Save Boca group submits petition signatures in attempt to force vote on redevelopment plan

A group of Boca Raton residents submitted what they said were more than 5,000 signatures to the City Council on Tuesday night in an attempt to adopt an ordinance that could halt a controversial government campus redevelopment plan.

For months, a movement of residents called Save Boca has sought to allow voters more say in what happens to public, city-owned land by gathering signatures to pass identical ordinance and charter amendments into the city’s code. The amendments would require that the city hold a referendum election for any proposal involving the selling or leasing of more than a half-acre of city-owned property.

Ordinance amendments require at least 3,676 signatures, while charter amendments require at least 6,112 signatures. While still in pursuit of collecting the required signatures for a charter amendment, Save Boca founder Jon Pearlman said he submitted 5,200 signatures to the city clerk on Tuesday night during an emotionally charged public meeting.

“The voice of the people is stronger than ever, and they are saying loud and clear, stop this project. The people do not want it,” Pearlman said during the meeting. “And we must continue collecting signatures to achieve the charter. We will not stop until we restore protection over our public land, our parks and our oceanfront property all across our beautiful city.”

Boca Raton City Clerk Mary Siddons accepted the thick stack of signatures from Pearlman but said they will have to be reviewed.

After the signatures are reviewed and if the required number is certified, the City Council would then have to hold a vote on whether to adopt the ordinance. If they do not adopt the proposed ordinance, then residents would vote in an election whether to approve the ordinance.

Unlike ordinance amendments, charter amendments go straight to an election and must be voted on by city residents to go into effect, according to the city’s code.

Charter amendments can only be undone by another charter amendment, which also has to be voted on by residents. An ordinance, on the other hand, could be overturned by the council.

Save Boca’s efforts were spurred by the city’s government campus redevelopment plan, which has been discussed for years. The 30 acres at the intersection of West Palmetto Park Road and Dixie Highway near the Brightline station are set to include nearly 1,000 apartments, a hotel, offices, shops, restaurants, and a new city hall and community center. Government and recreational facilities — the tennis center, skate park and softball field — also currently exist at the site and are planned to be relocated to other spots in the city.

Rob Frisbie Jr., a principal of the Frisbie Group, one of the two developers for the government campus redevelopment plan, said that the project could generate a $3 billion impact over the duration of its 99-year lease with the city.

“While the economic impacts are meaningful, we recognize that of equal and perhaps greater importance is creating a sense of place,” Frisbie said during the meeting. “And that’s why we think the new campus plan is so special, due to its ability to balance economic vitality with a pedestrian-scale campus that prioritizes the public realm.”

City Mayor Scott Singer previously has expressed concern over the proposed ordinance and charter amendments, saying they could negatively impact current and future organizations that lease land with the city.

The cost of elections — at  least $200,000 for one election, Singer has said — is also a concern. . An election requirement might deter future city councils from renewing or creating new leases or land sales, he said.

Pearlman has said he doesn’t think this would be a problem because voters will approve projects deemed beneficial to the public.

While members of the group celebrated the submitted signatures on Tuesday night, Pearlman said they will continue to gather signatures.

“We’re going to get the charter amendment,” he said.