Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Development Site Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves Fifth Third Bank outparcel with dual drive‑through; commissioners flag drive‑lane width for future review
Summary
The commission approved a special land use and site plan for a 2,133-square-foot Fifth Third Bank at 4805 Coconut Creek Parkway with dual drive‑through lanes, one EV charging station, rooftop solar and a rain garden. Commissioners discussed drive‑through lane widths and asked staff to consider an 11‑foot minimum for future projects.
The Coconut Creek City Commission on Sept. 25 approved a special land use and site plan application to construct an approximately 2,133-square-foot standalone Fifth Third Bank with dual drive‑through lanes at 4805 Coconut Creek Parkway, an outparcel in the Coconut Creek Plaza. Staff recommended approval, reporting the project meets the city’s land development code and comprehensive plan.
Why it matters: The proposal replaces the vacant Lorenzo’s Italian restaurant and includes green features staff highlighted — rooftop solar sized to roughly the energy use of a single-family home, a rain garden that will replace about 5,000 square feet of pavement, and one on-site EV charging station. Staff also noted the project provides 120-foot stacking distances in drive‑through aisles, exceeding the 100-foot code requirement.
Project details: Jack Marshall of BDG Architects described site changes that include reducing parking from 48 spaces to 14, preserving trees along Coconut Creek, adding a sidewalk connection to the public right-of-way, and a bypass lane to allow emergency and service vehicles to maneuver. The bank’s drive‑through configuration includes an ATM lane and a teller lane; the application also includes demolition permitting for the existing vacant restaurant.
Commission discussion and direction: Commissioners supported the project but debated drive‑through lane widths. Staff confirmed the design uses 10‑foot drive lanes, which meet code; several commissioners suggested considering an 11‑foot minimum for future approvals. Justin Prophet, director of sustainable development, advised the commission that the five‑foot landscape strip between the bypass lane and the shopping center drive aisle is a code minimum and could not be reduced without a variance, which limits the room available to widen the existing lanes without further site changes.
Outcome: The special land use (Resolution 2025-126) and the site plan (Resolution 2025-125) were approved in unanimous roll‑call votes. The motion to approve the special land use was moved by Commissioner Wells and seconded by Commissioner Riedell; the site plan approval motions were moved and seconded as reflected in the record. Commissioners asked staff to consider whether future drive‑through designs should adopt wider lanes as a matter of practice.
What’s next: The applicant will proceed with demolition permitting for the former restaurant and building permit submittals for the bank. Staff will note commissioners’ direction about drive‑through lane width when reviewing future applications.
