By Peter Roos
After months of deliberation and testimony from the public and parties involved, the St. Pete Beach City Commission approved plans for the controversial Sirata Beach Resort expansion on Feb. 28 and the Tradewinds Resort expansion six weeks later.
Mayor Adrian Petrilla, who had run and won under a conservative plan and promised to replace the city manager and the entire commission in an effort to slow or stop redevelopment was one of two nay votes both times, but the new commissionersvoted 3-2 to approve the developments.
The hotel redevelopment had been anticipated since the city of St. Pete Beach amended its comprehensive plan in 2012. It was delayed by lawsuits from citizens that led to the rebuilding of the city’s sewer system. In the meantime, several resorts had sold to owners intent on redeveloping the mostly 1960s buildings that are no longer competitive. The price they paid and the development costs, water and sewer fees, etc., will help keep those costs more reasonable for residents. While the two largest resorts have had their plans approved, there are more in the pipeline.
According to the Sirata plans, two new hotels will be constructed adding a net 275 rooms on the property. A 10-story, 290-key luxury hotel will be constructed on the north side. The existing building that contains 98 rooms will be demolished to make way for the new hotel. On the south side, which is a surface parking lot, a select service, 130-key hotel will rise eight stories. In addition, the existing hotel will undergo renovations that include the elimination of 57 rooms and renovation of the remaining rooms, replacing and upgrading the pool and the relocation of the Compass Grille restaurant.
This Tradewinds Resort redevelopment plan has four phases over as long as 20 years. The initial phase encompasses the construction of a 12-story, 154-key hotel on the south side of the property facing the Seamark condominiums. It will have a two-story beachfront restaurant, a pool, and a six-story parking garage. As part of the many development agreement conditions, the parking garage will have faux plants shielding the levels of parking. The pools will also close by 9pm. The hotel will sit at an angle so that the views of Seamark residents are not disturbed. The developer is not seeking any variances and will nearly double the required setbacks for the towers, garages, and commercial buildings. The new hotels will have amenity decks with pools, restaurants, and music, which will have a decibel restriction. There will also be a 4,800-square-foot rooftop viewing deck on phase one’s 12-story hotel that will be open to the public.
Legal spokesperson Elise Batsel, a partner at Stearns Weaver Miller in Tampa, addressed looming questions from Mayor Petrila who voiced various concerns, including the 20-year agreement term, which exceeds the term of most development agreements. Batsel explained that the 20-year agreement ensures the project can move forward amid unexpected issues such as a pandemic or a red tide event, which may cause hotel occupancy to plummet. She argued that given the scale of the redevelopment, the 20-year development agreement term allows the developer to outlast any economic uncertainty. Under the long-term agreement, the developer will have to provide three different beach access points, and stormwater improvements, among other infrastructure benefits.
There are several smaller potential projects behind the Sirata and the Tradewinds. The developer who built the Cambria in downtown Madeira Beach has plans to redevelop the Schooner in Madeira Beach and the Miramar near the south end of St. Pete Beach’s Large Resort District. There are community meetings (often the first step) for the Miramar on April 30 and The Post Card Inn on May 8. A proposal is also expected by the city from the owner of Plaza Beach Resort. Meanwhile, there is an exciting new condo-hotel breaking ground soon in the most incredible spot in burgeoning Madeira Beach.
The Beachmaker at 14500 Madeira Way in downtown Madeira Beach will house 10 multi-million-dollar penthouses and 161 condo-hotel units operated under the Marriott Autograph flag. Marketed exclusively by Century 21 Beggins Realty, details follow.