The property at 11360 South Indian River Dr is 88 yards from City Of Sebastian but in R3 (Zoned CG) of the Comprehensive Plan for IR County.  Project #94060198 recently applied for by Joel Wynne of Wynne Building Corp is a very large, 3 story, 40 foot high (with roof extension exceptions), 96 room Commercial Homes2Suite Hotel by Hilton. It is a franchised hotel to be built from a Hilton development franchise design on barely 2.7 acres right at the Indian River lagoon's waterfront edge. The narrow pristine tree covered  lot requires the hotel to be located deep and to the north edge and the plans call for clearcutting 90% of the old Florida trees to make way for 96 parking spaces and a road with circular turn around as well as storm water drains, sidewalks, outbuildings, pool and patio. This creates asphalt and concrete coverage of close to 95% of pervious ground.

This project (designed on 24 sheets of plans) has advanced through 3 technical plan reviews ending with the last review on 5/10/2023. That TPC teleconference review with some of the applicants' technical staff not in attendance and with over 100 comments was rushed through in just under 45 minutes with almost no discussion and very restricted public comment.

As of this last TPC review many serious questions are unresolved in the most critical aspects of :

• Storm Water Management for a lagoon waterfront property  with no pervious space left,  (so tank under the hotel is proposed).
• Green Space mitigation (removal) of almost all trees shrubs and grass (replaced with tree credits and small caliper trees wherever they can find a patch to plant them) Note: Many times underground utilities prohibit planned tree locations.
• A sorely inadequate traffic study was submitted created by the developer's engineer of record ( for his last H2S Hotel) by using 2021 Covid era values and statistical calculations, ignoring measurement of  full traffic in the busy season and misrepresenting the actual trip flow for a 100% occupied hotel with no restaurant. (96 rooms in/out twice a day usually at busy hours (check in, check out, morning and evening meals)
• The urban services need closer scrutiny for the over 200 flushes, showers and sanitary drainage. Equivalent to ultra high density housing.
• No matter what tank gimmicks are used for river front storm water,  the flood plain and ground water levels will ensure all the flow eventually ends up in the lagoon.
• Emergency access is questionable with no access to 2 sides of this 3 story building and doubtful access road width clearances for multi story fire equipment.

Immediate action is required to request the County Commissioners to either deny this application or modify the density by seriously reducing size and /or purchasing additional land at 11355 IRD and moving hotel to the US 1 main access location. (Any open US1 location would be acceptable away from the lagoon). 

If you agree that this project should not be approved for this waterfront location then comment below and consider sending your copy to the Indian River County Board of Commissioners  https://www.ircgov.com/Comcontact.php

Feel free to email our South Florida news desks newstips@cbs.com  newstips@wptv.com  news@wpbf.com about your lagoon concerns