West Palm Beach ZBA approves setback and driveway variances for 300 Flamingo Drive

At its Feb. 5 meeting the City of West Palm Beach Zoning Board of Appeals granted variances for ZBA case 3556 for a single‑family lot at 300 Flamingo Drive, approving a reduction of the required front setback from 25 feet to 12.5 feet and a reduction of the corner driveway clearance from 50 feet to 34 feet. The board voted 4–0 following staff recommendation and public comment.

John Schmidt, agent for the applicants Lindsay and Nicholas Harris, told the board the property sits at the southwest corner of Flamingo Drive and South Olive Avenue and asked that Olive be treated as the front of the lot so the proposed house would align with existing development. “We’re asking for our front setback to be 12 and a half,” Schmidt said, and he told the panel that the city engineering department supports the proposed driveway location.

Stephanie Gregory, planning and zoning administrator filling in for the planner, summarized staff’s review and recommendation: staff found the application met the 10 standards for variances and recommended approval with two conditions, including designating South Olive Avenue as the front frontage and Flamingo Drive as the corner side yard. “Staff does find that they meet all 10 standards for the variances,” Gregory said.

Neighbors urged caution. Karen Steele, a resident of 267 Barcelona Road in the El Cid Historic District speaking on behalf of a nearby homeowner, cited traffic and safety concerns on Olive Avenue and warned the variance could set a “very bad precedent” for the neighborhood; she said, “The traffic is horrific there.” Jim Malloy of 276 Flamingo Drive also opposed the request and said the city should enforce existing regulations.

In rebuttal, Schmidt said the lot is adjacent to but not inside the El Cid Historic District and argued the proposed configuration would move the house farther from Olive, increasing green space and reducing potential impacts on the neighborhood. Board member Alfred Fields said he had concerns about the driveway proximity but concluded the request fell within the statutory standards after staff and engineering input.

Fields moved to approve case 3556, citing testimony, the application and the staff report as competent, substantial evidence. The motion included conditions requiring that the South Olive frontage comply with front yard standards (landscaping, visibility and controls on accessory structures) and that the Flamingo frontage be regulated as the corner side yard. Dana Picotte seconded; a roll call vote was Yes from Picotte, Christopher Hagen, Sherry Hack and Alfred Fields. The motion passed 4–0.

The board recorded the action as an approval of ZBA case 3556 with conditions. The meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m.