With construction scheduled to begin no later than June, Morritt Properties plans to invest some $58 million during the next five to 10 years in order to expand its East End resort development, with the goal of doubling time-share ownership to more than 30,000 members.
“I’m so excited about the future,” owner David Morritt said in a news release. “We’ve had a brilliant year, and it’s only going to get better.”
Currently, Mr. Morritt’s development on 12 acres in East End includes two hotels – Morritt’s Tortuga Club and Resort, and Morritt’s Grand Resort – as well as the nearby Morritt’s Shopping Centre, and has about 12,000 time-share members.
The company plans to add seven new components to the development. The first, called “The Londoner”, is a 5-storey apartment building commemorating the 2012 Olympic Games in London, consisting of 35 units on the seafront, next to the existing reception building. The intent is to begin construction “no later than June 2012”, according to the news release.
Other additions include “The Grand Tower”, a 5-storey building with 25 units behind the Morritt’s Grand buildings; “The Eco-Village”, three, 3-storey buildings with a total of 45 units, located inland behind the shopping centre; a 4-storey residence building with 32 units, located inland on the road; the demolition of the Main Reception Building, to be replaced by a 7-storey building with a restaurant, bar, conference facilities and luxury accommodations; a 4-storey building with four three-bedroom luxury apartments, to be constructed as an extension to the new main reception building; and a 3-storey “5000” building with 10 units located next to the existing cluster of “5000” buildings.
Proposed rezoning
In late September 2011, Morritt Properties applied to the Central Planning Authority to rezone about 4.5 acres around the shopping centre from low-density residential and agricultural residential to hotel/tourism. Currently, the only property in that area zoned hotel/tourism is on the Collier’s Beach side of Queen’s Highway.
According to the Planning Department analysis, the area that is proposed to be rezoned “is already fulfilling a role in support of the tourism industry and a rezone to hotel/tourism would be in keeping with its current use”. The analysis also notes that the agricultural land in the immediate area is class 5 or class 6, the worst class suited for agricultural on a scale of 1 to 6.
The Department of Environment did not raise objections to the rezoning, saying it would welcome the opportunity to explore the developer’s idea to create an eco-village. The Department of Tourism supported the application. No other departments raised objections or concerns.
The Central Planning Authority adjourned the application, “while the [Planning] Department prepares a review of the zoning needs in the surrounding area”.
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