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Residents press council on transparency, appraisals, environment and traffic during downtown P3 hearing
Summary
More than three hours of public comment focused on court rulings, consultant independence, disputed valuations, preservation of Memorial Park, potential traffic and environmental impacts, and calls for more public engagement ahead of the March referendum.
Dozens of residents filled the council chamber to comment on the proposed downtown campus P3 and the ballot language the council debated. Speakers included long‑time residents, accountants and local activists who raised legal, financial and environmental objections.
Michael Massarella, who said he has lived in Boca Raton for six decades, praised a recent court ruling that found some citizen petitions legally defective and urged the council to follow the rule of law. "When ballot language is unconstitutional or procedurally improper, it confuses the public," Massarella said.
Multiple residents challenged the project's financial presentation. Lorraine Blank said the city has omitted social and environmental costs and that the project's net present value (NPV) is weaker than advertised. Several local CPAs and financial analysts questioned assumptions in CBRE and PFM models, disputed appraisals of the 7.8‑acre parcel and urged further independent review. "Using their own figures and reading them backwards produces implausible land values," said Michelle Grau, who presented a reconciliation of developer figures.
Other speakers pressed environmental and recreation concerns. Residents warned of risks to banyan trees and urged that Memorial Park not be bulldozed; some opposed moving historic softball fields from downtown to Sugar Sand Park. Traffic safety and emergency access were common themes: speakers said a cumulative traffic analysis — covering projects already approved and proposed — was necessary before advancing the plan.
Several speakers alleged conflicts of interest between consultants, developers and political committees; city staff and PFM repeatedly answered that PFM was engaged as an independent reviewer on a fixed fee and that staff had requested and checked multiple scenarios.
Many residents urged additional public engagement: one proposed convening a town‑hall style session in the amphitheater to restore trust and allow more detailed Q&A. The council heard the comments but proceeded with ballot language deliberations that evening.
