This article, originally published by Al Zucaro on BocaWatch.org, is preserved for historical purposes by Massive Impressions Online Marketing in Boca Raton.
If there are questions or concerns with the content please e-mail info@4boca.com.
A little more than a year ago – April 9, 2015 to be exact – The City of Boca Raton, Planning and Zoning Board conducted a meeting for the purpose of consideration to re-zone the Wildflower property. Part of the proceedings included a traffic study conducted by the City of Boca Raton Traffic Department. In fact, the portion that included the traffic study turned out to be a major focus of the P&Z Board. Ultimately, the Board voted four-to-three to recommend to the City Council the change in zoning which would accommodate a pending approval for a Hillstone restaurant.
After hearing testimony, I was skeptical of the findings which led to my investigation and ultimate finding of flaws in the Traffic Study. In May, 2015 I prepared the following article for BocaWatch. This link to the ten minute YouTube tells the real story. Please view it now. “Traffic Study…All We Ask For is a Fair Public Hearing.”
Now, some fifteen months later, the City Council will decide whether or not to approve the zoning change. The meeting is scheduled for July 26. But here’s the rub. In spite of the fact that the council has at its disposal updated, and significantly higher, traffic counts from 2015 and 2016, they will be using the same flawed Traffic Study from 2014 as part of the decision making process.
An item of significance, that to-date has not been fully explored, is the fact that during the 2015 presentation the traffic engineer for the City stated that intersections are not required to be studied unless there is a lane failure. He further stated that there was a lane failure that was considered “de minimus” and therefore no intersection study was required. It is possible that the updated traffic counts may reveal a different outcome than “de minimus”. it is also possible that the updated circumstance could result in the four-three vote going the other way. Click YouTube
The significance of “lane failure” is important as it may require that a pending development project be scaled back in order to prevent the lane failure, or an intersection(s) may require modification in order to accommodate additional traffic.
Good governance, on behalf of citizens, would suggest a fresh look at the new traffic counts with a new submission to replace the flawed study of 2014.
Items of Note:
- If not adopted by the City Council in August, the referendum related to City owned property on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway, which includes the Wildflower property, is scheduled to appear on the November ballot. Why any rezoning approval would occur prior to this vote is puzzling.
- The City of Boca Raton has not submitted their 2016 traffic counts to Palm Beach County. However, upon request the City did provide this information
In the meantime, it is the opinion of this writer and of BocaWatch that no further action be taken on any item regarding the Wildflower land until a final vote on the Intracoastal Waterway Referendum occurs in November.
George O’Rourke
This traffic study was before all the new construction downtown. Was all this taken into consideration? Additionally, did the traffic study take into account the high season traffic v. the traffic after the high season?
Carol Ann Lombardo.
Carolann1474@aol.com
There were always 2 restaurants on that corner, the steakhouse and Wildflower with no traffic issues. An additional 1,000 over a 24 hour period is not going to be issue.
There also was not all the new condos and apartment buildings there before. I can’t believe the building boom will not affect traffic.
Thank you for you diligence and determination in addressing the issues in our beautiful city of Boca Raton. I wanted to voice my concern with not only the road traffic but I am also concerned with the BOAT traffic. The docks will be very close to the bridge and I can imagine the impact docking next to that bridge will do. These days common sense is rare and most people do not know how to navigate. There is a fairly strong current under the bridge and it takes some skill not only to dock, but to watch for boats passing through the bridge as well. There should be a mandatory boat traffic study as well as an updated road traffic study.
I am one of the many residents opposed to restaurant settlement.
The idea to most people sounds good at first, but the impact it will have on so many aspects of the community is detrimental.
(BTW, does anyone know what a grease trap for a restaurant smells like? Overflow happens, maybe not often, but it is nauseating.)
I believe the city would benefit financially in the long term with the property being a park. It is, by far, more desirable for walking traffic, well being and the environment. It is a destination for restaurant goers after dinner. A walk to the Wildflower Park after a nice dinner on Palmetto. I can imagine a boardwalk with underwater lighting; quaint lampposts abound, benches, a fountain in the middle among other things. Good for the soul, you know what I mean?
I am not sure how or where to voice my opinion (as I have been to a couple of city hall meetings that seem futile)
so I figured I would let you know.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Sincerely,
Gina Krost
I believe that there is another way to meet traffic performance standards other than downsizing the project. The petitioner can commit to roadway improvements that mitigate the level of service impacts. As we all know the city has already committed to installing the left turn bays on 5th and Mizner. As shown on the traffic study specific to the intersection of 5th at Palmetto, using recent traffic counts, the level of service meets minimum adopted LOS of D at all approaches.