Council member urges ordinance to address long-delayed construction projects, cites potential structural and life-safety risks

Council member Wachter on Sept. 22 urged the Boca Raton City Council to direct staff to draft an ordinance targeting significantly delayed construction projects, saying such projects can pose structural, water-intrusion, fireproofing and other life-safety risks.

Wachter said the city has several stalled or delayed high-rise projects that have been exposed to the elements for extended periods and that engineers may need to conduct forensic structural assessments before work resumes. “There are some significantly delayed construction projects in this city that can cause structural and life safety risks… engineers should be doing a forensic structural assessment before this work can resume,” the council member said.

The proposed ordinance, as described by Wachter, would require enhanced inspection, remediation and compliance measures for inactive or exposed sites before construction reactivates. He said the intent is to protect public safety and ensure long-delayed projects are brought back into code compliance before they advance.

City staff responded that they are evaluating the issue. “Staff is evaluating the issue that Mr. Wader [Wachter] has identified and will be coming forward with a recommendation,” Brown said.

Wachter asked for council consensus that staff proceed with drafting potential ordinance language for later review, and he said the proposal could be discussed at a workshop if council prefers. No ordinance was introduced or adopted at the Sept. 22 meeting; the item was a request for staff follow-up and direction.

Next steps: Staff will evaluate the proposal and return with a recommended approach and draft language for council consideration, should the council give direction to proceed.