Mayor Scott Singer has worked to achieve better designed buildings by raising standards for new development. His calls for more meaningful open space were instrumental in changing a 13-year policy that now require more open space for downtown projects. Applicants have responded, with recent approvals providing millions of dollars in offsite roadway improvements and dedicated public space, something that did not happen before Mayor Singer’s term.
Scott was the only council member to vote no on the single biggest upzoning in our city’s history. He said no to any residential units in “Midtown” without further planning and public outreach. Singer stopped a plan to add 2,000 more residential units when another council member wanted to accede to a developer’s request. With just these votes, Scott’s stood against an additional 4,500 units and 500,000 sq. ft. of commercial property in these areas – more than what has been approved in total in the last few years.
He voted for height limits in areas along the barrier island to protect residential neighborhoods. Scott also stood alone on the city council in opposing rezoning the Wildflower site as commercial, and partnered with residents on the plan in place for an urban green space to be a focal point for downtown.
Representative Votes To Protect Character of Boca
- Opposed commercial rezoning of city-owned Wildflower property; held Waterfront Visioning Session with residents to develop plan for recreational, green space and pedestrian promenade that has been implemented in new Wildflower Park (July 2016, Ord. 5353)
- Preserved character of barrier island by implementing height limits near single-family residences (March 2017, Ord. 5384)
- Voted repeatedly against beachfront development east of A1A because of impact to dunes and sea life (2019)
- First council member to call for more meaningful open space downtown and led vote to increase open space requirements (Dec. 2015)
- Consistently voted against downtown projects that lacked enough parking (2014, 2015, 2018)
- Opposed land-use change that would have allowed maximum multi-family density on two-lane road near neighborhoods and schools (2021)
- Only council member to vote against variance to allow 4-boat “mini-marina” at home on Intracoastal (Feb. 2018)
- Multiple votes to increase parks and green space and waterfront space (2015, 2016, 2017, 2021)
- Changed law to take campaign and other signs of medians and public green space (2014)