By Tim O’Meilia
A controversial proposal that would allow a 99-unit, 10-story hotel will go to the South Palm Beach Town Council without the endorsement of the South Florida Regional Planning Council.
The planning council labeled the change to the town’s comprehensive plan inconsistent with regional planning policy after hearing the objections of three town residents at the Sept. 18 meeting in Stuart. The members of non-profit South Palm Beach Preservation Inc. complained that the proposed beachfront hotel is too high and would further degrade the town’s eroded shoreline.
The decision reversed the planning council staff’s recommendation. “The council’s thinking was that if this were allowed everywhere (along the beach), would it make a better region?” said council Executive Director Michael Busha. “The council decided it wouldn’t.”
The planning council’s finding is advisory only, and not binding on the Town Council.
The town’s own planning council made no recommendation on the plan after a raucous public meeting Sept. 21 that included the ejection of a resident by police. The board forwarded comments from residents to the Town Council.
The hotel would replace a 49-year-old two-story motel of 58 units that was long known as the Hawaiian Inn. The Paloka family bought the property five years ago, but their plan to erect a 12-story hotel condominium was rejected by the Town Council in 2007.
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