BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The future of Boca Raton’s Downtown Campus is officially on hold until voters weigh in next month. During meetings held on February 23 and 24, the City Council and the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) decided to postpone the second readings of four key ordinances—Nos. 5771, 5774, 5775, and 5776—until after the upcoming March 10 municipal election. These regulations, which form the legal backbone for the proposed redevelopment, are now scheduled for formal consideration at the City Council’s March 24 meeting.
At the heart of the delay is a series of legislative changes designed to modernize the city’s downtown zoning. Ordinance 5771 seeks to create a new Downtown Zoning District to replace the aging “Development of Regional Impact” (DDRI) framework, which is set to expire in 2028. Other measures, like Ordinance 5774, would redesignate roughly 9.8 acres of the campus as a Central Business District to encourage a more pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use environment. City officials emphasize that while Ordinance 5776 reallocates development capacity to support the campus project, it does not increase the overall amount of development allowed under the current rules.
These plans are entirely contingent on public approval. A ballot question on March 10 will ask residents whether the city should proceed with the proposed Public-Private Partnership (P3) for the Downtown Campus redevelopment. If voters reject the referendum, the specific regulatory provisions tied to the project, including the creation of a new “Government Center Subdistrict,” will be automatically repealed.
Should the referendum pass, post-election plans include formal rezoning, site plan reviews through standard regulatory channels, and a series of community engagement sessions.
