Boca Raton Mayor Andy Thomson spent nearly two hours Wednesday evening answering questions at his first town hall, according to the Boca Raton Tribune. About 40 residents asked about affordable housing, homelessness, development, and how city services would be affected if Amendment 3 passes. Residents applauded at the end.
On housing, Thomson said state incentives favor rental apartments over home ownership. He said Live Local, a state program, leaves cities no option to opt out, so the city has chosen a hybrid approach. He said the state has grown more critical of local governments.
Thomson said Ordinance 4035, approved by voters 30 years ago, authorized downtown development, and that property owners now have rights that the city could not take away without facing a lawsuit. He said the city cannot stop state-required affordable housing planned for the former Kmart in Palmetto Park Square, which the state requires to include at least 40% affordable units.
On homelessness, Thomson said the city is hiring more officers and an enforcement officer, and is working with the county and service providers on alternate locations, possibly outside the city. He said the Tri-Rail parking lot on Yamato is a construction zone and that the drop-off situation is temporary.
For residents with a broken sidewalk near Addison Mizner School, Thomson suggested submitting a report through the city’s myBoca portal.
