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Planning and Zoning Board approves site plan and variance for Padel facility at 1081 Holland Drive
Summary
The board voted unanimously to approve a conversion of one tenant space at 1081 Holland Drive into an indoor padel facility with eight courts, a 1,370 sq ft mezzanine and a technical deviation reducing required parking from 173 to 153 spaces; staff recommended approval with conditions.
The Planning and Zoning Board of the City of Boca Raton voted 6–0 to approve a site plan and a related variance for a proposed indoor padel facility at 1081 Holland Drive.
Heather Hanson, a city staff presenter, told the board the industrial building is about 76,000 square feet and the proposal would convert one tenant space—about 28,356 square feet—and add a 1,370-square-foot mezzanine for a large-scale indoor commercial recreation use. Hanson said the facility would include eight courts, locker rooms, lounge areas and three private offices, and that staff supported the application "with conditions," including a designated pickup/drop-off space near the front door.
Applicant counsel Javier Fernandez described padel as a rapidly growing racket sport and outlined the operator’s business model, saying the applicant has raised more than $10,000,000 to build clubs across the U.S. and that the operator’s first three U.S. clubs were in South Florida. Fernandez said the proposed Boca Raton club would replicate programming used at other sites, including kids’ clinics and tournaments, and highlighted an environmental stewardship program to repurpose facility materials into apparel.
Hanson explained the request included a technical deviation for parking—reducing required off-street spaces from 173 to 153—because the parking demand was calculated using requirements for racket/ball court facilities rather than the more general large-scale indoor commercial recreation category. She also said a VEDSOM (variation from engineering design standards) had been granted to address parking stall dimensions. As a condition of approval, staff required one parking space near the front door to be designated for pickup and drop-off.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing. After brief procedural steps to open and close the public hearing, a board member moved to approve the site-plan resolution and the board approved the motion 6–0. The board then voted 6–0 to approve the related variance/technical deviation.
The board’s approvals are recorded as recommendations/decisions at the planning and zoning level; additional approvals or final action may be required by the City Council or other permitting processes.
