Stuart and Martin County · City of Stuart
Popeyes at Windemere Point, 1961 NW Federal Hwy, Stuart: approved 3-2
Stuart's City Commission approved a 1,995 sq ft Popeyes with two drive-through lanes at Windemere Point, 1961 NW Federal Highway, 3-2 on 2026-08-24, requiring a 10:30 p.m. closing and grease trap service every 20 days.
1961 NW Federal Highway, Stuart, FL 34994 on the map
Where it stands
Approved 3-2 by the City Commission on 2026-08-24 (Ordinance 2546). Matheson, Clarke and Rich voted yes; Giobbi and Reed voted no. The approval adds two conditions:
- Closing time: the restaurant must close by 10:30 p.m., 7 days a week.
- Grease trap: it must be serviced every 20 days.
It took several tries. An approval motion failed 2-2 on 2026-06-22 before the item was continued to August.
What was approved
A change to Phase 3B of the Windemere Point commercial planned development, at the southeast corner of NW Windemere Drive and NW Federal Highway. The 1.64-acre parcel gets a 1,995-square-foot Popeyes with two drive-through lanes and a bypass lane. It replaces the 2017 approval for a smaller drive-through restaurant plus a retail building. The retail part is dropped.
Why it matters to neighbors
- Traffic: the staff report estimates 122 morning and 229 evening peak-hour trips. Staff say that's a decrease in the evening, and under 1% more in the morning, compared with the earlier restaurant-plus-retail approval.
- Signs: the applicant first asked for 10 signs. The ordinance's conditions allow no signs beyond the plaza's existing 2014 sign package.
What city staff said
Staff found the restaurant consistent with the city's code and Comprehensive Plan, but didn't recommend the extra signs.
Who's behind it
- Owner: 1560 Boone, LLC
- Agent: MBA Development, LLC (Boca Raton)
Hearings
| Board | Date | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Local Planning Agency | 2025-11-13 | Recommended approval with fewer signs and architecture matching the plaza |
| City Commission, first reading | 2026-01-12 | Moved to second reading |
| City Commission, second reading | 2026-06-22 | Approval motion failed 2-2; continued |
| City Commission, second reading | 2026-08-24 | Approved 3-2, with the 10:30 p.m. closing and grease trap conditions |
Sources
- City Commission, 2026-08-24: agenda, staff report, ordinance, minutes
- City Commission, 2026-06-22: minutes
Written from the staff report, the draft ordinance and the minutes. We haven't seen the final signed ordinance text. Last checked 2026-10-21.
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