The Town of Highland Beach Planning Board on Jan. 8 voted unanimously to approve two special exceptions allowing the installation of 30,000‑pound capacity boat lifts at Villa Magna Marina, 2727 S. Ocean Boulevard. The board approved applications P25‑35 (Slip 10, Unit 902) and P25‑36 (Slip 9, Unit 503) following staff presentation and a brief applicant statement.

Town Planner Allen told the board the applicants provided Florida Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorizations and that staff found the proposals consistent with the special‑exception provisions in section 30‑36 of the town code and the town’s comprehensive plan. Allen noted an apparent discrepancy between agency plans (which show an 18‑foot lift width) and the plans submitted to the town (14 feet) but said the agencies have confirmed by email that the width variance will not affect their authorizations. “The applicant has provided correspondence from both agencies indicating that that change in width will not affect the validity of their authorizations,” Allen said.

The staff presentation described the top of each proposed lift as measuring approximately six feet above the existing dock/seawall and stated that the requests involve only the lifts, not changes to the existing piers. Eileen Gonzales, the applicant’s authorized agent, told the board the comprehensive marine structure has existed for more than 40 years and that Villa Magna previously obtained an authorized pier extension and the related permits and agency approvals. “They did get an authorized extension with the Town of Highland Beach a couple years ago,” Gonzales said.

Board members asked whether longer piers were grandfathered and whether perpendicular docking posed navigational concerns; staff said many marine structures are legal nonconforming and offered that the board could request a marine expert if it had specific navigability questions. No members of the public spoke during either hearing.

Both applications were approved by roll call. For P25‑35 (Slip 10) the board recorded affirmative votes; staff reminded applicants that, if approved, they must obtain a town building permit and commence construction within two years of approval. The same conditions were reiterated for P25‑36 (Slip 9).