To understand why the Delray Beach City Commission celebrated its approval Tuesday night of the special events policy, you needed to hear the discussion earlier in the evening.
At a special meeting with the Community Redevelopment Agency, the topic was Old School Square. About 15 months ago, the commission and the CRA were at odds over a redesign of the Old School Square grounds. A CRA consultant had recommended a $1.2 million plan that the commission considered too expensive and too intense. Because the city leases the land to Old School Square, the commission must approve any redesign.
So the CRA stepped back. Meanwhile, Old School Square’s new director, Rob Steele, settled in. Tuesday night, he presented a plan that pleased the commission because it differed so much from the previous version.