Boca Raton Council Moves to Rezone 8-Acre Property For 120-Unit Development

A rendering of the now-approved ‘Villas on 5th’ community. (Planning Document)

A project that faced some opposition from neighbors but was ultimately recommended for approval by the city’s planning board in September would be able to move forward following a zoning change introduced Monday night.

The city council unanimously voted to introduce an ordinance rezoning the property at 2600 NW 5th Avenue, a largely undeveloped parcel that is planned to be developed with a 120-unit townhome community by Integra Investments. The ordinance, which is subject to a second vote before final adoption, changes the zoning designation of the property from Residential Low (RL) to Residential Medium High (RMH).

The “Villas on 5th,” as the community will be known, will include 22, three-story “townhome-style” apartment buildings with a total of 120 units, plus a two-story, 5,364 square foot clubhouse and pool at the property. The townhomes will be constructed on an 8.01-acre parcel. All of the units will contain three-bedrooms and span 2,013 square feet to 2,139 square feet in area.

According to Jim Bell, a long-range project manager for the city, a full-access driveway to the community will be constructed along NW 5th, plus pedestrian access points at four sidewalk connections and 16 shared walkways fronting NW 5th. Having heard concerns over density, city building staff recommended prohibiting garages from being converted to any use that would prevent the parking of motor vehicles, which was mandated as a condition of approval.

In September, some residents of the neighboring Windwood community voiced concern over the density of the project and its impact on traffic, as well as whether the units could be used for “premium” housing for FAU students. City staff also raised concern over the developer’s request to have a certificate of occupancy issued before anticipated FEMA map revisions are published. According to a report issued to council members before Monday’s meeting, since the September hearing, city staff worked with the developer on a requirement that utilities be placed underground – a condition that may not be feasible since it must be approved by the utility companies. The rezoning ordinance includes language that would require the developer to proffer documents indicating that they made their “best effort” to obtain permission to locate the utilities underground in the event that providers, such as FPL, reject the request.

The future location of the now-approved ‘Villas on 5th’ community. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The future location of the now-approved ‘Villas on 5th’ community. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

A rendering of the now-approved ‘Villas on 5th’ community. (Planning Document)

The development will come with aesthetic improvements to the NW 5th Avenue corridor, however, including the dedication back to the city of a 14-foot easement spanning a quarter-acre worth $409,000. This area will be used to support pedestrian access enhancements along the roadway, though some questions remain as to whether the developer has appropriated enough funding for vegetation and beautification. Additional improvements to the landscaping plan may be required during a staff-led review before construction begins, and may be appealed to the council if the developer disagrees with the city staff’s decision.

The density variance and rezoning associated with the project represents a middle ground between the existing zoning and past proposals. The property would previously have been allowed to be improved with only low-density residential construction – likely about 35 single-family homes. A prior developer proposed 182 units of student housing for Florida Atlantic University at the site, which never came to fruition in the face of opposition by neighboring residents.

The townhome application reduced the number of units to 120 and the height of the proposed buildings to 33-feet from 50 feet.