Planning board approves Palm Beach International Academy at BRIC with 50-student on-site cap

The Boca Raton Planning and Zoning Board on March 19 approved a conditional use and a site‑plan amendment to allow the Palm Beach International Academy to operate a 5,711‑square‑foot private school for grades 6 through 12 within the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRIC) at 5000 T Rex Avenue.

Development Services Director Brandon Chad told the board that staff supports both resolutions, subject to conditions that limit the school to grades 6–12 and cap on‑site attendance at 50 students at any one time. "The school, which is known as the Palm Beach International Academy, is a hybrid remote and in person facility that does not operate like a traditional private school," Chad said, describing the facility as a need‑based, hybrid program in which students may be on campus for roughly 10 to 25 hours per week when they choose in‑person instruction.

Nut graf: The approvals — taken separately as item 5a1 (conditional use) and 5a2 (site‑plan amendment) — passed on unanimous 6–0 roll calls. Staff emphasized that the amendments do not change building access or the exterior of the BRIC structure; they add 20 short‑term bicycle parking spaces and update the site plan to reflect existing conditions on the northern portion of the property. Chad said 616 excess vehicular parking spaces will remain on the property after accounting for previously approved but unconstructed surface parking.

Board members asked about bicycle access and parking. "Is there a bike path to that place?" asked board member Mitchell, expressing concern about how students would access the site by bicycle. Chad said current on‑site bicycling conditions are not ideal but that other applications in process for BRIC could include streetscape improvements and "robust bicycle facilities" that would make the site more walkable and bikeable if those future plans proceed.

Petitioner David Millage, representing the applicant, said the program primarily serves students who attend irregular schedules — including elite athletes — and that the operator's experience at similar facilities indicates only a small share of students bike to campus. "It's a need based situation where they get guidance and tutoring," Millage said, adding that only a handful of students at comparable operations regularly rode bicycles.

The board moved and seconded approval of the conditional‑use resolution (item 5a1); the roll call vote was 6–0 in favor. The board then approved the site‑plan amendment (item 5a2), also by a 6–0 vote. Both items were presented to the board with staff recommendations and will be forwarded for any further actions required under city review processes. The city attorney had earlier reviewed quasi‑judicial hearing rules and no ex parte communications were disclosed.

The board's approvals include the student‑cap and the bicycle‑parking addition as conditions of record. No members of the public offered comments on the items during the hearing.