DRI amendment at BRIC deadlocked; council approves small hybrid school at BRIC with conditions
Loading...
Summary
Council split 2-2 on a motion to amend the Boca Technology Center DRI to remove about 129.6 acres (BRIC/Brick campus), so the amendment failed; separately, council approved a conditional-use permit and site-plan cleanup to allow Palm Beach International Academy to operate a hybrid middle/high school on BRIC property with a 50 on-site student cap.
A proposal to remove roughly 129.6 acres (the Brick/Boca Raton Innovation Campus parcel) from the Boca Technology Center DRI failed to pass on April 14 after a 2-2 tie, which means the motion to approve did not carry. Staff described the change as a cleanup step—most entitlements for the campus have been implemented and, as a dense urban area (a "doula"), the city already reviews amendments under its comprehensive plan and land-development regulations. The applicant and staff said the parcel removal would not create new entitlements; instead, it would align the DRI map with current development and allow BRIC to pursue an enhanced‑mobility development master plan under a separate process.
After public testimony raised questions about future density, the council split on whether to approve the DRI amendment. The city attorney advised that a 2-2 tie results in the motion not carrying; staff and the applicant discussed options including incorporating the amendment into forthcoming applications or resubmitting with additional materials.
Separately, council considered two related items for BRIC: a conditional‑use approval for Palm Beach International Academy (PBIA), a hybrid middle/high school that will occupy a 5,711‑square‑foot tenant bay, and a site‑plan amendment adding short‑term bicycle parking and reflecting as‑built conditions. Staff and the Planning & Zoning Board recommended approval subject to conditions limiting on‑site attendance to 50 students and ensuring building‑code and security standards. The council approved both actions (3‑1). Applicant counsel Bonnie Miskell and PBIA representatives described the program as a flexible, accredited model for students who need nontraditional schedules; tuition varies by student hours on campus.
The failed DRI amendment leaves several procedural options for the applicant: withdraw and resubmit, append the request to a separate master‑plan/EMD application, or return with additional information. Staff said it will work with the applicant to determine the cleanest path forward and that future EMD/master‑plan approvals could be conditioned to maintain required TDM (transportation demand management) measures such as shuttle service.
