It was back in February that the owners of the new Hideaway Village, located at the corner of Estero Boulevard and Lazy Way submitted plans to rebuild. Along with DiamondHead Resort, this new 30-unit boutique hotel is expected to be on the LPA’s September 8th agenda.
Before getting to the LPA on the 8th, the property owners will host an open house for neightbors next week to show off the project and answerr questions. The Neighborhood Company is representing the owner; SLASHA, LLC.
If approved, the new resort will include a 30-unit boutique hotel and up to 3,500 square feet of commercial space including a restaurant and retail. The total size of the property is .63 acres which is now an empty lot.
Before Hurricane Ian, the property included three buildings containing a 23-unit (22 guest units and a management unit) hotel/motel. The two-story buildings offered amenities such as kitchenette units, a swimming pool, outdoor dining areas, and on and off-site parking facilities for its guests.
The proposal is to rezone the property from Commercial Resort to Commercial Planned Development.
In addition to increasing the number of units by 7, the proposal includes a restaurant and a coffee shop open to the public, a small sundries shop open to the public, and a rooftop pool for hotel guests only.
The ground floor will include primarily parking, back of house operations, hotel lobby, and small food service/retail (café/coffee/sundries shop). The second floor consists of a combination of restaurant area, hotel accessory uses, fitness center/back of house, and hotel guest units. The third floor will be primarily guest units, and the fourth floor will consist of guest units and hotel amenities such as the pool/amenity deck area and back of house operations.
The CR zoning allows heights of three stories or 30 feet above base flood elevations. A deviation is requested regarding the height of the development, which is to allow a maximum of four stories and a maximum zoned height of 47 feet. The maximum actual height is 63 feet measured from grade to peak of highest roof.
The Neighborhood Company says the additional height is needed to allow for the appropriate construction of the proposed hotel and provides numerous design benefits. “This height will allow greater architectural details and roofline variations which create visual interest and a more attractive building. The additional height also allows for a reduced building footprint and greater setbacks from adjacent properties. The reduced footprint in return allows for pedestrian realm enhancements described above.”
As we’ve learned over the years, in order to request anything above and beyond the rules set forth in the Comprehensive Plan and land Development Code, applicants must provide the town with public benefit. Here’s what is proposed as public benefit for this project:
– Elimination and/or reduction of non-conformities.
– Improved pedestrian and vehicular access and site parking design to improve movements to and from Estero Boulevard and eliminate potential conflict points.
– Rebuilding resilient and hardened site improvements and structure.
– Providing for or increasing existing buffers and setbacks where abutting residential and other commercial uses to ensure cohesive redevelopment.
– Improving the public realm and creating a pedestrian-friendly environment through enhanced landscaping, bicycle parking, and pedestrian amenities along Estero Boulevard and Lazy Way.
– Encouraging bicycle (rentals for guests) and pedestrian activity to reduce vehicular impacts to the surrounding roadway network.
– Participation in the Don’t Rent a Car program.
– Continuing the redevelopment efforts of the island by bringing back a small boutique hotel and providing neighborhood commercial uses (restaurant and small retail) that are complementary to the area, which previously existed and that are envisioned for this part of the island.
– Replacement of non-FEMA compliant structures with a hardened, and resilient development which will meet all Florida Building Code and FEMA requirements and will benefit public health, safety and welfare.
– Providing outstanding coastal architecture compatible and consistent with existing, newly constructed homes and future projects.
– Contributing to the redevelopment of the island and strengthening the Town’s positive economic impacts including ad valorem taxes, bed tax, employment, and secondary impacts in supporting local businesses.
– Support of the FMB Elementary School through informing/educating staff about the school and providing flexible work schedules to facilitate drop-off and pick-up.
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They could start by cleaning up their property. Their weeds are growing out onto Lazy way and hampering two way traffic. Lazy Way is one of two access points to all homes in Lazy Acres, Gulf heights and El Sol subdivisions, approximately 130 to 140 total residences. Their site itself has become an eyesore of left over debris, fill dirt, equipment, junk and weeds. I’ve had to clean up stuff from that site, as well as others, on my property after Helene and Milton. Jeese! Enough already.
I love it. Definitely should bring some value to the area without it being a huge corporate hotel. I say go for it. You have my vote, if there is a vote.
Regardless of your opinion on the building, the list of public benefits is a joke. 🤣
“Support of the FMB Elementary School through informing/educating staff about the school and providing flexible work schedules to facilitate drop-off and pick-up.” Time to update the list of public amenities perhaps?
Actually, I think being to working with the school Schedule so your employees can take advantage of having their children educated on island while they are working is a huge public benefit
This is a BEAUTIFUL design! Thank you to Hideaway for sticking as close to code as possible and trying to limit additional cars on the island. If other developers could have been this considerate, they may have broken ground by now!