Used-car dealer CarMax plans new location

CarMax, the largest used-car dealer in the United States, is planning a new location in Palm Beach County.

The company is eyeing a 13.5acre spot in Royal Palm Beach on the north side of Southern Boulevard between Al Packer Ford West and the Village Shoppes plaza.

At its meeting, Royal Palm’s village council took a preliminary step toward allowing the retailer by approving a new zoning definition that would pave the way for CarMax to hold vehicle auctions on site.

The change, given initial unanimous approval by the council, requires at least 5 acres of property to hold a vehicle auction and includes rules that limit auctions to two in a seven-day period.

The rules also limit evening auction hours, require nighttime auctions to be held indoors and restrict outdoor noise levels.

The zoning amendment will go to the council at its May 17 meeting for final approval.

CarMax has nearly 200 stores in the U.S., according to the company’s website. Of those, 18 are in Florida with one in Boynton Beach — the only CarMax in Palm Beach County. A location in Jensen Beach is set to open soon, according to CarMax.

Bonnie Miskel with Boca Ratonbased Dunay, Miskel and Backman LLP, a consultant for CarMax, said the auctions held by the company are not on the scale seen at the recent Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

“These auctions are not open to the general public,” Vice Mayor Selena Smith said, adding that they only are open to registered bidders. Miskel said that number sometimes can be just a handful of car dealers.Also tentatively on the agenda for that May 17 meeting: the site plan for CarMax, which the village’s Planning and Zoning Commission recommended for council approval on April 24.

The site plan includes a repair and service building, a sales building, an 88-space vehicle staging area and a security gate.