[{"_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",6565385,"mediaKeyId","3220746-cde4f91b232c19bd69380cfd4366a9ff","parentId",3220746,"title","Boca Raton council presses for clearer direction, connectivity and data as campus master plan moves toward implementation","audioSeconds",6247,"startMs",3263000,"endMs",9510000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3220746-cde4f91b232c19bd69380cfd4366a9ff&start=3263&end=9510","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3220746-cde4f91b232c19bd69380cfd4366a9ff/thumbnail_3263000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6565385/Boca-Raton/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Boca-Raton-council-presses-for-clearer-direction-connectivity-and-data-as-campus-master-plan-moves-toward-implementation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565385-7b92a147fdf3d1a6e3a1088760790c4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156971&Signature=eGPlRvHcqXcvz35aoa58ZApwxYYB-EsArh7uIVw8CmvW76TyvUUT6kN-fSKMFQj1MatYALLj6F8cNW~AIq2IEqe-urrKIma6l5MYvGZM-oCwEso9aZ-nzrr1ZQCUERu61A5OcY8iSu54eRbgh1JGXmqERgTmu5srtCKwPQpbSJ4GhpI7TpCdXVwtjXyZqhUMfTjNg6AtPXkDASF9fTN1P-liv9J03y2-UEpOG0NgkML9EzYlOWm23wZBjuGrUrDwKEiXp~M2FQphU7-FJenDPV8hnvw~Zvs4~2bEPSyu9GqANwJnrc7TxgB4Oy26ngPsO9luTcczfrBmVGRABQtJgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Boca Raton","date","2025-05-07T08:57:00Z","article","Mayor Mary Singer and other elected officials and staff framed the redevelopment of the downtown government campus and its linked projects as Boca Raton’s top generational priority, saying the city must balance a bold, walkable vision with practicality on infrastructure, finance and timing.

The workshop facilitators and council repeatedly returned to the same question: how many related projects must be completed together for the campus plan to succeed, and which items can or should move independently? “This is the most important generational legacy-driven priority for both council and staff and community,” moderator Trina Pulliam said at the opening of the discussion on the campus and its “plus plus” items. She pressed for consensus on high-level outcomes so staff could translate direction into a site plan and land development regulations.

Council members and staff broadly agreed that the campus plan should create a mixed-use, walkable downtown that supports living, working and visiting the city, and that it should be integrated into the surrounding neighborhoods. Mayor Mary Singer said the campus should be “a vibrant center that ties to the rest of Boca Raton,” with a mix of retail, restaurants, office and residential uses and connections to transit and nearby parks.

At the same time, several council members stressed trade-offs and implementation constraints. Councilmember (last name) Wigdier told colleagues the plan must be tied into other projects — the Palmetto Park Road corridor, Fourth–Sixth Avenue shared-use improvements, and the city’s Vision Zero street-safety goals — to avoid doing work now that would require rework later. “If we develop this project and then don’t include Vision 0 and Safe Streets for All in the development of this project, but then two years later we’re saying … now we’re gonna do Safe Streets for All, then it’s a complete waste of time,” he said.

Staff and council also flagged water, sewer and other infrastructure as constraints that could change phasing. Councilmember (last name) Wiger asked the staff to analyze long-term utility capacity and how development rates will affect water and sewer needs out to 2035 and 2050. Public safety and emergency access also informed discussion: fire and police leaders warned that taller, denser development increases apparatus and staffing needs.

The council pushed staff for clearer policy-and-cost options rather than open-ended debate. Several members said they wanted a limited number of discrete choices, each with estimated costs, schedule impacts and trade-offs. “When staff poses the question, come to us and say, here are some alternatives, council, for you to make the choice,” Mayor Singer said. Councilmembers asked staff to prepare an “open questions” list and to convene a follow-up workshop once the developer’s interim master plan submission and a related term sheet are available.

On the geographic scope, councilmembers agreed to codify regulations for the campus that could later inform a broader downtown land‑development rewrite. Several members asked staff to study whether to extend transit‑oriented code changes slightly south of Palmetto Park Road to include a couple commercial blocks not presently in the redevelopment boundaries; staff said that could require rezoning south of Palmetto Park Road but would be feasible.

Council also asked staff and consultants for more and better data in two areas: (1) transportation and streets — speed and crosswalk/complete‑streets designs that preserve pedestrian connectivity while addressing traffic flows; and (2) finance — clear revenue forecasts and timelines for capital projects so the city can determine the scale and timing of infrastructure and staffing investments.

Next steps, as directed in the workshop, include: staff producing a short list of decision points with alternative options, costs and timelines; a council workshop timed after the consultant interim master plan delivery; and closer coordination of campus master plan elements with the Recreation Master Plan, Fourth–Sixth Avenue improvements and Palmetto Park Road discussions so the projects align rather than conflict. Staff repeatedly said the city can phase implementation but needs policymaker direction on priorities and acceptable trade-offs.

Ending: Council members closed the session asking staff to return with concrete policy options and better trend data to underpin decisions. Council and staff agreed to reconvene the discussion at the next workshop once the consultant’s interim master plan and term sheet are in hand.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Boca Raton - Strategic Planning Sessions - Day 1 - May 07, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor Mary Singer and other elected officials and staff framed the downtown government campus redevelopment as Boca Raton’s top generational priority, and used Wednesday’s strategic planning workshop to press for clearer policy choices, connectivity plans and data to inform implementation.","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},6565375,"Boca leaders emphasize staffing, equipment and communication as public‑safety demands rise with downtown change",1237,9588000,10825000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3220746-cde4f91b232c19bd69380cfd4366a9ff&start=9588&end=10825","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3220746-cde4f91b232c19bd69380cfd4366a9ff/thumbnail_9588000.jpg","/articles/6565375/Boca-Raton/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Boca-leaders-emphasize-staffing-equipment-and-communication-as-publicsafety-demands-rise-with-downtown-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565375-2aeecda54009a61f7cc2bf4b2358d088/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156971&Signature=PiKTLqOn6IjpKzYRMe4yUJv9sT~V9rFBj13r7-dGsXRpZ7pk2pq-sfmdoT306R6Hwhd7J2U110EI9IAg-~zcK39NsETHbCTPlgGAnpoun4pWHkpE2ZJe3CSCYRFanHKt4dV5SqgI167XbwLtFOflz1NwUGbbTmlbDLzxY~cdnVPZBIX71Y35yo3i5NgaTyo4oxg97A-CeCH2ek7G3dlgU-PM9RFRqL~uYIjT7hoyy0zFzORCxtkSx9JoLVyAgxkaa7pNi7q4IpmDT6-YDx8P3vcmq9X-C~F0noz8lc~pIcbU6Xpc2O4GxDG4Zs14X3CyWsMPL6E4rbD~ICMypGVj8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City public safety leaders told the council that denser, more vertical development in and around the government campus will increase apparatus and staffing needs and require early coordination on access, station siting and long‑range budgets.

Chief Muscio described the fire and police strategy in the context of the campus and related growth: as downtown becomes denser and buildings taller, response needs change and public safety must be able to access and fight fires in vertical structures. “As we get more dense … especially with fire service … we’re also gonna need staffing,” Fire Chief (last name) Treanor said. He added that taller development requires more personnel and specialized equipment and that the city should examine whether additional stations or personnel are needed as the center densifies.

Councilmembers and staff pushed for better data and advance planning to match staffing and apparatus purchases with expected growth. City staff noted that procuring certain large vehicles and equipment can take years and that budgeting for long‑lead items must be part of capital planning tied to development timing.

Several council members emphasized the role of communication in maintaining residents’ sense of safety. Elected officials and staff pointed to recent emergency notifications as examples of how quick, transparent communication can reduce public concern during incidents. Councilmembers also asked whether the city should explore supplemental roles — for example, ambassador or daytime outreach programs used in other cities — to increase visible presence and non‑enforcement public safety engagement without requiring sworn officer time.

Ending: Council directed staff to include public‑safety resource forecasting in the campus master‑plan implementation work — including staffing, apparatus, and station location analysis — and to return with budget implications and options.","Police and fire chiefs told council that denser, taller development and downtown redevelopment will increase call volume and specialized needs; council asked staff to incorporate public‑safety requirements into master‑plan and infrastructure decisions.",{"_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},6565379,"Downtown residents press Boca Raton leaders for safer streets, more trash bins and certainty on tennis courts",716,648000,1364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3220746-cde4f91b232c19bd69380cfd4366a9ff&start=648&end=1364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3220746-cde4f91b232c19bd69380cfd4366a9ff/thumbnail_648000.jpg","/articles/6565379/Boca-Raton/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Downtown-residents-press-Boca-Raton-leaders-for-safer-streets-more-trash-bins-and-certainty-on-tennis-courts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565379-da55eab475ccc9cada97f9c536fdd765/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156971&Signature=gvSE7SSUlqXouXHtyPKCL4dSsOcHa8dlwoHEZMnLks5g9pJJ6~h5BuqZJ1sllabvZZyxpnCXRWdITWECf7J6KfvaOQlVYpS6zAtMoSMutRvF8gRLSKc0pv4aJnFjtCZ1CdtR5xJdGvSqqdm3k1A73Zp30ZrtYnmvdsLjkDznoSjrAGsYIxMrnESy68MYsWn7CtyoGjYhSKC2tFjeUVgKH5LpZQ0wpBlqWBcl0t8XqYMISj~ov0~rcAWNreKlI4PvxCRaA7ZWEjksKs2LqTceFDfQZFvFU~7XAE1ngmZ6EDJdLR8NSjH59pvO9ujTqtASjzg5RKp7LVdpprW3xUUnag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public comment at the strategic planning workshop focused on safety, downtown walkability, trash and active‑recreation amenities, with speakers asking the council to follow up during project planning.

Monique Grama, who identified her address as downtown, thanked the city for increased downtown speed enforcement but asked for more: “Boca continues to be a dangerous place to walk and bike,” she said, and urged “regular rigorous traffic enforcement downtown” as well as lower speed limits and “no right on red” at key intersections to protect pedestrians. She also asked the city to add trash bins along corridors such as Palmetto and A1A where people repeatedly litter, noting a recent bin at the downtown post office reduced waste in that pocket.

Robert Duquette urged expanded transparency and greater long‑range planning for public safety and rezoning notifications. He requested mailed notice for residents within 500 feet of significant rezonings or site‑plan amendments and urged caution about running a new four‑lane roadway through a 70‑acre park area next to a rail crossing, which he said raised safety concerns.

Jonathan Ungian and other commenters urged the council to empower city planners to manage development around the downtown and mall areas in ways that create walkable, mixed‑use neighborhoods rather than piecemeal residential insertions adjacent to older commercial uses.

Judy Morrow spoke for tennis players and nearby residents about the Tierra/ Terra Frisbee campus options. She said the February plan initially proposed removing 10 tennis courts downtown; later options showed eight, five or two replacement courts, and she asked the council to clarify whether eight courts would be guaranteed. “What guarantee do we have we’re gonna get 8?” she asked, citing concern among longtime players who walk or bike to downtown courts.

Mayor Mary Singer and the facilitators told public speakers that the workshop’s focus was high‑level strategy and that some site‑specific details — number of tennis courts, individual curb/stop‑sign changes — might be addressed in project‑level meetings and the campus master plan review. Staff and council later acknowledged the tennis issue and the recreation master plan will be part of the campus‑plus conversations.

Ending: Councilmembers and staff said they will incorporate public comments into the campus master plan review and encouraged residents to follow subsequent project workshops where site‑specific decisions will be considered.","Multiple residents at public comment urged the council to improve downtown pedestrian safety through expanded enforcement and lower speed limits, add public trash receptacles along key corridors, and clarify plans for downtown tennis courts amid competing Tierra/Terra Frisbee redevelopment options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Boca Raton council presses for clearer direction, connectivity and data as campus master plan moves toward implementation

Boca leaders emphasize staffing, equipment and communication as public‑safety demands rise with downtown change

Downtown residents press Boca Raton leaders for safer streets, more trash bins and certainty on tennis courts