Neighbor Group to Oppose 15-Story Hampton Inn Plans for South Clearwater Beach

Developers want to build a 150-foot tall hotel at the site of the existing Quality Inn parking lot on Clearwater Pass, without removing the existing development.

Clearwater Grande Development proposes to split the lot to create two parcels to also build a possible 15-story, 116-room Hampton Inn and Suites.

The two hotels would share a 247-space parking garage that would take up the first five floors of the Hampton Inn and Suites.

City leaders have to sign off on the deal, which also would use 76 hotel rooms from the Beach by Design density reserve. The plans go before the city council Thursday.

The Clearwater Beach Association, a beach homeowner group, plans to oppose the plans.

“A new Hampton Inn is trying to Build Wall-to-Wall on South Gulfview Blvd. by building 90+ units over the allowance for standard Resort Facilities not using additional density. Beach By Design speaks against 'wall to wall buildings" along the Gulf and Bay,” according to an email from the association. “The setbacks place the buildings too close together and reduce the amount of landscaping. The density pool is for additional motel units.  The Quality Inn pools are not "additional".  They are already in place.”

Because of the lot adjustment and changes in development code, the allowable amount of rooms at the Quality Inn would be 31. So developers also have to ask for 60 rooms from the Hotel Density Pool. There are 947 total rooms available in the density pool, which was established with 1,385 rooms in 2008 as part of the Beach by Design charter.

The plans look too cramped for South Beach, Mayor George N. Cretekos said during the City Council work session meeting Tuesday.

“If this project came to us and said they were going to tear down the Quality Inn and put up a new hotel on the combined piece of property, I would be a lot more comfortable,” Cretekos said. “It looks to me we are putting 10 pounds of flour in a five pound bag of flour.”

The plan is to demolish the Quality Inn parking lot to develop the 15-story Key West Coastal design hotel. The existing 91-room Quality Inn will undergo changes that include adding architectural trim, Bahama shutters and a green metal roof. The blue roof for the IHOP will remain. The room rates would be between $89 and $160.

Vice mayor Paul Gibson would like to see the property redeveloped but is not sure if the plans are the right ones for that space.

“It’s going to be a towering structure, on a narrow piece of land, on a narrow highway,” Gibson said.

Related coverage:

• 15-Story Hampton Inn Coming to South Clearwater Beach?

If you go:

What: City Council meeting

When: 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21

Where: City Hall, 112 S Osceola Ave.