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Planning board approves 8‑foot buffer wall for Woodfield Country Club over security concerns
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Summary
The Boca Raton Planning & Zoning Board voted 7–0 Feb. 19 to grant Woodfield Country Club a variance to build an 8‑foot wall along Clintmore Road, replacing a deteriorated fence; staff said the taller wall plus landscaping will improve security while screening the structure from view.
The Boca Raton Planning & Zoning Board unanimously approved a variance Feb. 19 allowing Woodfield Country Club to replace a failing fence with an up-to‑8‑foot precast panel wall along Clintmore Road.
Senior zoning officer Pam Kitchen told the board the golf course operates on set hours and receives limited natural surveillance after sunset, creating a special circumstance that supports a two‑foot height increase over the 6‑foot code limit. "This limited natural surveillance of the section wall along the golf course in the evenings creates a special and unique condition where a higher wall height would be beneficial for security," Kitchen said.
Applicant representative John Wheeler (Caulfield & Wheeler) said the existing wall has deteriorated in places after decades of service, and the HOA and owner seek a more structural, replaceable precast panel wall. "We really need to replace it," Wheeler said, describing the wall as approximately a mile long along the south side of Clintmore Road and noting the proposal includes removable panels where easements require future access.
Dan Shannon, general manager for Allied Security, described an incident map the security firm reviewed with the Boca Raton Police Department and recommended the 8‑foot wall as a stronger deterrent than a 6‑foot fence. "A 6‑foot wall is an easily scalable wall. An 8‑foot wall provides a lot more of a deterrence," Shannon said.
The staff report and the Community Appearance Board supported the design provided the wall is properly screened; Kitchen said the landscape plan combines preserved vegetation and supplemental plantings to screen the wall and improve corridor character. Supporters from the Woodfield HOA said the application is the first phase of several security improvements.
A motion to approve the variance carried on a roll call vote, 7–0.
What happens next: The board's approval recommends the variance; the implementation details (construction timing and permit submittals) will be handled by Development Services per the city's approval process.
