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Planning board approves Padel X site plan and parking deviation for Holland Drive facility
Summary
The Boca Raton Planning & Zoning Board approved a site plan and a technical parking deviation to allow conversion of part of a 76,000 sq ft industrial building at 1081 Holland Drive into an indoor padel facility with eight courts and a mezzanine; staff recommended the change and both motions passed 6–0.
The Boca Raton Planning & Zoning Board voted unanimously on Dec. 6 to approve a site plan and a technical parking deviation that will allow a portion of a 76,000-square-foot industrial building at 1081 Holland Drive to be converted into a large-scale indoor padel facility.
Heather Hanson, a city planning staff member, told the board that the proposal would convert roughly 28,365 square feet of one tenant space and add a 1,370-square-foot mezzanine for administrative and storage use. She said a 2024 zoning text amendment reduced the threshold for large-scale indoor commercial recreation from 50,000 square feet to 25,000 square feet, making the project eligible for conditional use approval. "A 153 off street parking spaces will be adequate for all the uses in the building," Hanson said, describing staff support for the applicant's request to reduce required parking from 173 spaces to 153 and noting one pickup/drop-off space would be designated near the front door as a condition of approval.
Javier Fernandez, counsel for Boca Raton Racquet Club and the project's presenter, outlined the applicant's operating model and pointed to growth in the sport, saying padel has seen rapid international expansion and local momentum in South Florida. He said the applicant concurs with staff recommendations and has rescinded one earlier requested condition. "We would just sincerely ask that you recommend approval of the commission," Fernandez said.
After a public hearing during which no members of the public spoke, the board moved and seconded approval of the site-plan resolution (item 6A1) and the related variance/technical-deviation (item 6A2). The clerk recorded votes as yes from the full board; both items passed 6–0.
The approvals allow the applicant to proceed with the planned interior conversion and required site improvements, subject to the conditions the board adopted, including the dedicated pickup/drop-off space and any conditions recorded in the site-plan resolution. The board did not receive public opposition during the hearing. The project will proceed to any subsequent city council review or permitting steps required by city code.
