Residents Speak Loud and Clear: City-Owned Waterfront Land Must be Kept for Public Use

For years, the development of the Wildflower property has been a hot issue in the City of Boca Raton, and last night its resident made their voices known as 43,565 residents voted on the referendum to keep city-owned waterfront property public.

photo by: Veronica Haggar

The referendum passed with 66.91% (29,149) of the residents saying Yes, and 33.09% (14,416) saying No.

The adopted referendum will apply not only to the Wildflower property but all city-owned land adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway.

The referendum was written as part of a citizens’ petition after Boca Raton City Council did not approve the proposal when it was brought to them in August.

“The Boca Raton question [is] perhaps the City’s most important grass root movement in decades,” said BocaWatch publisher Al Zucaro. “Residents have responded to the City Council’s desire to hear what the residents want.  Residents have spoken with a resounding voice.”

Back in August, in a 4-1 vote, the Boca Raton City Council decided to postpone a decision that would have made the former Wildflower property labeled for only recreational use. Rather than make a decision, the council decided to give the voters the power by putting the decision on the November 8th ballot.

During the August meeting, Robert Weinroth said that the vote is the only way to get this decision resolved, “The reason that I think that this should go to a vote is because honestly, I don’t think that we know what the voters want, and I don’t think that this can continue until we do.” The other councilmen echoed this, leading the decision that sent the referendum to the November ballot.

“The task now is to begin working with the City Council, our elected officials, for the ‘interpretation and implementation’ of this ordinance consistent with the political will,” added Zucaro.