Although many of the residents who attended a March 11 Department of Planning and Natural Resources hearing on East Bay Beach Club’s request for a group dwelling permit were strongly opposed, the department gave the okay this week. The permit was signed by DPNR Commissioner Alicia Barnes, who resigned her job effective Friday.
“The residents who spoke said it was totally out of keeping with the appropriate use of the land,” Coral Bay Community Council President Sharon Coldren said.
The permit gives East Bay developers Marc Davies and Clark Bottner a permit for eight beachfront duplexes for a total of 16 units. Additionally, it allows four other duplex buildings for a total of eight units and four single-family units. The project also includes a clubhouse and a pool.
Doug White, an architect and proponent of green building, has a house at the Privateer Bay development. His home is on one of the lots in the largely undeveloped and remote area that sits adjacent to the proposed project.
“It’s a disaster,” White said, adding that, while he’s not speaking for the homeowners association board, he expects the HOA will file an appeal against the permit and a lawsuit against the project.
“I’m personally going to oppose it,” he said.
White said it the project will destroy the road and impact the environment because the builders plan to put as many units on the property as possible.
“It’s a greed-driven development.” He said it changes the whole character of the area.
“If you want that kind of density, go stay at the Westin,” he said.
Coldren said she was disappointed to learn that there would be 28 units on such as small area of land in such a remote location.
Stuart Smith, who heads Planning’s Comprehensive and Coastal Zone Planning Division, said the upper two acres of the eight-acre property will remain undeveloped.
“It eliminates any units above the 100-foot contour,” Smith said.
According to Smith, one of the conditions imposed mandates that the development cannot be used as a hotel, apartment hotel, bed and breakfast, or timeshare.
Smith said the permit parameters follow the DPNR staff recommendations.
Davies said at the March 11 meeting that East Bay will initially put up three of the beachfront units, the clubhouse and the pool on a speculation basis. If they sell, East Bay will then move on to the rest of the project.
The property sits adjacent to the Privateer development and will be accessed through Privateer’s privately owned roads. A resident said at the March 11 meeting that the easement given to East Bay allowing it to use the Privateer roads prevents commercial development. Smith said any issues with the road must be worked out between Privateer and East Bay.
The developer also needs a CZM permit because the project sits at the shoreline. Smith said East Bay needed the Group Dwelling Permit before it could move on to the CZM process.
“This allows them to complete the application for CZM,” Smith said.
Bottner did not return a call requesting comment and Davies couldn’t be located.
