Weston commission authorizes solicitation of offers for Town Center Park

WESTON, Fla. — The Weston City Commission voted unanimously June 16 to authorize staff to solicit offers or proposals for the potential conveyance of Town Center Park, the city-owned parcel in Weston Towne Centre that contains an amphitheater, boardwalk and other park amenities.

The vote, on a resolution presented as agenda item 6, followed a detailed staff presentation and more than an hour of commission discussion about maintenance costs, liability, public access and the possibility of future redevelopment by the adjacent property owner, Belmont Investment Group.

City Manager Mr. Decker told the commission the park is largely surrounded by private property and has limited active uses. “Over the last 4 years, we've spent about $700,000 to maintain the park itself and the facilities that we have there, which include the bathroom and the amphitheater,” he said. He added the park has been the source of disturbances and at least one case of litigation, and noted that "by state statute, we could not necessarily just negotiate, directly with the Belmonts. We would need to at least see if there were other potential, proposals out there." The solicitation process, Decker said, would likely take several months and run over the summer, with results returned for discussion in the fall.

Commissioners voiced differing priorities. Vice Mayor Henry Mead said he supported exploring offers while reserving key pedestrian connections: “I think the worst condition that we'll be in is we're back where we are right now. So, we could explore that, see what's available.” Commissioner Jaffe said he would welcome retail or light entertainment development along the lakefront but urged that the city retain right-of-way for the walkway: “I would like to see some redevelopment ... I would also like to see the city retain the right of way to the walkway along the lake all through there.”

Commissioner Melina McPhee cited the city’s maintenance costs, liability and parking constraints and said she was open to entertaining offers: “I would absolutely love to entertain the idea of selling this property ... I am completely open minded and I would like the professionals, the developers, and those that would like to purchase (to) bring those ideas to us.” Commissioner Fabio Andrade expressed concern about losing green space and the risk of an unknown future buyer if the city opened the site to public proposals: “My concern will be ... if we go open on this and we go for bid and they don't get the best bid to the city. What happens?”

City staff and the city’s legal representative emphasized the commission retains control. Mr. Cole told commissioners putting the property out to bid would not obligate the city to accept any proposal. Decker said staff’s preliminary view would be to offer the town center footprint generally from just behind Duffy’s to just behind Cigar Bar, while encouraging the commission to consider retaining public right-of-way for the lakeside walkway and certain fronting areas.

Commissioners also discussed discrete repair and upkeep items for the site: staff estimated an approximately $60,000 roof estimate for the band shell and said the city does not currently track visitor counts for the park. Decker noted offers may be limited because of access constraints — much of the park is surrounded by private property — and that the city would have the right to reject any proposal deemed unsuitable.

Votes at a glance: The commission approved the resolution authorizing solicitation of offers or proposals for Town Center Park (agenda item 6) on a 5-0 roll call. Earlier in the meeting the consent agenda passed 5-0 as well; both motions were moved and seconded by commissioners and recorded by roll call.

What happens next: Staff will prepare and publish a solicitation (RFP/RFO) over the summer, convene a selection committee to rank responses and report back to the commission in the fall. Any redevelopment of the site would later require site-plan approval by the commission and could include deed restrictions or easements to preserve public access if the commission chooses to negotiate those conditions.

The commission’s unanimous vote authorizes staff to begin the solicitation process; the city retains the authority to reject proposals and to require subsequent approvals for any redevelopment.