News

By Sallie James

    The Boca Raton City Council after much disagreement last month again delayed approving an ordinance that would limit building heights in areas zoned local business and multifamily residential.
    The proposed ordinance would limit building heights in certain zoning districts to 30 feet and accessory buildings in another type of zoning district to 25 feet. Both zoning categories currently allow heights up to 50 feet with council approval.
    Discussion centered on whether eliminating an option that allows for increased height was a good idea. In the end, the ordinance was tabled until the fall.
    Robert Eisen, who works for Investments Ltd., at 215 N. Federal Highway, spoke on behalf of himself and 16 other property owners. He said eliminating an increased height option could pose problems in the future as land becomes more scarce and commercial demands increase.
    Architect Doug Mummaw echoed his concerns.
    “Change is inevitable and zoning codes are meant to be flexible,” Mummaw said.
    Mummaw and Eisen suggested establishing a planning task force that would focus on the B1 zoning in the neighborhoods east of the Intracoastal Waterway and include homeowners on the barrier island, business owners and Chabad of East Boca, which has already been granted approval to build a much taller structure in the area.
    Council member Robert Weinroth even suggested consideration of a completely different zoning district in light of the concerns.
“I think the community and everyone who has spoken ... is of a mind that we have something special on the barrier island and it needs to be handled differently,” Weinroth said.
    In other action in May, the City Council, acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, delayed action on approving an updated rule requiring developers to set aside green space and open space in front of downtown buildings. The move delays the proposal until the July 25 CRA meeting, which will give the public more of a chance to speak on the issue.