The Planning and Zoning Board approved a variance allowing Walmart to expand its online pickup/delivery parking at 12800 Pines Boulevard from 10 approved spaces to 31 spaces.

Wesley Hevia, land use counsel for Walmart, and Bill Pfeffer of Bowman Consulting described national standards and site-specific data used to determine the requested number. Hevia said the store footprint is about 136,000 square feet and that Pembroke Pines’ zoning code caps online pickup spaces at 10 regardless of size; the applicant requested 31 spaces to meet current and projected demand and to avoid stacking and congestion.

Hevia acknowledged a discrepancy between the applicant’s materials (which stated 14 existing pickup spaces) and staff’s records (which show only 10 approved existing spaces). He said the company sought an additional 21 spaces to reach a total of 31. Bill Pfeffer described three factors used to size the operation: the grocery component of the store, historical and projected sales/demand, and site constraints. He said the 31-space layout fit the site’s parking rows and operational needs.

Staff confirmed the Walmart site will retain a surplus of parking even with the online pickup expansion and that, unlike a standalone Walmart, wayfinding-sign variance was not expected to be necessary at this location because it sits within a larger commercial development pattern; sign locations would be handled through site-plan review. A motion to approve variance ZV2025-5 to allow 31 short-term online pickup spaces was made, seconded and approved by voice vote (the transcript records "Aye" and "Motion passed").