NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick. Rezoning for the proposed Hampton Inn & Suites on Flagler Avenue was approved Monday night by the Planning Board with the lone dissenting vote cast by Marie Bushey, in the far left photo. Planning Board Chairman Thomas Wheeler, pictured with Bushey, voted with the majority for the hotel. David Swentor, principal in Premiere Development, the developer of the hotel, is shown in the near left photo. Behind him are Linda DeBorde, chairwoman of the Community Redevelopment Agency and Steve Dennis, executive director of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce, the latter two supporters of Swentor's project.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Even with two new members on the Planning Board, approval for the proposed 112-room Hampton Inn & Suites on Flagler Avenue and backing into Florida Avenue was never in doubt Monday night.
One of the two new members -- R. Brooks Casey -- had to abstain because his law firm represents one of the applicants. The other new member, Kenneth Bohannon, voted in favor of the hotel, as did Planning Board Chairman Thomas Wheeler and fellow members Jessie Clark and Martha Ann Sibley. Board member Jason McGuirk was absent.
The lone dissenting vote came from Planning Board member Marie Bushey, who explained: "I just do not believe in the size of the hotel... It's out of character for Flagler Avenue."
Though, Williams, the new chairman of the board, said "yes," when his name was called for the vote, he added, "But I have a lot of reservations."
Still, with the four votes and a couple hours of public participation for and against, the proposed $15 million hotel's passage was secured and that was a relief to the principal developer, David Swentor of Premiere Development Corp.
"This is now the 46th time," Swentor said of a presentment to a New Smyrna Beach public entity. He still has two more presentments before the land-se regulation amendments are finalized by the City Commission before the hotel can be built.
"I'm really happy," Swentor said, adding of the dozen or so neighbors opposed to the hotel, "They had their say. We'll move forward to have a more refined and comfortable hotel. It will be a win-win situation for everybody."
The Planning Board last month had approved the hotel, as did the City Commission on a second reading, neaning it was reviewed twice buy the commission, but city staff failed to notify adjoining property owners prior to the last month's Planning Board meeting of the public hearing and the whole process had to be repeated.
Interim City Manager Pam Brangaccio described it as a "do over" after conferring on the legalities with City Attorney Grank Gummey.
Floria Avenue residents such as Diane Hughes suggested the North Causeway would be a better site, asking "Who wouldn't want to wake up to dolphins.
She and others expressed concern about parking since the hotel would only have 63 spaces and would have to hunt for more off-site parking.
But Linda DeBorde, chairwoman of the Community Redevelopment Agency, said after the prevailing vote that parking would be addressed by her agency
"I am thrilled now that economic development can move forward with this hotel," DeBorde said.
Robert Lott, president of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce and a business owner on Flagler, agreed, saying this is too good of an economic opportunity to pass up.
"I understand the people (on Florida) think this will impact them negatively, but this will be good even for the people on Florida Avenue."
Deborah Dugas, another Florida Avenue resident, blames the city for allowing the process.
"Once again, the citizen's concerns were ignored. As Mr. Wheeler stated, 'The developer is doing what is allowed,'" Dugas said. I don't fault the P&Z board, as they found that the developer had followed proper procedures. I don't fault the developer. They have done a great job of selling thier product. That is their job. I fault the city. It is just so frustrating that the city is allowing it to happen. They have weakened and changed the process to fit the developer rather than have the developer's project fit the city."