Boynton Beach CRA seeks marina overlay, community survey for Boynton Beach Inn site and waterfront strategy

The Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency board and the City Commission at a special joint workshop on Nov. 8 directed staff to research a marina overlay district for property along the Intracoastal Waterway, develop a short community survey about the recently acquired Boynton Beach Inn site and return recommended language and timing for review in January.

Acting CRA executive director Tim Tack opened the discussion by saying the purpose of the workshop was to "discuss the overall visioning" for the CRA and the city's approach to property acquisition, including whether to prioritize waterfront commercial and marina‑oriented redevelopment. "At the 09/18/2025 special joint meeting, the city commission and the CRA board called for a special joint workshop... to discuss the overall visioning," Tack said.

Commissioners asked staff to define what counts as "waterfront" before applying an overlay, noting some properties advertised as waterfront can be small ponds rather than the Intracoastal Waterway. One commissioner said clarifying that the overlay would be tied to the Intracoastal — not small inland ponds — would avoid unintended property‑classification and tax consequences for long‑term residents.

The board gave staff consensus direction to: research options for a marina overlay district focused on the Intracoastal Waterway; return a short community survey for the Boynton Beach Inn parcel and other priority sites for review at the first December commission meeting; and bring back a set of deliverables in January, including lighting and acquisition studies. City legal counsel Catherine Rosmail told the board she would "take your direction to bring something back for you to consider" on related legal items.

City project staff provided a demolition timing update for the Boynton Beach Inn. Project lead Kevin said demolition could begin approximately 60 days after the contract award, subject to asbestos clearance and permitting, and that a January start remained a conservative estimate: "...there might be a window between Thanksgiving and Christmas... January would be a safe bet," he said. The board asked staff to time a public outreach effort and a survey to coincide with demolition notifications.

Why it matters: the Board and Commission are seeking to convert land‑holding activity into an explicit, public vision that guides future acquisitions and redevelopment. Commissioners described the goal as gaining leverage over what private development is allowed on key parcels such as the Inn and properties along Federal Highway, rather than passively holding land without an articulated plan.

Next steps: staff will draft survey language and an outline of marina overlay research and return recommended questions and a timeline to the commission and CRA board for review; legal staff will consult bond counsel and report back on funding and acquisition options.

Speakers quoted in this article are drawn from the meeting transcript: Tim Tack, Kevin (city project staff) and Catherine Rosmail.