Boca Raton Planning Board Advances Eight Story, 222 Unit Mixed Use Complex

Boca Raton’s planning and zoning board last week unanimously voted in favor of approving a development off Clint Moore Road that would see the construction of an eight-story tower containing 222 apartments, along with several thousand square feet of restaurant and retail space. In contrast with other proposed development projects, the proposal by Atrium Residential garnered support from neighbors rather than opposition, with several residents saying they hoped the mixed-use aspect of the project would liven their community.

The building and associated parking facility has been proposed for the property at 1700 Clint Moore Road, bordered to the south by an existing office building – which will remain at the site – and to the northwest by a sliver of the Old Golf Course at Broken Sound. Part of the development plan includes rezoning a 0.9-acre swath of land currently granted to the golf course as an easement from “Recreational” to “Planned Mobility,” though officials said it is not used as part of the course property itself.

The future site of a new eight-story, 222-unit mixed use development at 1600 Clint Moore Road, Boca Raton, FL. (Planning Document)

The future site of a new eight-story, 222-unit mixed use development at 1600 Clint Moore Road, Boca Raton, FL. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

“The portion that is currently zoned as recreational is owned by the applicant,” said Jim Bell, long range project manager for the city. “There is an easement that allowed the golf course to use it, but it is not being used as such.”

According to plans submitted by Atrium Residential, the developer of the property, the complex will consist of an eight-story, 80 foot-tall building with 222 residential units and a four-level integrated parking structure. It also includes 2,015 square feet of restaurant and retail use on the first level. An office building is located to the south of the proposed mixed use complex, with the new building filling out the top 2.43-acre portion of the overall 8.02-acre property. A traffic study indicated the new building would add 965 vehicular trips per day to the site.

The residential development will include 23 units of designated affordable housing and 12 units of “workforce” housing, which will be priced on a sliding scale based on the income of tenants.

The future site of a new eight-story, 222-unit mixed use development at 1600 Clint Moore Road, Boca Raton, FL. (Planning Document)

The future site of a new eight-story, 222-unit mixed use development at 1600 Clint Moore Road, Boca Raton, FL. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The future site of a new eight-story, 222-unit mixed use development at 1600 Clint Moore Road, Boca Raton, FL. (Planning Document)

Atrium has said it will provide public infrastructure improvements along with the new building, including the construction of a new 8-foot wide shared use pathway and a new transit shelter along Northwest Broken Sound Parkway that will be used as a school bus and shuttle stop. The residential building will also include a clubhouse, resident lounge, lobby, mailboxes, gym for the exclusive use by residents and their guests, and restrooms. Outdoor amenities include a swimming pool above the parking structure with a 12,945 square-foot pool deck area and potentially a dog gathering area in the northwestern portion of the property.

The project has been proposed under the Commercial-Industrial Multifamily Development program, which seeks to allow housing in areas once planned for office space that is no longer in demand given the current market.

“This appears to be a very well-thought-out project,” said planning board chairman Arnold Sevell.

The future site of a new eight-story, 222-unit mixed use development at 1600 Clint Moore Road, Boca Raton, FL. (Planning Document)

Several neighboring residents came to the meeting to voice support for the project, telling board members that they welcomed a new property with opportunities for local restaurants or stores to be added in walking distance to an area that is largely occupied with office uses.

“I believe this project, as a resident of the area, should ease rising rent prices by re-utilizing this land,” one resident said. “Restaurants and retail may ease vehicle trips since there will be opportunities to walk places.”

The planning board advanced the proposal in a unanimous 6-0 vote. Final approval by the city council is necessary before construction can begin.