Palm Beach County approves Del Taco development with driveway redesign and turn‑lane condition

The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners on Monday approved a Development Order Amendment for a Del Taco franchise on the west side of North Military Trail, including a 2,304‑square‑foot restaurant with a drive‑through and 48 seats, with conditions addressing circulation and safety.

Developer representative David Milledge described the project as a redevelopment of an outparcel in an existing plaza and said the proposal met code requirements for parking and access. Commissioners pressed the applicant on circulation, stacking for the drive‑through and safe pedestrian access across the site. "We do meet the requirements of code," Milledge said during his presentation.

Multiple commissioners and staff expressed concern about the southern driveway and the potential for queueing to block ingress from Military Trail. Planning staff and Commissioner Gregg Weiss proposed an amendment requiring the property owner to redesign the southern driveway connection "to provide additional storage for the drive‑through operations" prior to final site plan approval by the Development Review Officer. Commissioner Maria Marino moved to add the redesign requirement to Exhibit C‑1; the motion passed unanimously.

Residents and neighborhood representatives also urged the board to require roadway improvements at the adjacent Coconut Lane intersection. Stuart, president of the Montreux Community Association, testified that the intersection has a history of crashes and that "infrastructure must come before occupancy, not after," urging the board to make construction of a right‑turn lane a precondition for occupancy.

The applicant’s agent, Bradley Miller of Urban Design Studio, said the project increases daily trips by "under 400" and told commissioners, "these do not trigger a requirement to construct the turn lane," citing statutory thresholds and noting construction costs and drainage complexities that could exceed $800,000.

After a lengthier discussion, the board approved language tying the right‑turn lane to the certificate of occupancy: construction of a right‑turn lane on the east approach of Coconut Lane should be completed prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy unless otherwise approved by the county engineer. County engineering staff said they were uncomfortable setting a firm date but could work with the commissioner’s office and residents on the timeline. The motion adding the county‑engineer exception and the driveway redesign condition passed 7‑0.

Next steps: the applicant will continue the site‑plan process and work with county staff on a redesign of the southern driveway and coordination with the county engineer on the right‑turn lane timing. The Development Review Officer will review the final site plan and any revised exhibits.