Naples Beach Hotel in Florida draws ire over reduction of golf holes

Naples Town Council read concerns from metropolis residents Thursday evening about the redevelopment strategies for the iconic Naples Beach Hotel – and specially its cherished golf training course.

City Council held a 4-hour community conference on those plans soon after residents complained the plans now include an “amusement park” that will disrupt the community.

The council held the assembly to realize what is going on and give the developer a probability to share its facet of the story, particularly plans for its leisure choices that have triggered a new round of opposition.

No vote or determination arrived out of the conference, as there is nothing at all official for the council to contemplate at this place.

A previous council produced most of the vital conclusions, approving the multimillion-dollar project in 2019 and granting entitlements to the developer with ailments.

Reps for The Athens Group continue to argue their vision has been misconstrued – and that the project’s prospective effect on the encompassing neighborhood has been tremendously exaggerated – by a little group of vocal opponents.

Kim Richards, the founder and CEO of The Athens Team, claimed Thursday evening that the organization was as “optimistic and excited” about the designs for the lodge today as when they had been first introduced to the town three decades ago.

Richards, addressing the community’s concerns on the golf training course, explained Athens contemplated sustaining an 18-hole study course in the conceptual approach 1st submitted to the city but that now the group is checking out market traits.

“We are studying a 10-gap non-classic golfing experience, which we take into account to be innovative, multi-generational and enjoyment,” Richards mentioned. “We’re thrilled about the strategy, and we strongly feel that it is suitable, regular with our target of establishing the best luxurious vacation resort.”

Metropolis citizens at Thursday’s meeting expressed frustrations at what they explained as The Athens Group’s switching options for the lodge residence. They lifted fears for the placement of “noisy” recreational functions near homes and the possible options to cut down the range of holes for the golf study course.

“So, my recommendation to you, if Athens submits a web-site program for nearly anything fewer than the current 104.6-acre Jack Nicklaus championship golfing class, is reject it,” explained town resident Robert Burns.

Town resident Francis Fee reported he was anxious about the good quality of existence in the encompassing neighborhoods.

“Suffice it to say that what’s remaining proposed and exactly where it’s being proposed is likely to maximize site visitors, boost sound and nighttime light-weight, and it is heading to demolish the South Golfing Travel, Third Street North and Seventh Avenue North community,” he said.

Joe Migliara of the Aged Naples Association explained the group supports like a 3rd-party defense for the conservation easement that would maintain the golfing class.

Naples in 2020 employed Ausley McMullen, a Tallahassee-primarily based legislation organization, to seem into strengthening the preservation easement.

“Words subject. Rely on is fragile and evaporating really quickly. Athens, to restore some stage of rely on, ought to affirmatively agree to a conservation easement with third-social gathering protections, and that you will without a doubt preserve the 18-hole golfing class,” Migliara claimed.

City council associates Thursday evening thanked the public and The Athens Group for their participation.

“I assume going back to what was as opposed to kind of in which this is going may possibly be what the people are inquiring, and for The Athens Group to get that into thing to consider to perhaps glance at and say, we have had some suggestions, we have floated them and the local community has presented its feelings on it and it’s possible consider a appear at it once more,” reported Councilman Mike McCabe.

“We require to have that movement in direction of and knowledge and reestablishment of the belief in the local community so that the task that will be there will be embraced and embraced wholeheartedly by all,” McCabe mentioned.

Jay Newman, main running officer of The Athens Team, said ideas are nevertheless in place for the developer to acquire the lodge house at the stop of Could. Demolition is scheduled to commence in July, he advised the Metropolis Council on Thursday night.

Newman, presented the prospect to answer to local community feedback, mentioned it was “disappointing” to listen to confusion about The Athens Group’s programs.

Newman reported the recreation plan has not been formally filed to the metropolis.

“We’ve by no means had an experience like this, so it’s a new frontier, but it is in our finest desire, in the community’s greatest interest to function together,” Newman said.

The developer ideas to raze the beach resort and create a 5-star, 220-place resort along with “best-in-class” residential condos on both sides of Gulf Shore Boulevard. The recreational features nevertheless at problem would serve the condo owners and hotel guests and would be open to the community and other site visitors.

With the project’s approval, the developer promised to preserve the open green area and present golfing course on 104 of the 125 acres it has beneath agreement. Opponents panic it will not maintain to that assure following viewing the recreational takes advantage of and improvements it’s contemplating.

Forward of the exclusive meeting Metropolis Attorney Jim Fox warned city councilors to look at what they mentioned during Thursday’s open discussion board to steer clear of showing as if they’d already produced up their minds about parts of the redevelopment project that might still demand their acceptance.

New problems about the recreational elements of the ambitious venture ignited a handful of months ago immediately after the developer started circulating a income brochure for its luxury condominiums, exhibiting options to lessen the championship golfing program from 18 to 10 holes and to add a sporting activities park that opponents have dubbed the “Athens Amusement Park.”

Associates of the resort’s quaint tennis centre are also upset about the programs to demolish it.

Designs for HB’s

Some neighbors also have become uneasy about the Watkins family’s decision to revive plans to remodel, rebuild and extend HB’s, the seashore resort’s preferred waterfront cafe, which The Athens Group also promised to maintain from the get-go for the group – and heritage.

On Wednesday, several anxious citizens questioned the city’s Style and design Overview Board to postpone its vote on the restaurant rebuild at least till the assets adjustments hands in Could.

Beth Petrunoff, who life near the vacation resort, held up an outsized drawing of a donut, pointing at the gap, to make her level.

She said the gap represented HB’s, and the donut depicted the larger redevelopment, which to her seems as well uncertain with what she explained as too a lot of unanswered questions and loopholes.

“It’s like approving a roundabout without understanding what the street seems to be like,” Petrunoff instructed the board.

In the end, the Design and style Overview Board accepted the reworking and expansion project 4-1 just after delaying a vote at its February assembly to permit the architect time to deal with the board’s list of thoughts and concerns, which include pedestrian entry.

Just one of the arguments created in the project’s favor is that a permit the Watkins relatives acquired from the Florida Division of Environmental Defense for the task a long time back is about to expire, so time is of the essence to get the city’s ultimate approvals on it.

If the allow expired, HB’s could never get rebuilt or expand at its existing locale methods from the Gulf of Mexico.

A new allow may possibly demand HB’s to move another 50 feet again from the Gulf of Mexico and be elevated by 10 toes for flood security to comply with today’s setting up demands, eliminating its toes-in-the-sand vibe and Outdated Florida character, stated Tim McCarthy with Hart Howerton, the architect for The Athens Group’s redevelopment project.

The Athens Group supported the Watkins family’s request. The challenge, at first planned for 2011, is the last piece of the final important renovation undertaking carried out by the household, which has owned the assets for decades. It will cut down the size of the Sunset Terrace conference area and expand HB’s by 3,500 sq. feet. The programs consist of a new kitchen area, where by diners can see chefs at operate, and additional place for indoor and outside dining with an general style and design which is additional in line with a five-star eating knowledge on the Gulf, said venture architect Daniel Summers, with BSSW Architects.

Soon after viewing a more in depth presentation than the to start with just one final month, Stephen Hruby, the Design and style Critique Board’s chairman, reported it went “well further than what would have been essential to persuade us that this was the proper issue to do.”

He described it as a use it or lose it circumstance.

Opponents left the meeting dissatisfied. “What Athens/Watkins are proposing is nonetheless yet again even bigger and in a location that doesn’t abide by the latest regulation,” Petrunoff explained.

The Athens Team will make sure HB’s and its traditions remain a focal level of the new development, McCarthy instructed the Design and style Assessment Board.

“We definitely glance forward to extending that hospitality custom below at the Gulf facet,” he explained.