NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick.

David Swentor, at right, developer of the $15 million Hampton Inn & Suites, nearly holds his breath as the City Commission votes 4-1 Tuesday night to approve the sale of two parcels of city-owned land. With him is attorney Skip Storch.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The 3 1/2-year battle over a hotel on Flagler Avenue is over with tonight's near unanimous City Commission approval with James Hathaway casting the lone dissenting vote.

Hathaway said the process had been "flawed from the beginning, adding he didn't want to "give away the farm with Community Redevelopment Agency give-backs and tax credits totalling $915,720.

But David Swentor, developer of the $15 million Hampton Inn & Suites sandwiched between Flagler and Florida Avenues, was nearly speechless mouthing the words "thank you" to Commissioners Judy Reiker, Jack Grasty, Lynne Plaskett and Mayor Adam Barringer.

"I'm absolutely thrilled for the citizens of New Smyrna Beach," the South Carolina-based Swentor said. "After 3 1/2 years, the work now begins." Swentor has a window of 45 days to secure funding or the special land and zoning changes approved for the 112-room hotel will be vboided.

Like many of the previous 50-plus hearings on the issue, the CRA's elected board and merchants alike packed the meeting hall. And they didn't mince words about their unified support for the hotel that faces the city's main tourist strip on the beachside in Flagler Avenue, versus the primarily residential back side of Florida Avenue with a dozen or so homeowners steadfastly opposed though only one spoke out tonight. Cherrie Coccia cited parking as a problem, saying, "If they can't find a space they'll go elsewhere."

But merchants said parking has been addressed with the CRA investing in $8,400 for parking spaces through leasing with other property owners and that without the hotel offering food and bar services, its guests would frequent the Flagler Avenue night spots. "It's a no-brainer," said Robert Lott, a financial planner on Flagler.

CRA Chairwoman Linda Deborde said the hotel is an "economic development with incentives" for the benefit of Flagler and the city, with the two parcels of land sold to Swentor's group for the appraised $500,000, but with givebacks, the developer will have spent far less as Hathaway pointed out.

Sue Williams, president of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce, said the incentives will enable the developer to proceed and for the city to recoup its money with taxes and jobs as a return.

"Our businesses are really hurting as you all know," Williams told the commission.

Skip Storch, a local attorney representing Swentor locally, reminded the commission that the hotel would be the first such entity in the core beachside business district in 25 years since the Holiday Inn off Third Avenue. "This is right in the middle of the CRA district," Storch added.

Swentor was all smiles after the vote, telling NSBNEWS.net: "It's been a long road. We've been challenged to deliver a special hotel unique to New Smyrna Beach. Everybody wins here."

'It's been a long road. We've been challenged to deliver a special hotel unique to New Smyrna Beach. Everybody wins here.'

-- David Swentor, hotel developer