The developers proposing to convert the Lighthouse Inn at Pine Point into condominiums units have redesigned the plan to include five units and have reduced the roof’s height to 38 feet, about 14 feet higher than the current building.
The new plan was unveiled during a community meeting at the Pine Point fire station Monday night where architect Andy Hyland, of Port City Architecture, told residents that the plans are about as far as he could go in redesigning the project.
The plan also includes a proposed road relocation. This would entail the town and the inn’s owners, Nick and Peter Truman, swapping about 18 feet of land. The swap would allow the road to move 18 feet away from the inn and provide the inn with a small front yard, which it does not have today.
The town first proposed the road relocation and many people at Monday’s meeting opposed it. The opposition surprised Hyland, who told the group that most people seemed in favor of the proposal during previous meetings.
Those who were against the swap felt the Trumans were benefiting more than the town. that by providing a front yard for the inn the town was allowing some value to be added to the property without receiving the same in return.
But Hyland said there were several benefits to the town. First it would remove the seasonal barricades at the King Street-Pine Point Road intersection and also would help improve the flow of traffic on King Street.
“The neighborhood does get something in return. You get a much nicer piece of property at the end of the road,” he said.
The town supports the relocation and at a recent meeting the town’s code enforcement department, planning department, engineer and manager were all in support of it, Hyland said.
If the relocation does occur then everything will remain as it is today and any changes would have to be approved by the Town Council.
“In regards to parking, whatever you do there now it will be just the same,” Hyland said.
While the project could be done without the road relocation, the developers have chosen to move forward with the plan, which they say has the support of many other community members. Mark Chaloupecky, an architect for Port City Architecture, said the proposal would be brought to the Town Council for its Aug. 17 meeting. The council gave preliminary approval to the proposal earlier this year.
The Trumans are trying to get out of the hotel business. They have tried to sell the 22-unit facility and while it still remains on the market today, would like to convert it.
In order to convert the facility as proposed they require two variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals. They are requesting a miscellaneous appeal to convert and expand the nonconforming 22-unit motel into the condominium units. They also are asking for a practical difficulty variance to add a third story. The issue has been in front of the board twice and each time the issue was tabled to await further information.
But if the Trumans moved forward with a plan just to redesign the building’s interior they would only need a miscellaneous appeal. Hyland said this is a possibility and if they so choose the Trumans could sell all 22 motel suites as they are now configured. But he conceded this is unlikely and if the motel were renovated, the number would probably be around 11 units.
The initial proposal was for six condos, five in the main building and one in the former motel office, each with its own garage backing directly onto Pine Point Road.
After getting community feedback, the plan now stands at five units all in the main building, with parking for four of them from in the rear and only one driveway in front.
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