Community: HP-1's purpose is to preserve residential historic homes with a few compatible, non-commercial uses allowed by exception. The proposed use is absolutely not compatible with the surrounding uses. Nightly rentals are at direct odds with the explicit requirement for monthly or longer rentals put in place to protect the residential nature of HP-1 for the residents and the Community.

Land Use: This PUD undermines HP-1 zoning’s residential requirement which undermines the Historic Preservation land use zone as a whole.

Historic Preservation: HP-1 requires Historic Preservation. No zoning change is required to preserve these properties. Individual property owners throughout the City and HP-1 district maintain their homes without commercial income.

Need and Justification: The request for this PUD is for the maximum profit benefit of the Owner which is not a valid reason for allowing a zoning change. The Application shows no need or justification for the proposed rezoning under any of the six criteria provided in the Ordinance. 

Adverse Effect: The finding of “No Adverse Effect” cannot be justified in this situation with its myriad of adverse impacts to the public, community and neighborhood. To name a few:

• Generates noise for on-site celebrations and after-party guests

• Changes the historic nature of the residential neighborhood

• Establishes precedent for further erosion of HP-1 and other residential zoning districts

• Loss of housing in downtown, HP-1

• Loss of public access to important historic site and group of preserved historic homes
• Unknown changes to the interior of the historic homes and loss of history for future generations

• Increased solid waste generation, wastewater flows, and water use

• Loss of mature trees resulting in loss of urban forest and stormwater delayed flow benefits throughout the property. Trees and their protection are not mentioned in the Application but the Application Site Plan shows MULTIPLE removals of LARGE trees.

• Nuisance created from tent set up and removal vehicles and crews in residential neighborhood.

• Increase in commercial delivery trucks in residential area.

• Further deterioration of our roads through increased traffic and delivery vehicles - will they then propose to pave our historic brick roads??

• Rehabilitation and construction work trucks, noise and disruptions to street and sidewalk use throughout the 2 year proposed work period.

• Intensifies use through increase vehicle and pedestrian traffic or hotel guests as well as guests attending special events. Creates burden of additional parking to accommodate commercial business patrons. Guests attending special events will compete for on-street parking currently used by residents

• Additional impervious surfaces due to off-site and on-site parking requirements created by PUD.

• The PUD proposes 1 parking space per room but does not address the additional parking requirements for guests and special event attendees.

• The parking on-site will continue to allow the parking to back out onto the right-of-way causing safety and traffic concerns for residents and other visitors.

• Additional traffic and unwillingness to mitigate Community and City concerns by closing off access on St. George and Bridge.

• No definitive details are provided concerning the other parking within 400 feet or beyond.

Allowing a hotel in a quiet residential neighborhood goes against our zoning laws and is wrong for St. Augustine!