Posted June 06, 2007 17:57

Plans for a major overhaul at the city marina were received warmly for the most part Monday night by city commissioners and the few members of the public who talked about them.

The project calls for expanded docks, a five- or six-story boutique hotel, restaurants and a far better financial deal for the city with the private operator, Connecticut-based Leisure Resorts. It's designed to dovetail with the city's plans to overhaul the rest of the waterfront to the south.

But some new caveats surfaced Monday, including questions about noise, traffic, security for adjacent condo residents, the extent to which boats would block water views and the look of a two-story garage in an awkward spot on Flagler Drive, which the city prizes as its most picturesque street.

Nonetheless, the plan passed, as expected, with commissioners approving three things: a site plan for the hotel, a 100-year lease extension with Leisure Resorts and a swap with the state of underwater land that's crucial to the complex deal. The lease extension needs another vote before it's final. On June 12, the state Cabinet will consider a swap of land that would give ownership of the submerged marina land to the city so the new revenues would go to the city rather than the state. If the Cabinet does not approve the swap, as anticipated, the lease extension may not gain final approval June 18. Under the new terms, that sum would rise to $180,000 or 8 percent of the marina's dock-rental revenue, which could amount to $450,000 to $600,000. Mayor Lois Frankel described it as a crowning moment after years of acrimony between the city and the marina. A development agreement approved Monday night does not require the hotel to be finished until 21/2 years after the docks are built, which could amount to a total of four years or more. The mayor would like to see a fast pace so stay tuned.