Sandestin Investments recently brought before the Walton County Planning Commission a request to approve a major development of its Sandestin Boutique Hotel.
The request was to develop a 249-252-room hotel on 2.11 acres with a future land use of Coastal Center. The project is located at the northwest intersection of Baytowne Village Drive and Legend Creek Drive, and located within the Sandestin DRI.
Walton County Planning Director Mac Carpenter recommended conditional approval of the project, but an objection was raised by nearby condo owners over whether the applicant notified all affected about the meeting and proposed development.
Dana Matthews, attorney for the applicant, told commissioners that on March 5 notifications were sent to more than 500 addresses within a 350-foot radius even though code requires only 300 feet.
However, Attorney Gary Shipman argued that six owners at Elation condominiums were not noticed, and access to their parking garage would be cut off.
"No board members at Bahia knew this was happening," said Shipman. "Parking spaces are part of the real property they own and 45 spaces belong to Elation. They are asking for proper notice. Only one board member knew anything about this as of this morning. They are entitled to notice so we have an opportunity.
"I am the registered agent and no one noticed me," he added. "Any decision you make will be reversible. My clients have an easement through where it is going. Moving the easement is not in this application."
The condos also share a back-up generator with lines that run through where the hotel will be built.
Part of the parking scheme for the hotel will be in the north parking lot in front of The Grand and Bahia.
Matthews said the easement is not being taken away and he did not know about six people not getting notified.
Matthews asked his client, SDI owner Tom Becnel, if he was willing to take a chance on encountering a challenge when the proposal goes before the Board of County Commissioners and Becnel replied that he would like to move forward, to which Shipman reiterated that there were homeowners at Bahia who received no notice.
However, Becnel stated that timing is of the utmost importance in moving forward with the project.
Shipman offered to meet with Becnel and Matthews next week to find out how the issues will be dealt with, and offered to supply a list of the people at Bahia who were not notified.
Matthews said that SDI needs to make their April 10 BCC meeting, so a meeting time of March 29 at 5 p.m. was agreed on.
The plan commission issued a conditional approval for the project dependent on Shipman and his clients and SDI working out their differences.
Sandestin Development recently renovated its Linkside Conference Center space.
"That was well received and much needed," said Sandestin Realtor Kitty Whitney. "When Intrawest built the Grand Sandestin, they planned for an expansion to that center when needed. Through the years, SDI has had to pass on large well-known companies' conferences as our space was not large enough.
"The large groups that came years back have grown and now go to other resorts with larger accommodations," she added. "That demographic was ideal because they bring families and use all aspects of the resort. In order to get them back, SDI must provide bigger and better space. So, the expansion plan was updated and the plan made to build hotel rooms above the conference center."
After passing planning and if approved by the BCC, a possible construction start date of fall is hoped for, said Whitney.