Boca Raton council backs interim master plan for 30‑acre government campus after heated debate

The Boca Raton City Council voted 4‑1 on June 10 to direct staff to proceed with the current iteration of an interim master plan for the city’s 30‑acre government campus, a public‑private partnership with Terra Frisbie that would reconfigure downtown public land, parks and municipal facilities.

Mayor Singer, who moved to advance the milestone step, said the vote authorizes staff to continue negotiations with the partner on the plan’s program uses, development intensities and general layout — not to grant zoning entitlements or final development rights. "I'm prepared to move forward on the next step as we continue to unfold," Singer said, asking staff to keep public outreach and negotiations ongoing.

Council member Thompson was the lone dissent. Thompson said he shares the goal of improving downtown facilities but still has “so many questions” about the project’s scale, phasing, financing and whether public land might be monetized. "There are so many questions that overwhelm my ability to move forward and approve this at the moment," Thompson said, and announced he would vote no.

The meeting included extended public comment and a detailed staff presentation. Supporters and opponents focused on several recurring issues: whether the plan preserves or monetizes existing parkland, how and when civic buildings (including city hall and police facilities) will be funded, traffic and parking design, and guarantees about the amount and location of recreation. Judy Morrow, a long‑time resident, urged the council to preserve and expand tennis courts downtown and said she had gathered hundreds of petitions asking that tennis remain part of the campus plan.

City staff and the developer team repeatedly emphasized that tonight’s action was a milestone authorizing continued work — not a final development order. Staff noted the interim master plan narrows many options and sets basic development parameters; subsequent phases will negotiate financial terms, phasing, environmental review and required land‑use approvals. The mayor and several council members said those later steps will include additional public outreach.

The motion to direct staff to inform the partner that the council is ready to move forward passed 4‑1 (Thompson opposed). The council also discussed holding future executive sessions related to pending litigation that intersect with broader campus issues; the city attorney said those would be scheduled with public notice where required.

Votes at a glance: motion to direct staff to proceed on the interim master plan — outcome: approved, vote 4‑1 (Thompson opposed).

What’s next: staff will continue negotiations on financial terms and the detailed master partnership agreement; subsequent regulatory approvals, environmental reviews and financial plans will be presented to council for separate votes.