Boca Council votes opposition to Tri-Rail project - again

By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR

The Boca Raton City Council is vehemently opposed to a proposed million square foot development adjacent to the Tri-Rail station on Yamato Road.

So vehement, in fact, that council members – for a second time – adopted a resolution of opposition Tuesday night.

City Councilman M.J. “Mike’ Arts proposed the motion, noting that the council, on Feb. 26, unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the massive development that would include homes, retail and office space.

The earlier vote was based on a report from former Mayor Steven Abrams, who had attended a meeting of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA).  He said the agency, which operates Tri-Rail, was pondering two proposals for the property next to the Boca station, and had chosen to go with the larger project.

Abrams told council members the development is 15 times larger than what is allowed on the property.

Arts Tuesday night noted Abrams’ report and the unanimous vote that followed.  “But we have a new council now. Admittedly, there is only one new face, but we have a new mayor.  It just seems to me that when [Mayor Abrams] made his objections to the Tri-Rail board, it was not taken very seriously” because it was nearly the end of his term.

“We are just reaffirming our position on the Tri-Rail site.”

Arts’ resolution, like the earlier one, was adopted unanimously.

Councilman Bill Hager explained that he was voting in favor of the resolution, but it was not an indication that he wanted to stifle debate.

City Manager Leif Ahnell said the area being eyed for development is currently designated as a “rail site.”  He said he has seen a copy of the proposed plan for the property and it contains “much more than what is allowed.”

In a related matter, Ahnell said a “transportation summit” meeting is being planned to discuss the matter.   He said June 25 is the tentative date, and the Tri-Rail board is considering holding the session on the campus of Florida Atlantic University.  The city manager said Boca would volunteer its new 6500 Building as a possible site, if needed.

As a result, it appears the May 27 workshop meeting the council had planned with members of Tri-Rail and any other affected parties, will not be held.

Among those being invited to the session are the state Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, large employers and officials from Palm Beach and Broward Counties.

Dale M. King can be reached at 561-549-0832 or at dking@bocanews.com.