Open Letter to the Boca Resort

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Dear Mr. Tolbert,

As a Premier Member and on behalf of the many Premier Members who are looking forward to the reopening of the Resort golf course this December, I am writing you to express deep concern about a massive construction project which is planned adjacent to almost the entire fourth hole of the Resort.  It is Mizner 200— a single 960-foot long, ten-story high building that will intrude on our golf course more than the ugly Via Mizner Phase I which now dominates the seventh hole.  The design is so intrusive that it will require almost a 900 foot long, 100 foot high net to protect residents from errant golf balls.  It is anything but “Mizneresque” in its design.

Some years ago, the Resort was instrumental in convincing Boca’s City Council to block an equally massive development project— the original Via Mizner plan— along Federal Highway and Camino.  As a result of the Resort’s involvement, the building was redesigned from one massive to three separate structures.  I hope that on behalf of its Members and guests the Resort will be equally vociferous in opposing Mizner 200 as it is now proposed.  The building will be considered by the Community Appearance Board and the Planning and Zoning Boards next week.  The real test will come when it faces approval from Boca’s City Council, where I believe the Resort has some influence.

Details about Mizner 200 are included below.

Sincerely,

John C. Gore
President, BocaBeautiful.org

COMING TO DOWNTOWN BOCA:  ‘MONSTER’ 200

Next week will be an important one for the future of already overcrowded downtown Boca Raton.  That is because both the Community Appearance Board (CAB) and the Planning and Zoning Board (P&Z) will consider an application from developer Elad to build Mizner 200, an enormous three block long single condominium building on SE Mizner Boulevard.  The building is a monster— almost as long as the Empire State building is tall; bigger even that the gigantic Palmetto Promenade project which is already snarling traffic to and from our beaches.  It is the wrong style and the wrong scale for our neighborhood.

WE NEED A STRONG TURNOUT AT BOTH THE CAB AND P&Z MEETINGS TO TELL BOCA’S “PLANNERS” THAT MIZNER 200 SHOULD BE SENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.  THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN BOCA’S FUTURE.  Public comments are welcome and we should take full advantage of this opportunity.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1st The CAB meeting will be at 7 pm at the Community Center Annex Building, 260 Crawford Boulevard.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd The P&Z meeting will be at 6:30 pm at the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road.

If you want to help, please attend the meetings and please send an e-mail opposing Mizner 200 to the members of the Planning and Zoning Board and the Community Appearance Board, Their e-mails are listed below. Thank you to those that sent emails after our last communication. The more voices heard the better!!! Thank you!

COMMUNITY APPEARANCE BOARD

PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD

THE BOCA RATON CITY COUNCIL

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1 COMMENT

  1. John:
    By what authority do you claim to speak “on behalf of the many Premier Members?” I’m sorry, but you do not speak for THIS Premier Member.
    Contrary to your comments, I SUPPORT the Mizner 200 Plan as proposed. You are using the pulpit of Boca Watch to promote a “Not in my Back Yard” agenda by a few, in an attempt to oppose the BY RIGHT redevelopment of the aged, decrepit Mizner on the Green rental project into a well-conceived new neighbor of significant aesthetic and tangible value. With regard to the interests of us Boca Resort Premier golf members, Mizner 200 is proposed to be sited further back from the Resort’s common property line than the existing Mizner on the Green buildings. Rather than being the monolithic block that you suggest, the proposed structure is articulated in detail and massing to effectively mitigate such an appearance. The proposed density of Mizner 200 is considerably below that of your adjacent Townsend Place or my 200 East, lying respectively just south and north of Mizner 200.
    I wish you would respect that many of your Townsend Place and other local neighbors, as well as other Premier Club members hold views contrary to yours, and acknowledge that in your statements.
    Respectfully,
    John G. Colby, Emeritus Member,
    American Institute of Architects
    Resident, 200 East, Boca Raton

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