Escambia BOA approves conditional use for restaurant drive‑through at Sorrento Road site

The Escambia County Board of Adjustment on April 16 approved a conditional use to allow a restaurant with drive‑through service at 12385 Sorrento Road, voting 5-0 to accept staff findings and grant the request.

County urban planner Christina Smith presented the staff report, showing zoning and future‑land‑use maps and concluding that the parcel is commercially designated but directly abuts low‑density residential (LDR) zoning, so the request requires BOA approval. Smith said the proposed drive‑through would be located as far from residential zoning as possible and that details such as utilities, access and lighting would be reviewed during the development review committee (DRC) process.

Meredith Bush, an attorney with Clark Partington representing the applicant (Fishbane Properties LLC), told the board the applicant is in agreement with staff’s findings and asked for approval. Andrew Homer of Escambia County Development Services explained why older strip commercial zoning along arterials sometimes leaves narrow pockets of residential zoning adjacent to commercial uses and why the LDC requires conditional use review for drive‑throughs within 200 feet of LDR or MDR zoning.

No members of the public spoke for or against the application. Board member Willie made the motion to approve per staff findings, with a second by Randy; the board voted unanimously, 5-0. The approval is conditioned on completion of the DRC process and issuance of a development order, as noted in the staff recommendation.

The BOA record shows the approval was based on the submitted site plan and staff findings; the development review process may require additional changes to access, utilities, screening, signage and lighting before building permits are issued.