Planning panel OKs Heritage Harbor amendments to add 24 hotel rooms, raise building height on lot 37

The Planning Commission voted 6‑0 to recommend approval of amendments to the Heritage Harbor DRI and the GDP for parcel 37 to increase hotel rooms at the development and allow a five‑story hotel on the parcel. Morris Engineering planner Linda Stewart told commissioners the proposal moves 24 hotel room entitlements onto parcel 37, raising the parcel’s allowable rooms from 100 to 124 and increasing phase‑2 totals accordingly while keeping the overall DRI hotel entitlement at 424 rooms.

Stewart said utilities and transportation access are in place and that the hotel proposal reassigns entitlements that already exist within the DRI; she said the increase “does not change the previously approved intensity of the overall development” and that existing parking and shared clubhouse spaces serve the use. Staff corrected the record noting the 124 rooms requested are specific to parcel 37 and that other undeployed entitlements remain elsewhere in the DRI.

No public opposition was raised at the hearing and staff reported no wetlands on the parcel. The commission voted unanimously to forward the amendments and related GDP changes to the County Commission for final action.