An objector challenged the proposed use of his land for access to an offsite carpark when The Westin’s major expansion plans were presented to the Central Planning Authority this week.
Attorney Robert Jones, representing Meow Ltd, which owns Cayman Falls shopping centre on West Bay Road, said the resort “does not have right of way over my client’s parcel”.
During the Wednesday, 5 July meeting, he said easement had been granted previously for access to the site, but additional use for the proposed parking lot would be unlawful.
He described it as a “fundamental problem” as Meow Ltd did not grant right of way “to the world” to cross the land, and this had not been the original intention.
Invincible Investment Corporation’s proposed $153 million project includes a 10-storey hotel tower with 234 guest rooms, a conference facility and offsite carpark.
It is the owner’s second application for a major expansion of the resort on West Bay Road after the planning board rejected a similar proposal in 2020.
Offsite parking
Joe Gould, managing director of Invincible Investment Corporation, told the authority the plans include the hotel tower with restaurant, lounge, wellness facilities, roof-top bar with landscaped pool and deck.
A new sub-divisible conference facility and ballroom will also be built on the Crown-owned 8.6-acre site on Seven Mile Beach.
The application asks for an offsite parking provision variance from 50% to 90% as the provision for 385 parking bays onsite “is proving problematic”, Gould said.
He described the onsite parking as “robbing valuable waterfront land better situated for tourism development”.
Meanwhile, the offsite parking near Sunshine Suites would provide greater benefit to the resort and neighbours, such as Government House, which would have access, he said.
“The proposed location will not only provide more than sufficient parking for our hotel guests but also serve as overflow during off-peak demand for others in the neighbourhood,” he told the board.
Vehicle access will be created off Esterley Tibbetts Highway and down the Sunshine Suites road, “eliminating future congestion on West Bay Road”, he said.
Gould said access will be enhanced with a pedestrian walkway.
The application was first presented on 12 Oct. last year, but the authority adjourned it at the time so the applicant could provide a traffic impact assessment.
It was presented again with the completed assessment on 15 March this year and a date of 21 June was set for consideration before being postponed again.
In her analysis in the meeting agenda, Gina Ebanks-Petrie, director of the Department of Environment, highlighted “possible adverse impacts of the proposal”.
She recommended conditions to minimise those effects, such as introducing turtle lighting, climate-resilient design features and adopting best management building practices.
The existing Westin resort, built between 1994 and 1999, includes a five-storey hotel with 343 guest rooms, a pool, a spa facility, meeting and conference space and two restaurants.
It was previously the site of the Galleon Beach Resort which was demolished.
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