Owners and developers of multi-storey hotels and apartment buildings in Cayman can now add pools, restaurants, gyms and green areas to their rooftops, thanks to an updated law.
The additions, which cannot include liveable areas such as hotel rooms, will allow developers to include more amenities within a smaller footprint.
MPs voted for the Development and Planning (Amendment) Regulations, 2023 in Parliament on 23 Nov.
During the second special meeting of 2023-2024, Planning Minister Jay Ebanks moved a motion which sought to amend the law.
“The purpose of this amendment is to promote the use of rooftop spaces on multi-storey buildings in the commercial, and hotel and tourism zones,” he told members.
Ebanks suggested that this would enhance the efficiency of the sites by allowing ancillary features that may normally be built near the beach to be constructed at rooftop level.
He said that views are premium, adding, “Imagine the appeal of watching Cayman’s world-famous sunsets on the roof of your hotel, while dining.
“I certainly feel that there will be some breathtaking moments for locals and tourists to cherish.”
Sustainability
The newly approved flexibility will also allow for more sustainable buildings “as the site itself can now be further utilised with vegetation and greenery”, he said.
The minister assured it will not be seen as another storey but stressed that it should be a space that is “not liveable”.
“It cannot be used for additional bedrooms, suites and penthouses, but rather for meeting spaces, gyms and other ancillary uses,” Ebanks told Parliament.
The amendment states that if the addition has a roof, it cannot take up more than 75% of the floor space and must not exceed 10 feet in height.
Ebanks said the changes to the law followed consultation with industry stakeholders.
Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart then rose to say his party had read the regulations and supported the amendments as presented.
Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan also voiced full support from his ministry.
“We’re well happy as it will allow us to have a more improved product that is more in line with much of our competition,” he told members.
Legislators passed the amendment with a unanimous vote.
In response to a request for comment, Troy Leacock, president of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, said he was in favour of the amended regulations.
Allowing developers to add more features to their properties creates a more varied tourism product, he told the Compass, saying it was a “good development”.
“Bringing things that the owners or visitors would want, having that flexibility, is actually good in terms of being able to offer more varied designs,” he said.
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Good move on amending the Planning Regulations to allow for Pools, and Restaurants etc. on the rooftop of hotels or condominiums. Now also insist that these developments setback farther from the sea/water, so as to protect our beaches by allowing the natural flow of the tides and sands.