NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — A change could decrease the number of hotel rooms in New Smyrna Beach.
The city planning manager has recommended reducing the number of hotel rooms allowed per acre from 75 to 48.
However, many residents said that's still more rooms than they would like to see.
In a memo, New Smyrna Beach planning manager Gail Henrikson explained that more than 1,300 registered voters signed a petition asking, in part, that the city cap the number of hotel rooms allowed at 24 rooms per acre. The proposed change to 48 rooms per acre is still double that.
Henrikson made the recommendation at Monday night's commission meeting after the petition led to a months-long review of the city's future land use and zoning classification.
"It's a small, little town. A quiet area, no hustle and bustle," said resident Minna Fuller.
The office manager of Sea Vista on Atlantic Avenue, Jamie Teehan, told Channel 9 Eyewitness News that 22-room motels fit the mold visitors are looking for.
"Honestly, when a lot of people call, they want the smaller hotels, and they don't want to stay at Best Westerns or Holiday Inns. A lot of people prefer the little mom and pop hotels and stuff like that; they like the nostalgia, the little beach motels," Teehan said.
A 114-room Springhill Suites is in the works.
"They're building a hotel next to Breakers, which will definitely take the charm away from the city that's considered old Florida," visitor Larry Pelliccioni said. "I think a lot of the residents are upset. It's going to be a lot denser and it's going to disturb the charm."
The review is scheduled to be presented to the city commission in December, along with a number of recommendations that commissioners will consider.
WFTV
