Hillsboro Beach says no to helipad at Le Palais Royal

Developer of $159 million property plans to appeal town's decision

HILLSBORO BEACH, Fla. ā€“ Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger once sang, "You can't always get what you want."

That seems to be the case for the developer of a palatial South Florida estate.

Recommended Videos



The town of Hillsboro Beach recently rejected a request by developer Joseph Leone to build a helipad on the sprawling oceanfront property known as Le Palais Royal.

Town rules prohibit aircraft landings, but Leone was seeking an exemption for Le Palais Royal, which remains under construction.

"The basis for the rejection was they couldn't identify any hardships," town manager Robert Kellogg told Local10.com about the Jan. 10 decision.

Le Palais Royal, 935 Hillsboro Mile, is a 60,000-square-foot mansion nestled on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean in the tiny town of Hillsboro Beach, a few miles north of Fort Lauderdale.

The French-inspired Beaux Arts main mansion includes 11 bedrooms, 17 bathrooms, an underground parking garage that can accommodate dozens of cars and an IMAX theater that seats 18.

Full Screen
1 / 23

A 3-foot, 22-carat gold leaf gate greets visitors to Le Palais Royal.

There is also a 26-foot entrance fountain; three master bedroom suites and one presidential master suite, each with a Jacuzzi overlooking the ocean or the Intracoastal Waterway; a private dock large enough to house a mega-yacht; a 4,500-square-foot infinity-edge pool with a 12-foot cascading waterfall, a double-loop waterslide, a fire pit and a swim-up bar; and a plunge pool off the master suite on the second floor of the exterior terrace.

But that's just scratching the surface of the property's opulent offerings.

Real estate agent William P.D. Pierce told Local10.com that an additional 30,000 square feet allows for two guest houses, a bowling alley, a nightclub, an ice-skating rink and a Star Wars-themed go-kart track.

Once the most expensive home ever listed in the United States, Le Palais Royal was recently surpassed by a $250 million mansion in the famed Bel-Air neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Previously listed at $159 million, Le Palais Royal is temporarily off the market, but it's still for sale should anyone with deep pockets show an interest in the mansion, Pierce said.

Pierce said the listing was removed because construction on the property is continuing.

"At this price point, it's got to be perfect," Pierce said.

However, the helipad remains in limbo, at least for now.

Leone plans to appeal the town's decision.

Pierce said a helipad is a realistic expectation for anyone interested in buying a property of its caliber.

Kellogg said he is optimistic that the site will be completed and sold so that the town can collect on its property taxes.

Town attorney Donald J. Doddy was out of the office and was not immediately available to comment on the decision.