Boca Raton Residents Opposing Plan to Shrink Size of Preservation Area

A preserved area in Boca Raton near Boca Town Center, June 2025. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Residents who homes neighbor a 2.1-acre preservation area near Boca Town Center are opposing a plan to reduce the size of the preserve to 0.7-acres, however city staff has recommended approval of the measure by the city council, holding that a revised plan would improve the area. The residents, however, fear the reduction in size of the preservation zone will inevitably lead to more development.

The council introduced an ordinance last week that would effectuate the change at the oddly-shaped triangular lot at 5458 Town Center Road and 1 Town Center Road. The property is owned by CP Group, a real estate holding firm.

A preserved area in Boca Raton near Boca Town Center, June 2025. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

---

---

---

According to a memorandum from city staff, the conservation area dates back to 1988, when a Palm Beach County resolution carved out the easement since it was reported to contain scrubby flatwoods, a transitional type of native plant community between scrub and pine flatwoods that was being cleared at a rapid rate at the time. The current configuration of the entire 14-acre property was set in 1989, and in 2003, the parcel was involuntarily annexed into the city from Palm Beach County. Since then, a 10-story office building and five-level parking deck was built on the site, but the 2.1-acre preserve remained in place.

Officials, however, say the preserve – as it exists today – does not fill the intent of the order from the 1980s. The issue came to a head after the property owner was issued a violation notice by the city in 2024, alleging a failure to maintain the preserve and failure to have a management plan in place. Historically, however, the city admitted in its violation notice that the property owner had never actively maintained the area.

Ultimately, the city’s environmental staff found that the value of the plot is “significantly diminished due to its unique geography, being a triangular shape and landlocked by development to the north, a major roadway (Military Trail) to the east, and a canal to the west.”

In addition, over the last 30 years, it has become overgrown with exotics, including Earleaf acacia, umbrella tree, java plum, carrotwood, cabbage palm, slash pine, laurel oak, and seagrape, “encouraged by the adjacency of the canal to the west.” Further, the lack of periodic fire suppression and fuel reduction techniques has led to overgrowth, and the domination of a canopy of exotic woody species has led to minimal water retention.

A preserved area in Boca Raton near Boca Town Center, June 2025. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

A preserved area in Boca Raton near Boca Town Center, June 2025. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Following the violation notice, the property owner proposed an “enhanced new preserve” on a smaller plot, which would include pine flatwood and wetland vegetation consistent with the intent of the original county plan. The proposed plan would increase the overall density of canopy species to about 65 trees per acre over the next five years. The site would also be professionally monitored, invasive plants would be removed as necessary, and $36,237 would be placed in the city environmental preservation trust fund.

Nearby residents, however, are opposing developer’s proposal and the city’s recommendation since they believe removing 1.4-acres from the current preservation zone would lead to additional development at the site.

“We’re going to lose 2 acres of preserved space for a seven story building that is going to create traffic, take away our sunset, and everything else,” said Carlos Toredo, of Grand Park Place.

Likewise, the proposal was opposed by Jimmy Moscoso, a resident of the same street.

“These days, a 2.1 acre lot is almost as small as it gets,” he said. “It’s already busy enough and it’s dangerous enough with the Bank of America building, the plaza next door and the new restaurants. All of that traffic tends to pile up.”

Another resident said – native species or not – Boca Raton should not shed any more green spaces if it has the chance to keep them.

The ordinance was introduced unanimously by the city council. It will be subject to a public hearing and second vote for adoption at the council’s meeting in July.