Town approves special exception for Lantana Pizza with facade and hours conditions

The Lantana Town Council voted 5-0 on Sept. 17 to approve special exception SE260005, allowing a restaurant greater than 2,500 square feet to operate at 618 West Lantana Road, the site long associated with Lantana Pizza. Council approved the use with conditions tied to the facade and landscaping improvements described in the applicant’s package and with the kitchen required to close by 11 p.m.

Council member Mason moved to approve the special exception “with the conditions of approval including the given renderings of facade and landscaping and the hours of operation with the kitchen closing at 11PM,” and Council member Castle seconded. The motion, based on the application dated 09/04/2026, carried unanimously. Staff had advised council that conditioning the approval on facelift work is a common tool to raise the town’s visual standard without triggering a full site plan if the scope is managed.

Nicole Dritz, the town’s Development Services Director, told council the approval before them was for the use—operating a restaurant greater than 2,500 square feet—and that building improvements would follow. She noted the town could require the facade and landscaping shown in the application as a condition of approval. The approved conditions require the applicant to complete the facade and landscaping improvements as represented in the submitted renderings.

The owner, who testified under oath, confirmed operational controls the council requested. The council recorded the action as SE260005, conditioned on the facade and landscaping improvements in the application and the kitchen’s 11 p.m. closing time.

The council asked staff and the applicant to coordinate a timeline for completion of the work; no specific contractor schedule was announced during the meeting.