Planning board approves Martin Manor redevelopment amid historic‑preservation and tenant‑relocation concerns

On April 4 the Boca Raton Planning & Zoning Board approved a package of five linked items to permit redevelopment of the Martin Manor (Dixie Manor) property at 1350 North Dixie Highway. The actions included a future land‑use map amendment, rezoning, conditional use approval for an existing nursery, site‑plan approval for three three‑story residential buildings totaling 95 low‑income units, and variances/technical deviations to allow reduced setbacks and fewer parking and electric‑vehicle spaces. Each of the five items passed on separate roll calls recorded as 6‑0.

City planner Jacob Gorman described the proposal as a replacement of the existing 95 low‑income units with new, three‑story buildings and an improved site layout that preserves the existing 4,929‑square‑foot community center and provides a 4,265‑square‑foot clubhouse. The project would require right‑of‑way dedications along North Dixie Highway and Glades Road, provide a new 6‑foot meandering sidewalk with street trees on site, and adjust setbacks to allow buildings closer to the street while keeping required open space.

The application requests technical deviations reducing the number of required parking stalls from 197 to 124 (a reduction of 73 spaces) and lowering EV requirements (removing 10 installed EV spaces and 40 EV‑capable spaces from the current code baseline), while proposing EV‑ready wiring for future chargers. The applicant’s parking demand study reported an observed demand of 102 spaces and proposed 109 or so spaces to meet that observed need; staff and the applicant argued the reduction prevents large numbers of unused stalls.

Public comment included sharp concerns about historic preservation and tenant impacts. Charles Graves noted the property’s recent listing on the National Register of Historic Places and objected to the reduction in parking and EV spaces, saying the project should provide modern conveniences such as elevators. John Martin, a Pearl City advocate, urged preservation of historical features and traffic‑calming measures. Marie Hester urged that a portion of Dixie Manor be left intact to honor the community’s history.

The applicant and development team responded that they had met multiple times with residents and the historic society, proposed interpretive displays in the community center, and have pursued state funding that could be jeopardized by delayed approvals. The developer said the project is funded in part by state sources and will use Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) conditions to ensure units remain affordable; the applicant also said they have hired relocation specialists and that "84 of the 95 families" had interviews with relocation staff as part of the transition planning.

Board members sought assurances about tenant protections; staff noted a condition in the FLU ordinance that the housing units be governed under LIHTC rules. After discussion the board voted separately on the five items (FLU amendment, rezoning, conditional use, site plan, and variances/technical deviations); each motion passed 6‑0. The approvals permit the applicant to proceed to finalize engineering, relocation plans and permitting, subject to the conditions in the approved resolutions and any further agency approvals required by funding partners.

The public record shows continued neighborhood interest in preserving tangible historic elements and in monitoring relocation outcomes as redevelopment proceeds.