The Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval Tuesday of a special exception for Ascension Inc. to build a 60-room Sunshine Inn hotel on a 2.43-acre parcel at the northeast corner of Southern Blvd. and Sunshine Road at the eastern boundary of the village on Southern Blvd.
Site Plan Coordinator Kevin Erwin said that the parcel is located in the general commercial zoning district, conforms to the village’s design standards and meets the parking requirements for a hotel.
The site provides landscaping generally consistent with the village code, with the exception of a landscape waiver request to allow royal palms to count on a one-to-one ratio for the required shade trees.
The land received preliminary plat approval in 2014. The applicant is proposing construction of a two-story building with access off Southern Blvd. and Sunshine Road. Village staff recommended site plan and architectural approval of the application.
Damian Brink with Schmidt & Associates, representing Ascension Inc., said that the proposed hotel is appropriate for the property, located between Florida’s Turnpike and State Road 7 and near the South Florida Fairgrounds.
The building itself is more than 130 feet away from Southern Blvd., and a water retention area to the rear will act as a buffer to the industrial area to the north. Brink also pointed out that the design has more than 50 percent pervious area, where village code only requires 25 percent in an industrial area.
“I think the architecture provides an esthetic upgrade to the area along Southern Blvd.,” Brink said, pointing out that the tan-and-white color scheme accented with stone is very neutral. “I think it will be an excellent addition to the village.”
He added that with recommendations by village staff, they created a courtyard opening to the rear.
Commissioner Richard Becher said he thought the design was good and the location was appropriate.
“I think you hit the nail on the head with issues regarding the fairgrounds,” Becher said. “I think it will be a great asset to the village. I can’t think of anything wrong with it.”
Commissioner Michael Axelberd agreed. “I think you did a great job,” he said.
Commissioner Felicia Matula asked how many other properties the applicant owns, and Brink said locally they own a 20-room hotel on the north side of Southern Blvd. near Haverhill Road.
Matula said that with one hotel in the village, she did not know if there was a need for another one.
“This is an unbranded hotel, so you don’t have the pipeline of the Marriott behind you, the Hilton behind you, to rely on,” she said, suggesting that the property would mostly attract “transient guests.”
Matula pointed out that one of the criteria of the commission was to see that it was compatible with the surrounding area.
“I would caution you that if there was a need, we would have seen a Marriott or a Hilton. We would have seen other brands come out here and build these hotels,” she said. “The brands really define where these hotels will go in 10 years.”
She pointed out that most branded hotels require renovations every six years so that the product is fresh.
Attorney Ellie Halperin, representing the applicant, said that the operation is family-owned, similar to the Royal Inn.
“There does seem to be a need,” Halperin said. “I tried to book a room at the Royal Inn this afternoon, and for the next two months they are booked solid on weekends, so there does seem to be a need for additional hotel rooms.”
Axelberd made a motion to approve the application, which carried 4-1 with Matula opposed.
In other business:
• The commission also recommended preliminary plat, master plan and site plan approval for 385 single-family residences by Lennar Homes at the village’s 154-acre former wastewater treatment plant site. Axelberd made a motion to approve the applications, which carried 5-0.
• The commission recommended approval of a special exception to allow a green market at Veterans Park on Royal Palm Beach Blvd., which will run each Sunday through April 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Royal Palm Beach Green Market & Bazaar moved to Veterans Park this month from its previous home at Commons Park.
“This park was designed just for such events,” said Erwin, who explained that the green market is currently running under a short-term permit. “This is of longer duration.”
Commission Chair Joseph Boyle said that the green market has been shown to be successful there.
“I think it is a really nice venue,” he said. “People can walk there from many parts of the village. I think it’s a really great idea.”
• The commission also recommended approval of an application by the Wantman Group for a master plan modification for the Royal Inn at Southern and Royal Palm Beach boulevards. The change would remove a 1.11-acre tract, the former TD Bank site, from the master plan and add a 0.056-acre parcel to the master plan to create a developable parcel, Erwin said. Matula made a motion to approve the application, which carried 4-1 with Becher opposed due to landscaping concerns.
