Okaloosa County BOCC — November 3, 2015 — Emerald Breeze Resort Phase II — agenda request

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: November 3, 2015 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Elliot Kampert SUBJECT: Emerald Breeze Resort Phase II DEPARTMENT: Growth Management BCC DISTRICT: 2 STATEMENT OF ISSUE: To review plans for Phase II of the Emerald Breeze Resort consisting of a proposed 5-story, 175 room extended stay hotel as submitted by Choctaw Engineering on behalf of Emerald Breeze Resort Group, LLC. The property is designated as Eglin on the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map and is in the Eglin zoning district. The property is located on the south side of Highway 98 East, east of Waterscape Condominium on Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach. BACKGROUND: The property is located on federal land formerly occupied by military radar station “Dick”. The subject parcel is not included in any of the Okaloosa Island Subdivisions and is not subject to the Okaloosa Island Covenants and Restrictions. However, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Air Force and Emerald Breeze Resort Group, LLC requires that the developer receive all required state, federal, and local government approvals prior to commencement of construction. A Development Order (DO) for Emerald Breeze Resort was issued on September 7, 2012. The development authorized at that time was a 152 room, 5-story hotel for Phase I, a 124 room, 5- story hotel for Phase II, and 6,600 square foot restaurant for Phase II or III. As of this writing, the Phase I hotel has been completed and is in operation, its Certificate of Occupancy (CO) being issued on November 7, 2014 . On May 27, 2015 the applicant submitted revised plans for "Emerald Breeze Phase II" consisting of the existing 152 room hotel and a proposed 5-story, 175 room hotel, minus the 6,600 square foot restaurant (the area formerly assigned to the restaurant will be used as parking for the additional 51 rooms in the second hotel). If approved by the Board, Emerald Breeze will be a two phase project consisting of the two hotels. The proposed development has an increase of 51 rooms and, though it also eliminates 6,600 square feet of retail restaurant use, the modification is considered a major project. As specified in Section 3.01.043 of the Land Development Code, an increase in square footage of the existing commercial facility is considered a major project and requires review by the Okaloosa Island Leaseholders Association Architectural Review Committee, county technical staff, and approval by the Board of County Commissioners. The Okaloosa Island Leaseholders Architectural Review Committee has reviewed the project and determined that they had no jurisdiction as the property was not subject to the Okaloosa Island Covenants and Restrictions. The project will adhere to the 75 foot height limitation applied to all other construction on Okaloosa Island consistent with the Memorandum of Agreement between the Air Force and developer. Staff finds the proposed Emerald Breeze Resort Phase II is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code. All approvals including state and federal permits are on file. OPTIONS: The Board of County Commissioners may approve or disapprove the proposed development. RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners approve the proposed Emerald Breeze Resort Phase II and authorize staff to immediately post the Notice of Intent to Issue a Development Order sign on the subject property, issue a Development Order as provided by Section 1A.03.00 of the Land Development Code following the notice period, and issue building permits and other authorizations as needed upon satisfaction of the applicable codes. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: John Hofstad, County Administrator