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Boca Raton adopts 'Save Boca' ordinance and refers charter amendment to voters; timing and narrow exemptions draw public scrutiny
Summary
Council adopted ordinance 57-84 making it city law that land greater than 0.5 acre cannot be sold or leased without voter approval (5–0) and approved a resolution to place an identical charter amendment before voters (resolution 35-2026 passed 4–1). Residents urged tightening exemption language and faster scheduling of the ballot measure.
The Boca Raton City Council on May 12 adopted an ordinance that would prohibit the city from alienating, leasing or selling any city-owned land larger than one-half acre without approval at a referendum. The ordinance (57-84) passed unanimously 5–0; the council also adopted resolution 35-2026 to submit a mirror charter amendment to the voters, which passed 4–1.
City attorney Mr. Koehler framed the ordinance and charter amendment as the staff implementation of citizen-driven "Save Boca" petitions, and he described narrowly drafted exceptions negotiated with petition representatives, including limited nonprofit leases that do not enlarge a leased parcel beyond the half-acre threshold, utility easements that serve residents, city use for public facilities or operations, and constrained temporary recreational/community uses where the city retains possession and control. Koehler said the text was refined to block workarounds such as slicing parcels or serial renewals of temporary uses.
Residents spoke during public comment both in support and with cautions. Dr. Lorraine Blank said she supported the ordinance but urged tightening of exemptions to avoid ambiguity about "temporary" or "ongoing" uses and to prevent serial renewals that could effectively convey control of public land. Petition organizer Mike Liebelson urged speed in placing the question before voters and expressed concern that the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections had indicated an election timeline no earlier than March 2027; speakers asked the council to pursue earlier options if feasible.
Council discussion emphasized that the ordinance and charter amendment embody community will reflected in petition campaigns, while acknowledging that legal language and narrow exceptions would require careful drafting to prevent circumvention. The ordinance, once adopted by the council, takes immediate effect; the charter amendment requires voter approval and the resolution directs the city to submit the measure at the next available election but no later than the March 2027 uniform municipal election.
Votes recorded in the meeting were: ordinance 57-84 adopted 5–0; resolution 35-2026 to place the charter amendment on the ballot adopted 4–1 (Councilmember Drucker recorded as opposed). Several residents asked the council to pursue options to hold an earlier special election if the county cannot schedule the measure sooner.
