102 Aquatic Drive UBE-2008-03 Staff Report CDB
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORT
May 20, 2008 Public Hearing
UBE-2008-03, Shivam Atlantic, LLC
To: Community Development Board
From: Planning, Zoning and Community Development Department
Date: May 07, 2008
Subject: UBE-2008-03
Applicant: Bobby Bhikha
11 First Street, North
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250
Request: Request for a Use-by-Exception to allow development of a new Hampton Inn & Suites hotel in the Commercial General (CG) Zoning District on an undeveloped site located at the
northwest corner of Atlantic Boulevard and Aquatic Drive. (Recommendation to the City Commission.)
Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Designation: Commercial (CM)
STAFF COMMENTS
The applicant wishes to construct a new 80-room hotel (a Hampton Inn & Suites) on this undeveloped 1.69 acre site. The proposed design is a three-story structure in compliance with
the City’s 35-foot height limit. The Applicant has stated that no variances or waivers will be requested for the proposed hotel. Development of this site will be subject to all parking
and stormwater requirements, tree permitting and landscaping requirements and all other standard development regulations including the Commercial Corridor Development Standards. This
site is surrounded by other commercial uses and is also adjacent to the City’s Hopkins Creek Regional Stormwater Retention Pond, which is almost two acres in size and currently under
construction.
With the recent re-opening of the Sea Turtle Inn (now Ocean One) as a high-end luxury hotel, there would seem to a demand for new more modestly priced, but high quality hotels typical
of Hampton Inn facilities. The Applicant has stated that a final design for this hotel has not yet been determined, but that it will be one of the prototype designs used by the Hampton
Inn franchise as depicted in the attached photos.
This section of Atlantic Boulevard has seen some redevelopment on both the Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach sides, but older commercial buildings still dominate this area. New development
which supports a pattern of appropriate new infill and redevelopment projects should be encouraged in this area such that it does not decline in a similar manner as Mayport Road. The
proposed use would seem to be consistent with the desired development pattern for the City’s two commercial corridors. Staff recommends approval of this Use-by-Exception.
SUGGESTED ACTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL
The Community Development Board may consider a motion to recommend approval of this Use-by-Exception to the City Commission to allow development of a new hotel in the Commercial General
(CG) Zoning District on an undeveloped site located at the northwest corner of Atlantic Boulevard and Aquatic Drive, provided:
(Add other findings or conditions as may be appropriate.)
Approval of this Use-by-Exception complies with the requirements of Section 24-63 of the Land Development Regulations.
The requested use is consistent and compatible with other surrounding development along this portion of Atlantic Boulevard.
SUGGESTED ACTION TO RECOMMEND DENIAL
The Community Development Board may consider a motion to recommend denial of this Use-by-Exception to the City Commission to allow development of a new hotel in the Commercial General
(CG) Zoning District on an undeveloped site located at the northwest corner of Atlantic Boulevard and Aquatic Drive, provided:
Approval of this Use-by-Exception does not comply with the requirements of Section 24-63 of the Land Development Regulations because_____________________________________.
The requested use is not consistent or compatible with other surrounding development along this portion of Atlantic Boulevard because ________________________________________.
Site views from south (Neptune Beach) side of Atlantic Boulevard
Site views from Aquatic Drive, north and south.