Planning board approves Shops at Boca Point site plan with technical deviations

The Boca Raton Planning & Zoning Board on July 18 recommended approval of the Shops at Boca Point site plan for a one‑story, approximately 9,556‑square‑foot commercial building at 1900 North Military Trail.

Development services planner Peter Begovich told the board the project proposes retail, a veterinary clinic and a coffee/donut shop with a drive‑through and requires three technical deviations: reducing a driveway reservoir distance from 50 to 27 feet, shortening a turning radius from 30 to 27 feet, and cutting required off‑street parking from 71 spaces to 63. "The application is compatible with the surrounding property uses along North Military Trail," Begovich said, noting Palm Beach County traffic reviewed and approved a waiver for driveway dimensions and staff supports the requested parking reduction given the proposed uses and parking‑generation analysis.

Applicant representative Chris Veil of Site Centers said the parcel "has been vacant for 16 years" and confirmed the proposed users, including Starbucks and a veterinary clinic. Veil said the team studied comparable local Starbucks locations and proposed a larger kitchen and operational measures to speed service and reduce stacking time.

Board members raised concerns about drive‑through queueing and the effect on parking. A staff traffic condition requires an overflow/backup plan, and Brandon Chad, development services director, said: "If they're blocking their parking spaces, they're in violation" and the property owner would be responsible for operational fixes such as redesign or on‑site traffic control.

The board voted 4–0 to approve the resolution recommending the site plan and associated conditions, including the unity of title requirement to combine the two parcels and the required queuing/overflow plan. The item will move to the city council or other final approvers as specified by the city's approval process.