Mobilizing Against the Hyatt Regency Redevelopment Proposal

Opposition Grows Against Hyatt Regency Redevelopment

As the March 17 hearing before the Sarasota City Commission approaches, opposition to Kolter Urban’s proposal to redevelop the Hyatt Regency site into a mixed-use project featuring two towers is intensifying.

Last week, Quay 1 and 9 orchestrated a virtual meeting with the investment team from Property Markets Group of Miami and MoneyShow of Sarasota, attended by over 40 individuals, to voice concerns regarding the 1000 Boulevard of the Arts project. They have appealed a Dec. 11 Planning Board approval concerning a driveway relocation that exceeds city code by 9 feet.

This new access point will serve both the proposed hotel and residential towers.

Opponents argue that the driveway relocation will necessitate all westbound traffic to make a U-turn to access the 117 luxury condominiums, 174 hotel rooms, over 8,130 square feet of commercial and retail space, and a 6,610-square-foot ballroom.

Furthermore, Quay 1 and 9 oppose the administratively approved massing of the building, which extends 622 linear feet along Boulevard of the Arts. The project is set to be built over a public easement, leading to a tunnel effect between Boulevard of the Arts and Quay Block 9.

While not included in the appeal, the hotel design encompasses Block 9 along two lot lines, as PMG and MoneyShow have been granted approval for One Park West.

Tyler Stall, the attorney for Quay 1 and 9, clarified during the meeting: “This will not appeal the entire project; we are specifically challenging the adjustment they received and the partial sign-off on their site plan.”

This partial sign-off was granted by the city’s Development Review Committee on Feb. 19.

In a letter dated Feb. 25, Stall urged the city to acknowledge Quay 1 and 9 as an adversely affected “aggrieved party,” a designation that must be granted before the appeal can proceed.

According to Florida statute, an aggrieved party is defined as any individual or local government that could suffer adverse effects from a project beyond the community’s general interest. Determining whether the impact on one party overshadows the public benefit is often open to interpretation.

Stall’s letter asserts that Quay 1 and 9 are indeed an aggrieved party because they share a boundary, which significantly impacts them more than the surrounding community.

Although the appeal centers on the Planning Board’s approved adjustment, Stall noted that the City Commission has the authority to broaden its consideration to encompass the overall project.

“There’s certainly the possibility that, especially since the city can refer it back to the Planning Board for additional modifications, the City Commission could address broader issues and require further adjustments,” Stall explained.

Despite awaiting final Development Review Committee approval and facing an impending appeal, Kolter Urban initiated sales at 1000 Boulevard of the Arts on Feb. 25, but declined to comment on the appeal.

Key Information

• Project: Redevelopment of Hyatt Regency site at 1000 Boulevard of the Arts.
• Developers: Kolter Urban, Property Markets Group, MoneyShow.
• Opposition: Led by Quay 1 and 9, citing concerns over project access and building massing.
• Next Steps: City Commission hearing on March 17.
• Legal Status: Quay 1 and 9 has filed an appeal against Planning Board’s approval.