CarMax closer to opening new store

ROYAL PALM BEACH — The country’s largest used-car dealer took another step Thursday toward opening its second store in Palm Beach County.

The Royal Palm Beach council unanimously approved several items, including a site plan and landscape waivers, that pave the way for CarMax to open in the village.

The site in question is a 13.5-acre parcel on the north side of Southern Boulevard west of State Road 7, between Al Packer Ford West and the Village Shoppes plaza.

The CarMax parking lot will connect to the Village Shoppes to the east. The main building will be just more than 6,800 square feet, with future space planned for vehicle auctions.

Those auctions were the subject of discussion at the council’s May 3 meeting, where officials gave initial approval to create a new zoning definition to allow vehicle auction sales within village boundaries. Final approval came with little discussion Thursday night, paving the way for CarMax to request that the zoning definition be applied to its plans.

The landscape waivers were requested to “create more visibility,” planning and zoning director Bradford O’Brien said. One waiver allows CarMax to eliminate a typically required 3-foottall berm along Southern Boulevard. The other waives a shade tree requirement, allowing one royal palm to count as one shade tree instead of the mandated three palms per shade tree.

CarMax must apply for its engineering and building permits, then it will be cleared to begin construction.

CarMax has about 200 stores in the U.S., with 18 in Florida, including one in Boynton Beach. Another location in Jensen Beach is scheduled to open soon.