If the current proposal is realized, the five-story, 110-room Hyatt Place would boast a ballroom and indoor swimming pool on property adjacent to Atlantis' East Main Street aquarium. The project is frequently touted by town officials as an important key to turning around the beleaguered downtown.
First proposed in 2002, the plan still needs approval from the Suffolk County Planning Commission. The proposal was on the commission's agenda for yesterday, Wednesday, though not until after presstime.
If the commission opposes the proposal, the Town Board, which is one member short, will need a unanimous 4-0 vote on either Atlantis' site plan or special permit approvals to override the commission. Otherwise the town vote would be considered a "no" vote.
Another potential stumbling block is a town requirement that any parking lot over 800-square feet be paved, though Atlantis was required by the state Department of Environmental Conservation to install a gravel parking lot because of its proximity to the Peconic River, Atlantis principal Jim Bissett said at a Town Board meeting last week.
"What we can do is change the law, because it's stupid," Supervisor Phil Cardinale responded, noting officials had already discussed changing the law. The Town Board now plans to schedule a public hearing on a proposal to change it.
If the town doesn't change the law, Atlantis would need a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. The project already received one ZBA variance earlier this year to allow some parking in front of the building.
There's still another issue that will have to be addressed. Town law recommends at least 75 percent of the width of front facades in buildings in the Downtown Center-1 zone consist of transparent windows.
"A five-story hotel would never be full glass," Atlantis' architect Roger Smith said at the same meeting.
"You'll probably have to waive that requirement," added Atlantis' attorney, Eric Russo.
"It's waived," Mr. Cardinale shot back.
Mr. Cardinale said later: "The idea of 75 percent is appropriate for a retail store but not a hotel. But this is only a guideline. The law states it would like to see these things, but they can be waived."
The supervisor said he's hoping the Town Board can approve the project's special permit at its July 7 meeting or, if not then, the July 21 meeting.
"We'd like to do anything we're doing in a spirit of cooperation to get that objective accomplished," Mr. Cardinale said. "On the other hand, we want the site plan to be complete and we don't want to have any lingering issues."
Meanwhile, the Atlantis company has also been unsuccessful in its efforts to acquire a next-door gas station property, which it planned to use as additional exhibit space for the aquarium, Mr. Bissett said. He said Atlantis will continue to negotiate with the owner of that property, but the company no longer includes that parcel in its expansion plans.
tgannon@timesreview.com