Planning & Zoning Board approves alcohol-distance waiver for proposed arcade-bar at 129 North Federal Highway

The Lake Worth Beach Planning & Zoning Board voted to approve an alcohol-distance waiver for on-site alcohol consumption at 129 North Federal Highway after a public hearing with neighbors and the applicant.

Staff presented the request as PZB project 25-00600002 and explained that the property lies in the downtown (DT) zoning district and within the 500-foot radius used by city code to identify protected uses, including First Presbyterian Church and the Lake Worth Beach City Library. Karina Maldonado, senior community planner, told the board the site previously had a bar use but the prior alcohol license had lapsed, requiring a new waiver application.

Rafael Jimenez, an affected party who lives in a condominium within 100 feet of the site, urged denial and argued the record shows the prior bar ceased operating and the property should be treated as a new use. "I would respectfully submit that the record as it stands currently does not provide sufficient evidence to support approval of the requested waivers and encourage you to deny," Jimenez said.

Multiple neighbors who submitted written comments or spoke in person described repeated late‑night noise, fights, bottle dumping and drug activity when the site formerly operated as a late‑night bar. Robert Fontaine, who lives about 25 feet from the rear parking lot, said disturbances occurred nightly and that reopening a late‑night bar "is just not a place for a late night bar" in that neighborhood.

Applicant Jimmy Dassler, the project manager, said he plans a family‑friendly arcade and restaurant model with alcohol as part of the business mix and apologized for past problems at the location. "I'm doing something family friendly — video games — kids come in, have fun," Dassler said, adding that the proposed hours would be roughly 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. He told the board he has worked with law enforcement and plans additional security and site management measures.

During board discussion members debated whether the record supported treating the request as a continuation of an existing use or as a new use, whether additional conditions (such as earlier closing hours or security requirements) should be added, and whether to tie alcohol approval to a later conditional‑use review. One member said they were reluctant to approve without a clearer picture of the final operations; another said leaving the building vacant carries its own community harms.

A motion to approve with the three conditions drafted in the staff report was made and ultimately carried. The roll call recorded in the hearing shows the motion obtained a majority; the board recorded multiple "ayes" and a dissent during roll call. The approval was recorded as an affirmative action to grant the alcohol-distance waiver subject to the conditions in the staff report.

The decision allows the applicant to pursue a state alcohol license and local business license but does not itself constitute final building or use approvals for any additional conditional‑use elements that may be required by zoning. Staff emphasized that business licensing and the state 4COP alcohol license remain separate processes.

Next steps: the applicant may seek a state-issued alcohol license and local business license following the board's action; if the operator later seeks a different land use or accessory indoor recreation approval, additional review by the board may be required.