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NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick.
David Swentor, at right, the developer of the proposed Hampton Inn & Suites on Flagler Avenue, shown here with local attorney Glenn Storch earlier this month, was pleased to finally have the city sign off on the project, or so he thought.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- South Carolina-based developer David Swentor was floored when he learned Tuesday that his proposed $15 million Hampton Inn & Suites for Flagler Avenue could be jeopardized because city staff failed to follow through with zoning and land-use amendments.
"This is insane," Swentor told NSBNEWS.net when reached by phone late Tuesday night.
He added, "The thing that is disturbing is all these documents are built on one another."
Swentor was notified earlier in the day by city officials that they discovered proper procedures weren't followed -- mainly that land-use and zoning change amendments required for a project of this magnitude, weren't followed up and sent back to the state for approval.
"This goes back to 2005," Swentor said. "It is pathetic to be quite honest with you," Swentor said.
As any developer knows, time is money, and after nearly 60 appearances before New Smyrna Beach officials in four-plus years, Swentor of Premiere Development of Charleston, S.C., had breathed a sigh of relief earlier this month when the City Commission signed off on nearly a million in incentives for the 112-room hotel through Community Redevelopment Authority funds and tax breaks.
Swentor said he actually thought the worst was behind him when he had to endure the process of holding several new rounds of public hearings earlier this year because city planners did not properly alert the public, which he added cost him "tens of thousands extra in attorney's fees."
He said those multiple city missteps should have raised even bigger red flags, questioning why there wasn't more municipal oversight.
Swentor, who deals in multi-million projects like this throughout the Southeast, said he's never encountered mistakes of this magnitude like he has experienced here in New Smyrna Beach.
"It is pathetic to be quite honest with you," Swentor told NSBNEWS.net. "I've never had this happen before where there are so many errors."
Swentor said a prolonged process of righting the city's wrong could diminish the window of opportunity for the city's core tourist area to take advantage of what such a high-end hotel like this offers.
"If we had to start over again, I doubt we'd spend another four years to bring New Smyrna Beach such a wonderful economic engine."
Swentor said he'll deal with the prospect of lawsuits at a later time, if necessary.
"Right now, we are going to move forward lockstep shoulder to shoulder with the city to try and get this back on track."