Boca Raton CRA approves amendment to Royal Palm Place hotel plan after debate over parking and design

The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency on Feb. 23 approved an amendment to the Royal Palm Place Hotel development approval, voting 5‑0 to adopt Resolution CRP002R7 as amended.

The amendment reduces the previously approved hotel from 144 rooms to 137, eliminates two and a half levels of below‑grade parking that were part of the 2022 approval, and replaces a 24‑space plaza with a seven‑story parking structure that would provide 501 spaces along with ground‑floor retail and restaurant space. Staff recommended approval, saying the changes reduce longstanding nonconformities under the downtown DDRI development order and are consistent with ordinance 4035’s nonconforming standards.

Why it matters

The hearing centered on parking: the applicant proposed an alternate shared‑parking analysis and technical deviations to reduce the number of required off‑street parking spaces under the DDRI rules. Senior planner Susan Lesser said staff’s analysis showed the project would replace past deficiencies and that staff supported use of the applicant’s alternate parking rates. “Staff supports the request to use these alternative rates,” Lesser told the board.

Applicant and staff presentations

Ellie Zacharias, the applicant’s…