

The presentation also noted site improvements such as adding shade structures, revisiting playground equipment to increase repeat use, and evaluating meter parking or other access controls to limit long‑term parking by non‑park users. Beer said the county required specific paint products and approvals and that the fence design incorporates a floral motif to tie into the park.

Councilmembers asked staff to return with alternatives to metered parking and to continue to coordinate with downtown programming so Wildflower supplements but does not duplicate events at Meisner Amphitheater and Sanborn Square. Several councilmembers urged quicker pilot events to test concepts and to expand volunteer and vendor partnerships.

Staff did not propose any ordinance or formal council action during the workshop; next steps described were vendor recruitment, fall art installation work and pilot programming ahead of a broader evaluation in spring 2026.","City staff presented a plan to program Wildflower Park with fitness, vendor and volunteer-led activities, potential pavilion reservations, and infrastructure upgrades under the bridge including decorative fencing, color‑changing uplighting and murals; staff flagged limited parking as a constraint and plans a phased activation through 2026.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471440,"Gardeners and nonprofit say they were not consulted about proposed relocation tied to downtown campus project",683,2020000,2703000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777993-c13124b1d688498e1b79cfc2eb75bd55&start=2020&end=2703","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777993-c13124b1d688498e1b79cfc2eb75bd55/thumbnail_2020000.jpg","/articles/6471440/Boca-Raton/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Gardeners-and-nonprofit-say-they-were-not-consulted-about-proposed-relocation-tied-to-downtown-campus-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471440-0b13f9dd6f39433b8ae0895b61c60dc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770632405&Signature=oSPk-v2aU60H3SthzmYcCMwjA5URIIOgeeuWl70h5KOXnYG-bu2lS8A0lpmMmT9CIXUANpxz0Cv4m29UT6TxVVzf7nDxecFHgjO4-IIT~tnoUOUR51JSrv8nLvxQM2BT64JifDexwsjgc8HBD8o~5Wx0aH9uO5W5pQt07o37hQ~MEJQKMttZ-mOirg-GjJucrGLDSMoHgiRGq0gSf5gshI9okGrpY~8mQXRVy5UiYxyvBnKPzezE8JyXC3ZU6Ztl7uaohibinL2TcN2xdEYmD7rl64BDdS6bT0siSun9pio~yGp4-IRWUorLx1WiDCCDEUFMdYEMLIaZQyWdvsrj7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gardeners and a nonprofit director told the council they were surprised and upset to learn of a potential plan to relocate the Susan Welchill community garden as part of the government's downtown campus redevelopment effort, saying volunteers and financial contributors were not consulted.

Gary Linell, who identified himself as an executive director of a local nonprofit and a gardener at the Susan Welchill community garden, said many gardeners discovered the relocation plan after a separate meeting and that nonprofit contributors had invested thousands of dollars and volunteer hours into native plantings, a food forest and soil improvements. \"Please don't relocate the garden,\" Linell said, adding the garden contains educational plantings and healthy soil that are difficult or impossible to replace.

Linell told the council the proposed relocation appeared to accommodate two sand volleyball courts and urged the city to consider other locations for the courts so the garden can remain in place. He said he had met with city staff since raising concerns and praised staff responsiveness but asked for greater transparency going forward.

Mayor Scott Singer and staff confirmed follow‑up conversations. Singer said staff met with gardeners after an email and that city sustainability staff had been responsive. City Manager (Mr.) Brown said the city had reached out immediately after the email and staff had met with gardeners, and Tina Jennings from sustainability had participated in discussions. Brown added that the city had previously sought to acquire a different adjacent vacant parcel for park expansion but had been unsuccessful on price.

The council did not take any formal action during the workshop; staff indicated they would continue discussions with gardeners and the nonprofit and would provide more information to concerned residents.","A longtime community garden's volunteers and nonprofit leader told council they learned belatedly of a plan to move the garden as part of the government campus project; they asked the city for transparency and urged officials to keep the garden in place.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Developers present revised downtown campus plan that reduces density, increases park space; residents demand more time and public input

Boca Raton outlines activation plan for Wildflower Park, underpass lighting and murals to be installed

Gardeners and nonprofit say they were not consulted about proposed relocation tied to downtown campus project