Zoning board approves Mary Lou's off-site valet parking with conditions, reserves canopy vote

The West Palm Beach Zoning Board of Appeals voted 5-0 Thursday to approve a Class B special use permit allowing Mary Lou's restaurant at 250 Southern Boulevard to operate off-site parking on two neighboring properties, 213 and 215 Southern Boulevard, to support a proposed outdoor seating expansion.

The board’s approval covers only the off-site parking arrangement; the canopy and related variances for the outdoor seating feature were discussed but are not being voted on at this hearing. Staff and the applicant said the outdoor seating area would add roughly 1,976 square feet of space and, under the code, would require about 20 additional parking spaces for that exterior area. The restaurant site currently has nine on-site spaces; the applicant told the board it will secure 24 off-site spaces by lease and that a valet operation could support up to 33 spaces operationally. The applicant has said…