The Planning and Zoning Board has recommended the City Council approve plans for a 70-unit residential building at the southwest corner of Palmetto Park Road and A1A. Rendering provided
By Mary Hladky
After years of negotiations and design changes, a 70-unit luxury residential building with ocean views is headed to the Boca Raton City Council after a crucial city board recommended on April 20 that the council approve the project.
One South Ocean, on 3.5 acres at the intersection of Palmetto Park Road and State Road A1A, was expected to be a condominium. But when nearby residents asked for clarity on that at the Planning and Zoning Board meeting, project attorney Bonnie Miskel said it would be an apartment building.
Speaking later to The Coastal Star, Miskel said plans for the building are not firm, and it could become a condo.
Katie Barr MacDougall, president of the Riviera Civic Association, which includes residents of the Riviera, Por La Mar and Sun & Surf neighborhoods, said her organization does not object to luxury rentals with traditional leases.
Civic association members have long negotiated with landowner Ramon Llorens and architect Jorge Garcia of GarciaStromberg over their objections to the seven-story project.
They welcomed the fact it would replace dilapidated townhomes and an old office building, and praised the project’s design. But they wanted changes that would protect neighbors from noise, and were pleased that Llorens and Garcia were willing to grant many of their requests.
Eliminated from the project were a ground-floor restaurant and bar that would have been used by residents and their guests, and a children’s recreation area.
The only entrance to the property and the main exit will be on A1A, which will reduce traffic on Wavecrest Way. Drivers also will be able to exit by turning right onto Wavecrest Way.
The pool was relocated from the fourth to the seventh floor and will have a bar and small cafe. Two ground-floor lap pools were eliminated and replaced with a fitness terrace and gardens.
With significant landscaping, 53% of the site is green space — far more than the city requires.
Ten-foot-wide sidewalks will be installed along A1A and Palmetto Park Road, and 8-foot-wide sidewalks along Palm Avenue and Wavecrest Way. Power lines will be placed underground, but only on the owner’s property and so will not affect power poles west of the property on Palmetto Park Road.
Four people who live in the Marbella condo on the east side of A1A voiced objections about noise at the planning and zoning meeting.
But Linda Sommer, the property manager of the Meridian condo on the north side of Palmetto Park Road, had a different take.
“We think the changes are awesome,” she said. “Our residents are very excited.”
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