News

By Sallie James

    An upscale 70-unit condo complex proposed for the southwest corner of South Ocean Boulevard and East Palmetto Park Road will be even more luxurious than originally planned.
    Developers tweaked a proposal originally approved in March, adding four, 6,000-square-foot penthouse units to the Ocean Palm project and expanding the size of lower units by revising the internal configuration and enclosing roof areas. Boca Raton’s Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved the revisions Aug. 17.
    The project will now head to the City Council for consideration.
    “I’ve got to commend the development team for reaching out to the community,” said Mark Simmons, a member of the Riviera Civic Association board of directors, which represents homeowners in the surrounding areas. “We support the project and think it will be a great addition to the neighborhood.”
    The project originally was proposed to be 65 feet tall but will now rise to 75 feet, or seven stories. The revised plans also include mechanical screening and decorative elements.
    In addition to the four new penthouse units, the project includes 20 two-story, three-bedroom units of 2,000 square feet; 32 two-bedroom units of 1,855 square feet; and 14 three-bedroom end units of 4,400 square feet. Each unit will have a private enclosed garden or balcony area as well.
    The project also will include 8-foot sidewalks along Ocean Boulevard and East Palmetto Park Road; an increase in the number of parallel parking spots along East Palmetto Park Road from six to nine; bicycle racks and benches; and a linear public park/walkway along Palmetto Park Road and Southeast Wavecrest Way, which Ocean Palm will maintain.
    The project includes underground parking with 158 spaces.
    The property for the project consists of three parcels: one vacant, one with an unoccupied office building and parking garage and one with a 20-unit condo. The condo building and office building and garage would be torn down to make way for Ocean Palm, according to attorney Bonnie Miskel.
    Resident Norman Sloane, president of the Marbella Condo Association, complained his association was not consulted about the project. The 155-unit condominium is just south of South Beach Park and the fire station. He requested the project be placed on hold.
    “We’ve been totally ignored as a major stakeholder,” he said.
    But attorneys for Ocean Palm said they had met with “360 degrees of our neighbors” in an effort to explore any concerns.