BELLEAIR – Five minutes into Tuesday night’s Town Commission meeting, Legg Mason Real Estate Investors officials had their answer.
The final impediment to their planned $100 million restoration of the historic Belleview Biltmore Resort had been removed. The variances which they insisted were necessary to make the restoration a viable economic undertaking were granted.
There were a handful of concessions made on both sides. The Biltmore owners will pay Belleair $15,000 to be used to construct a sidewalk along the north side of the Biltmore Golf Club on Poinsettia Road to the Pinellas Trail – an area long considered unsafe for pedestrians.
Legg Mason also agreed to limit hours of use for the new spa to between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
But it didn’t end there. In what has become almost a hallmark of any discussion regarding the Biltmore over the past few months there is always one more “but” and Tuesday evening was no exception.
Commissioner Stephanie Oddo, even as she prepared to state the motion to approve, holding a copy of the blueprints aloft, said smiling, “Just one thing. I noticed it says on these plans that the Belleview Biltmore is in Clearwater, here in the address. It’s not, it’s definitely in Belleair, legally I mean, it’s in the town of Belleair.”
Lead architect for the restoration project Richard Heisenbottle replied, as he dialed his cell phone, “You’re absolutely right and rest assured before you can pass this resolution somebody in my office will be correcting that.”
The variances were approved 4-0. Commissioner Stephen Fowler was absent.
Cabana Club plans submitted
In a related move, the Clearwater Development Review Committee will consider a plan first submitted May 1 by LMREI, then revised and resubmitted June 11 for the refurbishment of the Cabana Club on Sand Key.
Originally built in the 1970s, the Cabana Club was purchased by LMREI as part of that group’s development plans to coincide with the restoration of the Belleview Biltmore property.
Now known as the Belleview Biltmore Cabana Club, plans call for a 38-room Victorian-style boutique hotel with ground level parking, new restaurant and extensive landscaping.
The beachfront Cabana Club facility, which includes a restaurant and pool, has been available to guests of the Biltmore since 2002. Future plans call for transportation to and from the Cabana Club site by both van and boat launch from the main hotel. Additionally, an airport shuttle will be provided to transport guests directly to the hotel.
Sally Spencer honored
Continuing a tradition of honoring its citizens of note, Belleair presented the family of Sally A. Spencer with a resolution honoring the longtime resident for her constant devotion to her family, her service to her neighbors in need, the town, the county and the state.
Mrs. Spencer, who served on the town’s parks and tree board for many years, is credited with the planting of countless trees, which now grace the community. She passed away May 12.
