Planners need more time to rule on Park Hyatt

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26: Planners have delayed making a final decision on the Park Hyatt development while they consider all the issues.

The project went before the Development Applications Board(DAB) on Wednesday and a decision was expected to be announced yesterday.

But the DAB has chosen to defer their announcement saying it could be considered again next Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy said: “The recent meeting was productive with the Department of Planning noting all expressed concerns.

“The Development Application Board gave preliminary consideration to the proposal at a meeting of the Board yesterday(Wednesday), but decided to defer it pending further consideration of some of the issues involved.

“It is possible it could be reconsidered at the meeting of DAB next week but we will be in a better position to determine that by the end of the week.”

The plans to build a five-star Park Hyatt hotel on the site of the old Club Med in St George’s have already got approval in principle due to the Park Hyatt Act.

The DAB is able to attach conditions to the plans, which could cause the developers to modify their plans.

Local residents have already raised concerns about the location of the hotel’s utility site saying it is “in their back yard” and should be closer to the hotel.

While the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce has voiced concerns about the density and aesthetics of the project.