TO: Board of Adjustment
FROM: Christopher M. Gratz, AICP, Senior Planner
THROUGH: Elizabeth Taschereau, Director of Development Services
DATE: April 7, 2026
Title
VARIANCE APPLICATION: 26-00400012 Panda Express - Applicant Matthew H. Scott, Esq., Greenspoon Marder, LLP, Agent for Panda Express, Joe Celento proposes a 3,381 sq. ft. restaurant with drive-through by renovating the former Boston Market site at 5681 West Atlantic Boulevard, Margate, Florida 33063. The renovation costs represent substantial redevelopment, therefore the project must comply with all applicable land development regulations. The applicant is requesting relief from requirements of the Margate Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) in order to allow some existing site features to remain unchanged.
BACKGROUND:
Applicant proposes a 3,381 sq. ft. restaurant with drive-through by renovating the former Boston Market site. The renovation costs represent substantial redevelopment, therefore the project must comply with all applicable land development regulations. The applicant is requesting relief from the following sections of the Margate Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) in order to allow some existing site features to remain unchanged:
1. FROM: §40.554(F) which requires the construction of an 18’ wide Urban Greenway consisting of a 10’ multi-modal path and eight (8)’ landscape strip, TO: allow the five (5)’ existing sidewalk and three (3)’ landscape strip remain unchanged;
2. FROM: §40.704(H)1 and 2 which require terminal landscape islands to be 11’ wide and a pedestrian zone around the building consisting of an eight (8)’ sidewalk and four (4)’ landscape strip, TO: allow two (2) terminal landscape islands of 5.89’ and 7.9’wide at the row adjacent to the building and a pedestrian zone on east side of the building with 3.94’ landscaped area and five (5)’ sidewalk, and on the west side of the building no landscape area with the existing 6.32’ sidewalk to remain unchanged; and
3. FROM: §40.704 (G)1 which requires 5’ perimeter landscape strips on the property lines, TO: allow the 2.41’ landscape strip on the west side and 1.19’ on the east side to remain unchanged.
RECOMMENDATION: Approval
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A
CONTACT PERSON: Christopher M. Gratz, AICP, Senior Planner