BEST criticizes hotel plans

The Fairmont Southampton Resort’s plans to build 130 residential units has come under attack by The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce (BEST).

The environmental group said it  has just become aware of development planned for the undeveloped space on the Fairmont Southampton  property. BEST said Fairmont has permission, granted by a Special Development Order (SDO) in 2009, to build 130 residential units. Of that total, 71 are fractional units for tourists and 37 are residential villas for sale to non-Bermudians, these ranging from two-bedrooms to four-bedrooms in size and two- to three-storeys in height. The remaining 22 units are two-bedroom town homes for Bermudians.

A spokesperson for BEST said: “While the application submitted so far is for Phase 1, a mere (3) three-bedroom villas, the public should be aware that segments of the now mostly-green hillsides and landscape surrounding” Fairmont “are eventually going to be transformed from green and open space to the concrete and tarmac of housing developments.”

BEST likened the Fairmont to Rosewood Tucker’s Point saying it “is morphing from a tourist facility into a real estate agency and is selling off its property.”

It is urging the public to write letters to editors of the print and online newspapers, and by submitting an objection letter to the Department of Planning (see application by West End Properties # P0382/13 at Planning. Deadline is Friday 13 December).

The Bermuda Sun contacted Fairmont Southampton for comment, but they did not respond by press time.