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Margate planning board unanimously recommends Dunkin' drive‑through at 5300 Coconut Creek Parkway
Summary
The Planning & Zoning Board voted unanimously April 7 to recommend a special‑exception for a Dunkin' drive‑through at 5300 Coconut Creek Parkway after staff and the applicant said traffic should be contained on site and the applicant committed to peak‑hour staffing to reduce queuing.
The Margate Planning & Zoning Board on April 7 recommended that the City Commission approve a special‑exception to convert a former drive‑through bank at 5300 Coconut Creek Parkway into a Dunkin' drive‑through only coffee shop.
City staff presented the site as a nearly half‑acre parcel inside the city's Gateway Zoning District and Community Redevelopment Area, with a history of previous approvals that expired. Andrew, a city staff presenter, told the board that the Development Review Committee (DRC) had conditionally approved the project and that the city's traffic engineer "confirmed with the applicant's traffic engineer that traffic should not be an issue" and "should be contained on this property without causing any interruptions to service on Coconut Creek Parkway or State Road 7." Staff noted proposed landscaping improvements and a new on‑site dumpster enclosure as upgrades to the current vacant site.
Matthew Scott, representing the applicant, said the site has been vacant for years and argued the project would reverse blight. "This site is a great example of that," Scott said, invoking the "broken windows" idea and saying the project will "paint it over, add the Dunkin' sign, add employees... and revitalize it." Scott told the board the project meets the city's queuing code (five cars) and that "the average is under a minute" for typical drive‑through service. He and staff said DRC review addressed peak‑hour concerns and that the applicant will have an attendant taking orders during the morning peak.
A public commenter asked why the site's former three lanes would not all be active for the Dunkin' drive‑through; the applicant replied the outer lanes are intended as bypass lanes for vehicles leaving the queue rather than active menu lanes and that the site's expected volume does not justify adding additional menu boards or staffing those lanes. The applicant told the board staff and consultant review concluded stacking would remain on site.
After discussion the board moved, seconded and approved a recommendation to the City Commission "with all the staff findings and conditions." The clerk recorded a unanimous roll‑call vote in favor of the recommendation. The City Commission will review the special‑exception application in a future meeting.
