Boca Raton planning board approves 243-unit CIMD and indoor sports complex at 791 Park of Commerce

The Planning and Zoning Board of the City of Boca Raton on March 20 approved a conditional use for an amateur recreation facility and a companion site-plan amendment to convert part of an existing office building and add 243 rental units at 791 Park of Commerce Boulevard.

Board members voted 5-0 on both items. Heather Hanson, a city planner, told the board staff "supports the applicant's request for approval," noting the project meets CIMD eligibility and development standards and that the application includes a 30‑year restrictive covenant to keep 10% of units affordable and 5% workforce.

The approved plan retains the existing approximately 130,510-square-foot office building and repurposes part of it into a roughly 72,428-square-foot amateur recreation facility described by the applicant as a "sports garden" with indoor courts, climbing walls, trampoline areas, a toddler soft-play area, lockers and a food hall. The site-plan amendment also authorizes an eight‑story residential tower with 226 units, five three‑story townhomes totaling 17 units, and an eight‑level integrated parking garage.

Applicant representative Ellie Zacharias described the program mix and the housing commitments: "we are proposing that 8‑story, 226 residential unit development that will house 23 affordable units and 12 workforce units." Zacharias also said the project will provide about 62 parking spaces above the code minimum and that a gated portion of the garage will be reserved for residents.

Staff reported the project will create a net increase of approximately 2,450 daily vehicle trips, with increases of about 96 peak morning trips and 190 peak evening trips. Hanson said the Palm Beach County traffic division reviewed and approved the traffic study and that the development meets county traffic-performance standards.

The board discussion touched on aesthetic and design conditions recommended by the Citizens' Advisory Board (CAB) and staff, including screening for mechanical equipment and parking-structure lighting shielded to avoid glare onto Congress Avenue. Hanson said the CAB recommended adding screening on the north and west sides of the parking garage and an artistic treatment on the west facade visible from Congress Avenue.

Brandon Shadd, Development Services director, clarified city code limits painted wall signs and said "painted wall signs are prohibited by the code," but noted other nonpainted materials could be considered for an artistic façade treatment.

The site-plan resolution includes a technical deviation request related to parking-aisle length (a code dimension change described in staff materials) and a condition requiring the applicant to execute the restrictive government agreement that secures the affordable and workforce units for 30 years after certificate of occupancy.

The board approved the conditional-use item (5 A‑1) and then approved the site-plan resolution (5 A‑2) by the same 5‑0 tally. The approval is subject to the conditions in the staff report and the revised resolution language Hanson presented to the board.

A member of the public, Jonathan Ungein of 6501 Congress Avenue, identified himself as not opposing the project but suggested the garage facade could be improved to better integrate with Congress Avenue. Zacharias said the development team will work with city staff and the new Art in Public Places coordinator to refine the façade treatment during permitting.

The board made no additional changes to the affordability or parking commitments during the vote. The items passed on roll-call as: Chair Seville — yes; Mr. Salon — yes; Mr. Dornblazer — yes; Miss McDermott — yes; Mr. Mitchell — yes.

Planning staff noted several minor corrections to resolution titles and project descriptions that were made on the record prior to the votes.