Nearly two years after receiving initial approval from the Ship Bottom Land Use Board, the developer of a proposed hotel in the borough is returning for a hearing on two revisions to the site plan on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m.
Christopher Vernon is looking to build the 105-room Hotel LBI, which will be erected at the current site of the Stateroom. Prior to 2007, the Stateroom was the location for the Quarter Deck Inn. Vernon, who owns the Stateroom as well as Bonnet Island Estate and the Mallard Island Yacht Club, said he hopes to have the hotel up and running by the summer of 2018.
He said the Stateroom would be demolished to make room for the new hotel, which is a permitted use along the Route 72 corridor. The hotel would be situated between Eighth Street (Route 72 West) and Ninth Street (Route 72 East).
Variances were initially needed for height, since the 45-foot structure would be 5 feet higher than the zoning ordinance allows. In addition, the hotel’s 105 rooms would be 32 more than what the zoning ordinance permits.
James Raban, project attorney, said one change to the plan will involve extending part of the building more to the south side of the property.
“That would create more room for cars on the north side of the building, because that will be the entrance,” said Raban. “Currently, people driving to the Stateroom can get access to the property from Ninth Street, but there will be no access from there once the hotel is built.”
Vernon said another change is that the hotel will be available for weddings and banquets.
“That’s what we do at the Stateroom, and it has gone very well, so I thought it would be good to have those facilities available at the new hotel,” he said.
Vernon said the hotel would combine older Victorian style with more-modern flourishes. He said the look is reminiscent of the grand hotels that once stood in Beach Haven.
“We are looking at this as an ideal place for family vacations,” he said.
Vernon said he would give a project update at the meeting.
“So far, it looks like we’re on schedule,” he said. “We’re reviewing construction designs. We’re making progress, and if all goes well, we’ll be ready for the summer of 2018.”
— Eric Englund