Boca Raton planning board approves variance for Aegean Condominium deck

The City of Boca Raton Planning and Zoning Board on Feb. 6, 2025, voted 5-0 to recommend City Council approval of a Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) variance to permit a raised wooden deck and staircase at the Aegean Condominium, 2150 North Ocean Boulevard.

City staff said the deck will be built on an area of the property that was previously disturbed and that construction will use posts with minimally invasive piling excavation. Joshua Bottom, senior environmental officer with the Development Services Department, told the board that staff supports the project and “finds that the proposed hardscape improvements are not detrimental to the public welfare.” Bottom said the applicant will not install I&E lighting on the deck, which staff said will minimize potential impacts to nesting sea turtles.

The requested variance would allow construction of an approximately 9-by-9-foot raised wooden deck with a 12-foot-long staircase and a 3-foot-wide landing, connecting an existing east-side deck to a small open area on the building’s south side. Bottom said the property is about 1.12 acres, located east of North Ocean Boulevard and north of the Boca Inlet, and that the deck area is screened by vegetation and bounded on three sides by existing walls and structures. He said the owners intend to install a butterfly garden in the area in the future.

Bottom told the board the Environmental Advisory Board reviewed the application on Jan. 23, 2025, asked questions about construction and landscaping, and ultimately voted 3-0 to recommend approval after staff responses. A petitioner present at the hearing, Jeffrey Pacilis of Phase 4 Construction, stated for the record that he had no additional information to add.

The board opened and closed the public hearing with no public speakers, then voted to approve the variance recommendation by roll call: the recorded yes votes were Mister Salon, Mister Dorenblazer, Miss McDermott, Miss Ritchie and Chair Seville. The motion passed 5-0.

At the start of the meeting the board also approved the Jan. 2, 2025, meeting minutes by voice vote. There were no director or board member reports, and the meeting adjourned at 6:08 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Motion: Approve minutes of Jan. 2, 2025 — Outcome: approved (voice vote). — Mover/second: not specified in transcript. - Motion: Recommend City Council approve a Coastal Construction Control Line variance for the Aegean Condominium (approximately 1.12 acres at 2150 North Ocean Boulevard) to allow a raised wooden deck and staircase seaward of the CCCL — Outcome: passed 5-0 by roll call. — Motion text recorded in agenda: resolution considering variance from City Code of Ordinances section 28-15-56-3. — Mover/second: not specified in transcript.