Boca Raton voters emphatically rejected a referendum Tuesday on the One Boca redevelopment project, which would have authorized a public-private partnership for a nearly century-long lease of 7.8 acres to redevelop part of the city-owned government campus.
Voters rejected the idea by nearly 75% or 3-to-1, a move that could be seen as a rebuke Mayor Scott Singer, who backed the referendum. The referendum was Mayor Singer's legacy inititative.
The proposal, driven by Frisbie Group and Terra, would have developed near the Brightline Boca Raton station to the Boca Raton City Center, LLC. Proponents of the project also framed it as a "modern-Mizner" park with a new city hall, hotel, restaurants, bars, shops, and other entertainment venues.
Mizner Park is a popular destination in downtown Boca Raton with similar establishments, including an amphitheater, bowling alley, and even a putting green dotted by palm trees along the park's entry roads.
"Save Boca," a grassroots political organization dedicated to protecting and preserving Boca Raton's parks and public land, was against the plan, and voters apparently agreed. Opponents also called it a "giveaway," leading to more traffic congestion and erosion of the City's tennis courts and skate park.
But that wasn't the only vote up for grabs.
Residents also went to the polls to decide the City's next mayor. However, that outcome is yet to be determined, with candidates Mike Liebelson and Andy Thomson in a razor-thin contest to replace outgoing Mayor Scott Singer, who is term-limited.
According to Palm Beach Supervisor of Elections Wendy Satory Link to CBS12, the race is under a machine recount followed by a hand recount starting on Thursday at 5 p.m.
Although some City races were decided.
Michelle Grau was elected to the City Council Seat A, defeating Bernard Korn and Christen Ritchey, Jon Pearlman was elected to City Council Seat B, defeating Merideth Madsen and Marc Widger, and Stacy Sipple was elected to City Council Seat C, defeating Larry Cellon and Robert S. Weinroth.
