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Boca Raton schedules public design charrettes and outlines recreation plans for proposed government campus redevelopment
Summary
City staff described next steps in design outreach for the proposed downtown government campus redevelopment and said many existing recreation facilities would be relocated or replaced; residents urged preservation of tennis courts, fields and trees and questioned traffic and lease terms.
Boca Raton city officials said they will hold two public design charrettes later in April and/or early May as they continue planning a proposed redevelopment of the downtown government campus that would include a new civic square, housing, and other mixed uses.
City Manager George Brown and planning staff told the City Council on April 8 that the next round of engagement will include two limited-capacity design sessions — one weeknight and one weekend afternoon — intended for about 100 participants each to review concepts and sketch ideas with the development team. Materials and drawings from the sessions will be posted to the project web page so residents who don't attend can see proposals and comment.
The city emphasized that the effort is an exploratory partnership rather than a final agreement. Brown and project staff said the city is discussing options with the Beach & Park District and other partners to relocate or replace public recreation facilities currently on the campus. Staff listed possible arrangements that would move some facilities: the children's museum historic structures would be relocated to Meadows Park; softball fields could be consolidated at Sugar Sand Park under an interlocal agreement with the Beach & Park District; and clay tennis courts would be replaced through options being developed east and west in the city.
Residents who spoke at the meeting pressed the council for stronger guarantees that tennis courts, ballfields, the skate park, open fields and existing tree canopy will be retained or replaced near downtown. Stuart Thorn and several other residents opposed a 99‑year lease or sale of city land, saying a long lease amounts to privatizing public land. Holly Shutler and others said traffic on Palmetto Park Road is already severe and warned additional housing would worsen congestion. Judy Morrow and others asked that clay tennis courts be preserved downtown.
Council members and staff repeatedly urged public participation in the charrettes and said an interim master plan will be issued in mid‑May and refined through further outreach before any master partnership agreement is sought. Brown said landscaping will try to preserve large banyan trees “as much as possible,” although staff noted at least one tree is in poor condition. He also said staff and the Beach & Park District are discussing locations for a skate park and that the city is committed to replacement of recreational amenities as the campus planning proceeds.
The city has posted project materials, submissions and proposed financial terms on the project web page (myboca.us/governmentcampus) and said all future outreach materials will be posted there.
Council members reiterated they will continue to evaluate traffic impacts, housing affordability provisions the developers are proposing, and whether housing set‑asides could be made available to city employees. No formal approvals were taken at the April 8 meeting; staff described this item as an update and next‑step outreach plan.
Residents who missed the charrettes will still be able to comment through the project website and at future workshops and open houses, staff said.
