Beach Bay hotel gets OK from CPA

| 22/11/2019 | 55 Comments
Cayman News Service
Beach Bay development, artist’s rendition

(CNS): The Central Planning Authority has given its okay to the application for a ten-storey hotel in the quiet residential area of Beach Bay. Despite dozens of objectors submitting a catalogue of concerns in writing and turning up for the meeting on Wednesday, the CPA gave the project the thumbs up. Residents are particularly worried about the scale of the development, which will forever change what was until now their peaceful community.

Following the news that the project had been given planning permission, the residents of Beach Bay began the process towards an appeal.

A spokesperson for the group said they were all very disappointed and believed the approval was about saving politicians who have touted this project from embarrassment rather than because it really is a beneficial or even viable project.

“This story is not over yet,” said Lindsay Wright, one of the local residents who has been leading the campaign against the development. “To allow a resort of this magnitude to be built knowing that a vast majority of homeowners are majorly upset and not even consider agreeing that the height needs to be lowered will open the flood gates to any developer who wishes to follow suit on any area of this island,” she warned.

During the meeting Wednesday, the developers’ representatives put forward revised plans to address the previous recommendations of the CPA, including those regarding parking, back of house operations, setbacks and beach access issues, which had led to an adjournment of the original application.

But objectors noted many concerns about the project that had not been addressed by the revised plans, as well as changes that in some cases might prove to be even more problematic. One resident spoke about how, if this project goes ahead, part of her home will have to be requisitioned for a road to service the hotel, while others are very worried that planning is not demanding a big enough set back for a ten-storey building to address their privacy concerns.

A local architect who is part of the resident group of objectors said the overall project simply does not make sense, given the tiny size of the beach in the area to service such a huge development. He noted that the applicants are not hotel developers but financiers and investors. The objector said he believed the plans were merely speculative to allow the land owners to acquire planning permission to increase the value of the land, which they plan to sell rather than actually develop.

However, all of the complaints and objections failed to stall the application and officials from the planning department confirmed that the project was approved.


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Category: development, Local News

Comments (55)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    And in the last election people really thought this government would be different!😂😂

  2. Peed Off says:

    11 stories. Cliff to be blasted away. Beach to be ruined. Forest destroyed. Another part of Cayman’s natural beauty lost forever. People living next to 200′ sewage tanks. What a mess. I bet they quarry the rock and leave a big mess behind and forget about any hotel. So much for low density residential property. So much for our dream of living next to the beautiful Beach Bay Forest. CPA and Govt. you are a disgrace. Your agenda seems to be to completely ruin Cayman. Once its gone, its gone. No one will come here. God help us if we get another Ivan or worse. People are sick and tired of the way Cayman is going and you are all too blind and stupid to see it. Well done morons.

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  3. Kman says:

    Not at all surprised by the CPA decision yet won’t be shocked to see this is another project which won’t ever be completed in the next 10 years. There was Mandarin in EE, Ironwood and Hyatt so don’t see it happening, that’s my wish as we’ve destroyed too much of our island because of over development.

  4. Anonymous says:

    I remember in 1980 it was a pleasure to go up to Rum Point with my family on a Sunday. It was so peaceful and tranquil with only a small beach bar/restaurant on the beach…….look at it now!! Full of drunken brawling loud mouth tourists, revving up on those wave runners and music 100 decibels too loud!! No, I’m not an old fashioned fuddy duddy wanting to spoil people’s fun. I had great fun living in those years in Cayman partying but there’s a limit to everything. It’s getting now there’s not one part of this island you can go to enjoy the peace and tranquility and loveliness of Cayman. The construction, the bumper to bumper traffic, the escalating crime, It’s getting more like Miami every day……all through pure greed!! I’m all for progress people and things have to move on but you’ve truly lost your identity as an idealic safe Caribbean island. It’s all down to people chasing the big $$$$…. what a shame!! I’m talking as an expat now back in the U.K. but still love Cayman and all it’s wonderful people there and I still visit but I think the South Pacific islands are more attractive now…..unspoilt!

  5. Anonymous says:

    When cheques are cashed, and regimes like ours doesn’t care if the public are protesting, they dismantle opposition by convening in Private Caucus, avoid disclosures, remove “supervisory” and veto obstacles, and build a local militia to control the people. This destabilization is all happening. The financial services sector really needs to wake up.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    The place I came to in the 70’s no longer exists. I reared my family in Cayman, schooled in pubic schools and stayed for the work life balance, By the time i left after 40 years much of which I loved about Cayman was gone.

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    • Chris Johnson says:

      I came here in 1968 and it was a lovely country where I brought up my family. My two sons reside and work here and are bringing up there families.

      I am afraid the difference between now and then is called progress.

      I think the main problem has been a lack of forward planning by consecutive governments particularly in the ‘ bush years’. Hence all areas in Cayman are subject to tourist development and there is no turning back. If development applications meet the law then no amount of protest will result in applications being turned down. I commiserate with the residents of Beach Bay and personally would like to see no development. However there is no stopping the moving train. On the other hand my guess is that the development will fail. I am far from impressed the way the developers have dealt with this development. Apart from dumping marl in the mangrove to creat a ‘ road’ what else of a constructive nature have they done. I use the word constructive lightly.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Heck, I came here 2006 and the place is barely recognizable any more. I came to a Caribbean island. Now, without moving, it’s like I live in Miami, and SMB is like Brighton beach in England on a hot day.

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        • Anonymous says:

          That’s what you all wanted, for years you lot shouted Caymanians down for questioning what was called by expats ‘progress’. Now that we all know it’s progress in the wrong direction perhaps it’s time expats acknowledged it was their lifestyle demands and insistence that Cayman modernise rapidly that got us here. Of course we aren’t seeing that, instead expats have quietly joined us like cadets late for the parade practice pretending they were marching all along. Still, better late than never.

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          • Anonymous says:

            OMG even this is the fault of expats. The politicians in this country are only Caymanian, please accept who is responsible. Next the port will be the fault of expats when that goes ahead.

      • Anonymous says:

        There is nothing wrong with progress, however, there is also something known as sustainable development. That is not known on Grand Cayman as developers call ALL the shots. The quality of life on our island deteriorated on a daily basis.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Chris Saunders you will be voted out if you don’t correct this and stop this project!

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  8. Anonymous says:

    I wonder how some of the “new” Caymanians and people in general feel who used to target and mock the local people who protested against this kind of senseless development. Labeled them as xenophobic, racist, discriminating, expat haters, and “behind time people” Now everybody is being affected by the unnecessarily rapid pace of development and corruption in these islands. And now singing the same tune. The pace and our lives are being disrupted for a few to gain…. Makes sense now huh ?

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  9. Anonymous says:

    The silver lining s that it will not be built. There are good reasons why no actual resort operator has tried to build here.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Time to take to the streets and get these morons out of office!

    Them and all their cronies on these Government Boards who are just another bunch of “fat cats”!

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  11. Anonymous says:

    a victory for procedure, common sense and the rule of law.
    nimbys need to step up their game…..

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  12. Anonymous says:

    So they screwed Seven Mile Beach now they heading east? SMH!

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  13. Anonymous says:

    We need to shut down all development for the next 20 years.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    Why would we expect them to vote down this or any other project? Many of the members own or are employed by/ connected to/ businesses benefitting from the design and construction of these projects.

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  15. Bertie : B says:

    How many more cars on the road with this bullshit , rich peoples folly ?

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  16. Moi says:

    I remember when I used to be able to see the ocean!

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  17. Anonymous says:

    Thank you honorable Chairman & deputy chairman of CPA; you both are men of the soil who know how developments need to go.We need more mega projects and not less!

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  18. Anonymous says:

    Should be finished right around the same time as Ironwood

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  19. Bishop Nicholas Sykes says:

    There’s been lots of talk about privacy and family life recently.

    I wonder why the Government is not applying it here, as they are constitutionally bound to do.

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  20. Anonymous says:

    Pretty soon we won’t be able to see the ocean, the horizon or a simple sunset from all these concrete eye sores. Wait.. that’s already happened.

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    • Al Catraz says:

      Seeing those things is for people who are willing to pay what it is worth, and not for Communists who think everything belongs to everyone.

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      • BeaumontZodecloun says:

        Da, Comrade.

        Damn us all for wanting to enjoy the natural resources of our island without having to buy it. You seem to think that a person must OWN a resource to have the right to enjoy it.

        You would sell shares in the sea, if you could.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You are certainly a silly billy Al Catraz. Take a look under your bed tonight and you will see a Communist.

      • Anonymous says:

        Oh my so you think that anyone is raised an objection to the over development of Cayman is a Communist? Wow

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    • Anonymous says:

      You will be able to pay to see it from the top of Dart’s towers! We will be priced out of our sea views just like we’re now getting priced out of homes!

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  21. Anonymous says:

    Looks like a great spot for a cruise pier

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  22. Anonymous says:

    Terrible. Only thing that should be approved is moving all government agencies EAST

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  23. Anonymous says:

    What’s the point of having environmental protection zones if the CPA just sells them off all to the highest bidder.

    I wish a plague on this island to take care of the old generations that have to ruin it for the future younger generations.

    No respect for anyone or thing other than their wallets.

    No this isn’t cayman kind this is legal criminals walking around freely with check books in the air buying every man and woman like a professional hooker.

    Disgusting, this isn’t change this is monopoly.

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    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      I think you’re partially wrong about that; some of the really older generations remember how it was and lament the loss of our once gentleness and appreciation of our precious natural resources.

      Completely agree with the rest of your post. Everything is for sale. I wish I had the scratch to buy it all for eternal preservation, but alas, I am of the class of folk that come here to discuss our perceptions and problems.

      The view of the common person doesn’t matter any more. It was once necessary to at least appeal to the common person’s goals in order to get elected. Our peaceful paradise is gone, and every development on the sea drags it further under. Money, money, money, with little view toward the future.

      I wish the politicians should someday depend upon the farmers.

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  24. Trudy Bodden says:

    We need some new people in the CPA, not a monstrous hotel!

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