Morritt’s Resort has submitted a planning application to expand its popular beachfront property in East End with a five-storey building extension containing 33 more bedrooms.
The proposal shows the $18 million structure will be positioned at the location of the dive shop, 75 feet from the high-water mark – much closer than the legal setback of 160 feet.
Representatives of the timeshare resort say the variance should be approved because some of its other buildings have been developed at similar distances from the ocean.
While the Department of Environment has not opposed the plans, it says, if approved, several conditions must be imposed to protect nesting turtles and the marine environment.
The Londoner
English developer David Morritt opened Morritt’s Tortuga Club in 1999 and, since that date, the property, now named Morritt’s Resort, has been through several stages of expansion.
As well as the original Tortuga Club, it includes the Grand Resort built in 2001, and the English-themed The Londoner which opened in 2014 – for a total of 204 units.
Just before 30th anniversary celebrations in 2019, Morritt spoke of plans for a $30 million expansion project which would include a 10-storey building containing another 40 units.
But instead, in August 2020, Morritt Properties submitted an application to the Central Planning Authority for a five-storey extension of The Londoner.
However, in the applicant’s letter submitted with the plans resort representatives said, due to the COVID-19 pandemic it “was not pursued”.
Morritt Properties has now secured sufficient financing and plans to go ahead with the build, they went on to say in the agenda for the 13 Sept. meeting of the planning authority.
They requested an ocean setback variance of nearly 85 feet less than the legal limit.
“Our application has received no objections, would create construction employment for those living in East End and would complete the final phase of the Londoner development,” they said.
Resort representatives added that plans are for a building that is two storeys lower than the maximum number of storeys that regulations allow in that zone.
Turtles and marine environment
Director of the Department of Environment, Gina Ebanks-Petrie, said, in the agenda, that the beach, near to the proposed build site, is an active turtle nesting area.
“Operating heavy machinery during land clearing and construction presents a threat to nesting sea turtles,” she said.
“Construction works not only disturb the physical nesting habitat but heavy machinery and associated works can crush or bury baby sea turtles and turtle nests.”
She added that creating foundations will likely result in the excavation of a large quantity of sand – “a key component of what makes the application site good for sea turtles”.
The director said the site is near a marine protected area – namely a line fishing zone.
“Best management practices must be implemented to avoid, minimise and mitigate impacts on the marine protected area offshore,” she said.
“In particular, construction-related debris must not enter the marine environment. Poor construction management practices can degrade the environment.”
Directed conditions
Under the authority of the National Conservation Council, Ebanks-Petrie directed the planning authority to impose several conditions if the plans are to be approved.
She said all construction materials and debris must be stockpiled at least 75 feet from the mean high-water mark to prevent material from entering the marine protected area.
And measures, such as screens or vacuuming, must be put in place to ensure that any shavings, foam waste or polystyrene debris is completely captured on-site.
The environment director also recommended the authority impose other conditions, including the use of turtle-friendly lighting and excavated sand being placed on the beach.
Finally, she suggested that the current fire access lane, which is located on the beach in front of the existing Londoner building, should be relocated further back.
The planning application will be discussed at the 13 Sept. meeting of the Central Planning Authority at the Government Administration Building in George Town.
The decision will be published in the minutes several weeks later.
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