Boca Raton planning board recommends Meisner Plaza Hotel IDA with survey and vibration conditions

The Planning and Zoning Board of the City of Boca Raton voted 6–0 on March 5 to recommend approval of an individual development approval (IDA) for the Meisner Plaza Hotel, a proposed 12‑story, 219‑room project in downtown Boca Raton, with two conditions requested by nearby residents.

Susan Lesser, senior planner, told the board staff recommended approval and said the project proposes roughly 275,412 square feet of building area, about 30,840 square feet of retail and restaurant space, two levels of internal parking and a requested technical deviation to reduce required off‑street parking from 557 spaces to 328. "Therefore, the development services department recommends approval of this application," Lesser said.

The applicant, represented by Ellie Zacharaitis, said the application was amended since a September submittal to remove a city‑owned parcel and related underground parking and to reduce room count from 242 to 219. Zacharaitis described pedestrian‑oriented features, wide sidewalks, a signature central staircase and a voluntary Transportation Demand Management program that includes transit subsidies. "This to me is the most beautiful project I've ever had the opportunity to work on," Zacharaitis said, urging the board to consider the downtown vision voters approved decades ago.

Opposition at the public hearing centered on potential impacts to residents of nearby Tower 155. Ellen Bogdanoff, an attorney representing Tower 155 residents, said the condominium is in litigation over construction defects and urged the board to require a pre‑construction structural survey and vibration testing. "We are in litigation...we believe the building is more vulnerable than it normally would be when something of this magnitude is being constructed next to it," Bogdanoff said, asking for conditions to protect residents.

Multiple Tower 155 residents and other speakers raised concerns about traffic, alley safety if the alley is widened to two‑way operation, loss of views and whether the project's parking reduction would be sufficient. Residents asked how deliveries, moving trucks and trash pickup would be handled in a widened alley and what controls would restrict garage access. Other public commenters supported the project for adding walkable retail and hotel inventory.

In response, the applicant offered to work with Tower 155 and staff on condition language and signaled agreement to a structural survey and vibration testing during the construction process. The city attorney said staff and counsel would draft specific condition language to carry forward to the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) record.

Chair Savelle moved to recommend approval "as proposed" with the two added conditions (a survey of Tower 155 and vibration testing); Vice Chair Dornblazer seconded. The clerk called the roll and the motion passed 6–0. The board's recommendation will be forwarded to the CRA for final action.

Key project figures mentioned at the hearing include: an approximately 1.65‑acre site, a 12‑story building with a maximum architectural height up to about 141 feet 6 inches, 219 hotel rooms, approximately 30,840 square feet of retail/restaurant space, transfer of 154,815 square feet of office‑equivalent development between downtown subareas, and a requested reduction in required off‑street parking from 557 to 328 spaces. The applicant also proffered an annual contribution of $27,661 to downtown transit programs and a TDM coordinator position.

The CRA is scheduled to consider the item next; staff and the applicant will finalize condition language before that hearing.