Storm-ravaged Royal Palms seeks permission to renovate

Plans to demolish the storm-battered sea front bar at the Royal Palms and create a new venue further back from the water’s edge came before the Central Planning Authority this week.

Handel Whittaker, the former owner of Calico Jack’s, hopes to reopen the establishment, which was shuttered during the height of the pandemic in 2020 and has since been pounded by successive storms.

He aims to demolish the worst hit parts of the property, cover the existing pool with decking and establish a casual beach side bar and restaurant.

But the plans – which initially included a rock barrier to protect the site from further incursions from the sea – face opposition, including from the Department of Environment, which wants to see the structures moved even further back.

Whittaker, who is also the deputy chairperson of the CPA, recused himself from deliberations to present to the authority on Wednesday.

In addition to demolition of the damaged sea front bar, the application for the 8.4-acre site on the heavily eroded southern end of Seven Mile Beach, also sought permission to construct a new covered bar and dining area, service hut and uncovered timber deck, and install rocks to protect the property from waves.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Whittaker agreed to withdraw the application for a rock barrier and to build further back and inside an existing wall on the property.

The application sought a variance to the required setback of 130-feet from the high water-mark, which was opposed by the DoE.

“The Royal Palms site presents an excellent opportunity…to restore reliable sand beach at a developed property through a landward relocation of a seawall/hardscape,” officials from the department wrote in submissions to the authority.

“Adherence to setbacks helps minimise the impact of erosion, flooding and wave action on buildings and coastal infrastructure.”

The Department of Environment further stated that, “Damage to the existing structures on site is largely due to their proximity to the sea. Coastal setbacks help to not only minimize the impacts of coastal hazards, but also help to protect marine ecosystems which are often very sensitive.

“The proposed renovations to the Royal Palms Beach Club include a number of structures that are far closer to the water than the minimum required coastal setbacks under the Development and Planning Regulations.”

It added that the proximity of the site to the Seven Mile Beach Marine Park means the authority must consult with the National Conservation Council before granting approval unless it can demonstrate that there would be no adverse impacts on the protected reserve.

The department raised particular concern about the “rock revetment” which officials likened to a seawall.

In response to the objections from the DoE, Whittaker stated that he would withdraw the application to build the rock revetment on the seaward site of the property and would build back further, inside an existing wall which is currently located 72 feet from the mean high-water mark. That still means a variance to coastal setbacks is required, however.

Noise concerns

Nearby property owners at the Seagull condominiums, Royal Reef and Island Pines also lodged objections, primarily related to noise concerns and potential disturbances from patrons of the nearby beach bar.

Whittaker stated he intended to install a state-of-the-art noise curtain and speakers to contain noise, saying, “We are not looking to build a nightclub but rather a restaurant and bar, there would be no band stands and they would comply with all specifications of the liquor licensing board and have 24/7 security on the site.”

CPA member Kenny Ebanks noted that the Royal Palms Hotel and beach bar was built long before the nearby condos were built, so when they bought the properties, they knew and understood that there was music and entertainment occurring near their condominiums.

The CPA’s decision is likely to be made public next month.

History of the property

Originally constructed as a hotel in the late 1960s, the Royal Palms site has undergone a number of changes throughout the years.

Since its closure during the height of the pandemic, buildings on the beach front section of the property have been damaged by waves and the beach has significantly eroded in front of the property.

The existing seawall on the property was damaged during Hurricane Grace in 2021 and Hurricane Ian in 2022, triggering the need for removal of the seawall and part of the deck structure. The existing kitchen was badly damaged following inclement weather in 2023 and was demolished the same year. The oceanside bar structure suffered significant damage during the Nor’wester of February 2024.

In July 2024, Hurricane Beryl damaged the building housing the bathrooms, and the applicant explained they would also be returning to the CPA at a later date, to seek planning permission for a new structure to house the bathrooms.