Commissioner Singer delivered a detailed report on downtown planning and the Community Redevelopment Agency's priorities, describing steps the CRA is testing to improve connectivity, parking and infrastructure beneath the downtown.

Singer said the downtown plan has been under development for years with multiple amendments and consultants (Alta and Jeff Speck) advising on activation and walkability. He said the CRA is exploring a shift from suburban parking requirements toward shared parking hubs so new businesses can open without requiring each to secure private parking adjacent to their storefronts.

Singer highlighted transit pilots that aim to reduce vehicle trips downtown: Boca Connect, an on-demand shuttle that has seen thousands of monthly trips, has been expanded to the beach and downtown; and an autonomous-vehicle demonstration is operating sensor runs in a park with phase 2 planned near Royal Palm Plaza. "If there's opportunities for alternative transit, that's what we're supposed to do in more dense mixed-use districts, not add more cars," Singer said.

On road-space reallocation, Singer said staff has studied Meisner Boulevard's original design as a bypass and that traffic counts are roughly half what planners expected. The CRA is considering a temporary pilot to reduce Meisner to one lane each way with protected bike facilities and to test the change with temporary materials before committing to permanent reconfiguration.

Singer also warned that much of the downtown underground infrastructure is aged: "Everything underneath needs to be changed as well. All the lift stations need to be redone." He said tax-increment financing dollars are available to address sewer, drainage and lift-station improvements and that projects should incorporate energy efficiency, flood resilience and tree canopy when feasible.

Why it matters: The CRA's plans and pilots—if implemented—would change how people access downtown, where they park and how city infrastructure supports redevelopment. Demonstration projects aim to test concepts before large capital outlays.

No CRA vote or binding commitments were made at the Nov. 4 meeting; Singer invited residents to engage in follow-up walks and meetings about proposed changes.