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Record of Proceedings

Boca Raton CRA Regular Meeting: October 26, 2026

Boca Raton Public Meetings — Monday, October 26, 2026
BodyBoca Raton, Florida
SessionBoca Raton Public Meetings
DateMonday, October 26, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:44:29

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:22

Good afternoon, everybody.

0:24

Thank you for coming here to our community redevelopment agency meeting.

0:28

Today is Monday, October 26, 2026.

0:31

The time is 130 p.m.

0:33

Our first order of business of the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:35

So if you can please rise for the pledge.

Unassigned speaker

0:41

I

Speaker 2

0:41

pledge allegiance.

0:43

To the flag of the United States of America.

0:46

And to the Republic for which it stands.

0:51

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Unassigned speaker

0:56

Thank

Speaker 1

0:57

you, everyone.

0:57

Ms.

0:57

Siddons, the role, please.

Speaker 3

0:59

Chair Thompson.

Speaker 1

1:00

Thankful to be here.

Speaker 3

1:01

Vice Chair Drucker.

1:02

Here.

1:02

Commissioner Grow.

1:04

Here.

1:04

Commissioner Perlman is absent.

1:06

Commissioner Sippel.

1:08

Present.

1:08

You have a quorum.

Unassigned speaker

1:10

Thank

Speaker 1

1:10

you, Ms.

1:10

Siddons.

1:11

Mr.

1:11

Director, do we have any amendments to our agenda today?

Speaker 4

1:13

Thank you, Mr.

1:14

Chair.

1:14

There are no amendments to the agenda.

Speaker 1

1:16

Very good.

1:18

Next, we have our set of regular meeting minutes from October 13th, 2026.

1:24

Are there any revisions or corrections to those minutes?

1:27

And if not, I'll entertain a motion in a second to adopt them as presented.

Speaker 2

1:32

So moved.

Unassigned speaker

1:33

Thank

Speaker 1

1:33

you, Miss Drucker.

Speaker 2

1:35

Second.

Unassigned speaker

1:36

Thank

Speaker 1

1:36

you, Miss Sippel.

1:37

Any further discussion?

Unassigned speaker

1:39

All

Speaker 1

1:39

those in favor of adoption, please say aye.

1:42

Very good.

1:43

We have no presentations today, so we can move on to quasijudicial and related public hearings.

1:48

First item is the residents of BOCA, CRP-22-01R1.

1:53

Madam Clerk, could you please read the title?

Speaker 3

1:57

CRP 2201R1.

2:00

Consideration of an individual development approval, IDA of the Boca Ratone Community Redevelopment Agency.

2:06

Amending IDA number CRP-22-01 for the residences of BOCA project, generally located on approximately 1.64 acres at 14 Southeast 4th Street, 33 Southeast 4th Street, 36 Southeast 3rd Street, and 41 Southeast 4th Street, together with approximately 0.45 acres of city rights of way approved to be abandoned with IDA number CRP-22-01 for an overall site totaling approximately 2.1 acres, which was approved to authorize the construction of a 12-story 190 unit residential building to one reduce the number of residential units from 190 to 133, a reduction of 57 residential units, two, increase the square footage of the building from 338,133 square feet to 357,585 square feet, an increase of 19,454 square feet.

3:07

Allow 5,977 square feet of retail high for restaurant use on the ground floor of the building.

3:13

Four, increase the size of the internal structured parking from 131,089 square feet to 138,312 square feet, an increase of 7,223 square feet.

3:27

5.

3:27

Increase the maximum height from 133 feet 4 inches to 139 feet 9 inches, an increase of 6 feet 5 inches, along with an increase of height of the architectural features from 148 feet 4 inches to a maximum total height not to exceed 152 feet 3 inches, an increase of 3 feet 11 inches.

3:49

6 modify certain elevations, seven, reduce open space from 38,219 square feet to 36,921 square feet, a reduction of 1,298 square feet, and eight, relocate eight service parking spaces from Southeast Fourth Street to four ground floor structured parking spaces and four parking spaces in the Southeast Third Street right of way, all together with related on-s.

Speaker 1

4:30

Siddons.

Unassigned speaker

4:30

Let'site improvements, resulting in approximately 284,586 square feet of office equivalent development remaining in downtown sub-area D, providing for appealer, procedure that will govern our public hearings today.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Urban Planning███████████████████████████27%
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Downtown Planning████████████12%
Community Engagement███████████11%
Budget Equity Analysis██████6%
Real Estate Acquisition█████5%
Public Engagement████4%
Affordable Housing██2%
Public Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Boca Raton CRA Regular Meeting: October 26, 2026

The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) convened on October 26, 2026, from 1:30 PM to 3:14 PM. Chair Andy Thomson presided over the meeting. Commissioners present were Vice Chair Yvette Drucker, Michelle Grau, and Stacy Sipple. Commissioner Jon Pearlman was absent despite being listed on the agenda. The meeting addressed two quasi-judicial development amendments, a proposed transfer of Mizner Park property to the City, and public requests regarding downtown planning.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of the October 13, 2026, CRA regular meeting were adopted unanimously (motion by Vice Chair Yvette Drucker, second by Commissioner Stacy Sipple).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • The Residences of Boca (CRP-22-01-R1):
    • Glenn Groman (former P&Z Board member, DBAC chair) expressed strong support, stating the project was fully code-compliant and architecturally superior.
    • Jonathan Rungeon (6501 Congress Ave) expressed support for the amendment because it reduces density (190 to 133 units), converts to condos, and reduces traffic trips.
  • 101 E Palmetto Park Road (CRP-24-02):
    • No public speakers testified.
  • Mizner Park Property Transfer (Resolutions 2026-09-CRA & 2026-05-CRA):
    • Ellie Zacharitis (applicant representative) spoke as a resident opposing the transfer. She argued the CRA needs the ~$3 million annual ground rent for critical downtown projects and that moving the funds was "heartbreaking" for the downtown's future.
    • Richard Warner (1322 SW 9th Ter) expressed strong support for the transfer, stating it was a vital step to stop the CRA's perceived damage to downtown and to bring the land under the "Save Boca" ordinance.
    • Fran Knackless (Bike & Pedestrian Advisory Board) opposed the transfer, citing that CRA funds essential safety infrastructure (lit crosswalks costing $80,000 each) and police enforcement.
    • Alessandro Caicedo opposed the transfer, arguing downtown Boca lacks identity and needs the funds captured within the CRA.
    • Joseph Graubart questioned whether downtown property owners in the special assessment district were specifically notified; staff confirmed standard public hearing notice was provided.
    • Jonathan Rungeon suggested the simpler solution was to amend the "Save Boca" referendum to explicitly include CRA land rather than executing a complex property transfer.
  • Public Requests (Item 8):
    • Earl Starkov requested council modernize traffic impact standards to measure cumulative area-wide mobility, using existing Florida law, within a four-week timeline.
    • Joseph Graubart used a damaged guardrail from a 2023 crash to illustrate neglected CRA-area infrastructure.
    • Richard Warner reiterated support for the property transfer.
    • Jonathan Rungeon urged broader discussion on the downtown's future as the DDRI expires.

Discussion Items

  • The Residences of Boca (CRP-22-01-R1): Staff (Susan Lesser) detailed the amendment: reduce units from 190 to 133, add a 5,977 sq ft restaurant, increase height by 6.5 ft, and add valet parking. The project meets all code requirements (40% open space, 322 parking spaces). Boards recommended approval 5-0 and 6-0. Applicant (Philip Bronstein, Wexford) highlighted full code compliance, tax revenue increase ($1.2 million city, $5.5 million total taxing authorities), 35 of 45 buyers local, and infrastructure improvements (utility undergrounding, alley paving). Commissioner questions covered mechanical parking and trash pickup schedules.
  • 101 E Palmetto Park Road (CRP-24-02): Staff (Jake McGurman) presented the revised adaptive reuse of a historic building. The project removed previously planned affordable housing, retaining office on the second floor and adding a ground-floor restaurant. A technical deviation for zero parking was requested. Applicant (Ellie Zacharitis) highlighted a robust TDM plan (100% Tri-Rail/Palm Tran passes, 25% Brightline subsidy, annual Circuit contribution 3x higher than typical downtown developments). Commissioners noted the transit value.
  • Mizner Park Property Transfer (Resolutions 2026-09-CRA & 2026-05-CRA): Staff (Deputy City Manager George Zervis) explained the resolutions would transfer CRA Mizner Park property to the City. This moves ~$3 million annual ground lease revenue from the TIF-restricted CRA fund to the general fund for broader downtown spending and subjects the land to the "Save Boca" ordinance. Staff emphasized the transfer does not affect existing ground leases. Commissioner Drucker opposed the transfer, arguing the downtown needs dedicated funding and is "dying." Chair Thomson expressed concern about the impact on the City and CRA's bonding capacity, successfully moving to postpone the items for further research. Commissioner Sipple voted against the postponement, arguing it could miss the December deadline to directly amend the "Save Boca" referendum to protect CRA land.

Key Outcomes

  • CRP-22-01-R1 (The Residences of Boca): Approved 4-0.
  • CRP-24-02 (101 E Palmetto Park Road): Approved 4-0.
  • Resolutions 2026-09-CRA (Downtown Plan Amendment) & 2026-05-CRA (Property Conveyance): Postponed 3-1 to the November 9/10, 2026 CRA meeting. Staff directed to analyze the impact on bonding capacity. Commissioner Stacy Sipple dissented from the postponement.
  • Next Steps: Staff to research and report on bonding impact. Commissioner Sipple noted concern the postponement could thwart efforts to bring CRA land under the "Save Boca" ordinance.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, everybody. Thank you for coming here to our community redevelopment agency meeting. Today is Monday, October 26, 2026. The time is 130 p.m. Our first order of business of the Pledge of Allegiance. So if you can please rise for the pledge. I pledge allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, everyone. Ms. Siddons, the role, please. Chair Thompson. Thankful to be here. Vice Chair Drucker. Here. Commissioner Grow. Here. Commissioner Perlman is absent. Commissioner Sippel. Present. You have a quorum. Thank you, Ms. Siddons. Mr. Director, do we have any amendments to our agenda today? Thank you, Mr. Chair. There are no amendments to the agenda. Very good. Next, we have our set of regular meeting minutes from October 13th, 2026. Are there any revisions or corrections to those minutes? And if not, I'll entertain a motion in a second to adopt them as presented. So moved. Thank you, Miss Drucker. Second. Thank you, Miss Sippel. Any further discussion? All those in favor of adoption, please say aye. Very good. We have no presentations today, so we can move on to quasijudicial and related public hearings. First item is the residents of BOCA, CRP-22-01R1. Madam Clerk, could you please read the title?

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