Floridays eyes Longboat Key hotel

Some Longboaters claim the north end of the Key is forgotten, but hotel development groups are starting to give the area serious attention.

Sarasota-based Floridays Development Co. revealed last week that it’s interested in building a north-end hotel.

Floridays Project Manager James Brearley sent a Nov. 20 email to Longboat Key commissioners, announcing he’s seeking a referendum to change the zoning of six parcels owned by William Saba from commercial to tourism use that allows six units per acre.

The properties at 6920, 6916 and 6910 Gulf of Mexico Drive, along with parcels at 6931, 6927 and 6919 Palm Drive, encompass approximately 1.5 acres of land between Whitney Beach Plaza and the vacant bank building at 6960 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Brearley told the Longboat Observer Monday that Floridays was “initially drawn to the redevelopment of the north end of Longboat Key because there’s a desire for hotel rooms on the island and strong desire for redevelopment and revitalization.”

Brearley said he could not divulge the type of hotel or the number of units Floridays seeks for the site. The zoning Floridays seeks allows for six tourism units per acre, which would allow  approximately nine units on the 1.5-acre combined site unless a future site plan received additional tourism units via a special exception.

“Before we can spend time and energy and develop a site plan, we need to have a referendum first to make sure we know we can build a hotel there,” Brearley said.

Brearley said he has a contract with Saba for the lots that will go into effect if the town approves the referendum request. He declined to disclose the amount of the agreement. The Longboat Observer was unable to reach Saba by phone at press time Monday.

Floridays is seeking the referendum request to be heard by the Town Commission at its Dec. 7 regular meeting.

The Whitney Beach Plaza question

It’s the second referendum request the commission will hear from commercial property owners seeking tourism use for properties on the north end.

Whitney Beach Plaza owner Ryan Snyder received commission consensus Nov. 9 to craft a future density referendum that, if approved, will allow him to convert the shopping center’s commercial zoning to tourism use.

Snyder said he’s had enough interest lately from two parties about building a condominium hotel concept for the property that he wants the referendum to obtain proper zoning for such a venture.

Those two interested parties, Snyder said, have expressed an interest in developing 50 to 70 one- and two-bedroom condo units on the property with a 24-hour reception desk and a possible restaurant and on-site meeting space.

Brearley said Floridays sought to acquire all of the property along Gulf of Mexico Drive from Whitney Beach Plaza north to the vacant gas station parcel.

“We worked hard to assemble the whole triangle, including the vacant bank building and the gas station, and we had some initial discussions with Whitney Beach Plaza, too,” Brearley said. “But the bank building owner wasn’t interested in meeting with us, and we’re not close at all number-wise on the plaza site. So, we’re moving forward with a limited hotel on the 1.5-acre site we’ve assembled.”

In an Oct. 13 email exchange between Snyder and Michael Saunders & Co. agent Lee DeLieto Jr., who was acting on behalf of Floridays, Snyder wrote he’s not willing to sell Whitney Beach Plaza for less than $3.7 million, stating he believes the property’s worth will “significantly increase” if the referendum seeking to convert the property to tourism use is approved.

Unifying the property

Although Planning, Zoning and Building Director Alaina Ray said Monday she needs to investigate the request more before rendering an opinion, she said she would be more comfortable if the referendum request for a future hotel “included more property along with it.”

District 5 Commissioner Pat Zunz said she’s happy about the north-end interest but still hopes groups like Floridays can work to obtain other parcels.

“It really works better as one unified piece,” Zunz said.

Longboat Key Revitalization Task Force Chairman George Spoll, who helped create interest in the property by Floridays, agrees.

“We want to see that become a hotel site, and the whole site from the gas station on down should be a part of it,” Spoll said. “Tourism units will help support the Key year-round.”

Snyder said Monday that “in a perfect world, all the properties would come together for a hotel” and pledged to stay open to the possibility.

“We’re always open to conversations down the road...we’ll see what happens,”  Snyder said.