News

By Margie Plunkett

    Boston’s continuing restaurant renovation withstood a neighbor’s appeal before the City Commission, but not before the establishment gave up a planned outdoor lobster cooker.
Commissioners later required an additional conditional use approval be required before live music can be allowed.
    “A change in this space from a small motel to an outdoor restaurant, bar and parking lot will certainly have a major adverse impact on our property,” neighbors George and Patricia Brannen, whose condo is just south of Boston’s, wrote in a letter.
    The second phase of Boston’s renovation included demolishing the Bermuda Inn, which was north of the Brannens’ low-rise condos, and building an outdoor dining area including a bar, seating, the lobster cooker and a platform for live music.
    The Brannens contended that noise from outdoor music as well as odors from the lobster cooker would be a problem at their condo, 30 feet from the restaurant that overlooks A1A and the ocean.
    The couple also objected to potential traffic, noise and pollution and claimed they had not been adequately notified of city meetings to consider the plans, their lawyer, Zorian Sperkacz, said at a Dec. 13 commission meeting. The Brannens did not attend.
    “Live entertainment is totally inconsistent for the neighborhood 30 feet away,” Sperkacz said, as is the proposed midnight closing time of the outdoor area. The neighbor wants a 9 p.m. closing.
    “Put it inside, close the doors and it won’t be a problem,” Sperkacz said of the live music.
    With a little east breeze, Sperkacz also said, smells from the lobster cooker will waft right into the Brannens’ condo.
    Boston’s lawyer, Alan Ciklin, said the lobster cooker was no longer planned and a summer grill was in its stead.
The grill has an exhaust and smells aren’t anticipated invading the Bahama House, he said. “I don’t think the winds go that way,” he said and was immediately met with laughter from the audience.
    Boston’s architect, Bob Currie, lives in the Bahama House as well, but in the farthest unit from the noise and odors, the Brannens said. Neither Currie nor the city apprised them of the Nov. 9 meeting where Boston’s work was approved until after the fact, they said.
    “I’m prejudiced about this,” Currie said. “I believe very much in this project. I think it will be a great asset. Everyone else in our condo approved it and is happy to have (Boston’s) there.”
    Currie said the previous hotel was in disrepair and the swimming pool was noisy. The owner put in a 10-foot wall and landscaping to mitigate noise. It’s got to be a lot better.”
    The architect said the Brannens’ property has a solid masonry wall protecting it, while his is more open.
“We’re going to hear more noise than anyone else — and we’re in favor of this project,” Currie said.
Citing their concern about setting precedent, commissioners voted to require additional conditional use requirements for live music at their Jan. 3 meeting. Those include limitations on sound levels, frequency and hours.
    Boston’s had appealed the Planning and Zoning Board’s determination that a conditional use was
necessary.