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Boca Raton council introduces ordinance to advance Terra Frisbie downtown campus; public erupts over referendum language
Summary
Council introduced Ordinance 57‑69 to authorize a public‑private partnership with Terra Frisbie to redevelop the downtown campus, setting a Jan. 20 final vote and a March 10 referendum. Residents pressed council for clearer referendum language and protections for Memorial Park.
The Boca Raton City Council on Tuesday introduced an ordinance authorizing a public‑private redevelopment transaction with Boca Raton City Center LLC (the Terra Frisbie proposal) and scheduled final action for Jan. 20.
Deputy City Manager Andy Lukasick and CBRE advisers described the plan as a mixed‑use, transit‑oriented project with office, retail, hotel, residential and roughly 17 acres of civic space west of Northwest 2nd Avenue. Lukasick said the city's action tonight would only introduce the Master Partnership Agreement and that "you'll consider approval of that ordinance on January 20," adding that any lease or construction would require subsequent planning approvals and financing before moving forward.
City Attorney Kaler told the council the Master Partnership Agreement (MPA) sets the framework and protections for the city but "the MPA itself does not authorize any construction of these facilities" and emphasized that leases cannot commence until development approvals and financing are in place. Kaler also said the agreement includes enforcement remedies if the partner fails to meet obligations.
The ordinance introduction followed a prolonged public comment period in which hundreds of residents and dozens of speakers expressed strong opinions on both sides. Save Boca founder John Perlman urged the council to withhold approval until after a voter referendum, saying residents had delivered petitions and that "do not approve ordinance 57 69 or sign any contract with Boca Raton City Center LLC prior to the referendum vote on March 10." Several speakers raised fiscal concerns, citing discount rates, lease structure, and the length of a proposed 99‑year lease.
Critics repeatedly called for clearer referendum language in the MPA. Council Member Thompson urged explicit wording to ensure that a postponement of the March 10 vote "shall not constitute an approval of the referendum" and proposed language to require rescheduling to the next available election in the event of delay. City Attorney Kaler said he would incorporate clarifying language and remove unnecessary survivability clauses that could otherwise keep certain provisions alive if the referendum failed.
Supporters of the project, including planning advocates, argued the plan would revive underused downtown parcels, create jobs and expand public spaces. Urban planner Jason Haber described the project as the kind of people‑centered development cities should embrace and told the council it would bring vitality to the Brightline station area.
Next steps: the council will vote on the implementing ordinance and related legal documents on Jan. 20. A citywide referendum on the project is scheduled for March 10; staff said the MPA language will be revised to make the council's intent about that referendum clearer.
Actions and votes recorded at tonight's meeting were procedural: the ordinance was introduced but not adopted; the council scheduled final action for Jan. 20.
Context: Council presentations and public comments spanned project history, a percentage‑rent revenue model, differing financial assumptions (CBRE and the city's consultant PFM used different discount rates), and safeguards the city would retain under the MPA.
