By Mary Thurwachter
The Lantana Town Council voted 3-1 Feb. 27 to delay a vote on whether to grant a setback variance to a couple who want to build a 7,100-square-foot home on a .36-acre lot on Hypoluxo Island.
The couple, Thomas and Mindee Borzilleri, are seeking a variance from the required 20-foot rear setback for waterfront properties. The Borzilleris, who bought the property in 2021, tore down the existing house, which had significant mold problems.
They want to locate a retaining wall 13.5 feet from the high water line, where the town code requires a 20-foot setback. The Borzilleris cited Federal Emergency Management Agency flood mitigation requirements as a hardship.
The federal agency is requiring the floor elevation of the home to be 10 feet, said Trey Nazzaro of Davis & Associates, who represents the Borzilleris. The home that was on the property previously had an elevation of 6.5 feet. The retaining walls would hold in a significant amount of fill to bring the elevation up to 10 feet, he said.
Besides the retaining wall, a pool, ADA ramp and deck would also encroach on the required 20-foot setback area from the high water line.
Staff recommended denial, and a vote in favor of a variance failed to pass the planning board.
Island residents also urged denial, saying the proposed house was too large for the property and that the owners should have been aware of town building requirements before they made their plans.
Council member Kem Mason asked that the vote be postponed so additional information could be gathered on whether changing the house size has an impact on the drainage and thereby the location of the retaining walls.
“I’d like to get this right because this is going to set a precedent for the future,” Mason said. “People are very adamant on their stand about this, and this is the only way I can understand to be fair.”
Postponing the vote could help the council have more clarity, Mason said.
The town will ask engineers to review the town’s drainage plans for all development, have them take another look at the lot in question and ask what options exist for drainage. The engineers will then write a letter of recommendation.
“I’ll guarantee that there are other ways to drain that lot,” said council member Lynn “Doc” Moorhouse, who was the lone dissenting vote on the motion to delay.
The town hopes to be able to vote on the setback issue in March.
Comments