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Preservation board: Don't raze Biltmore

The advisory board cannot deny demolition requests, but its recommendation is in synch with the views of Belleair leaders.

By LORRI HELFAND
Published May 18, 2005

BELLEAIR - The town's historic preservation board recommended the denial of a permit to raze the Belleview Biltmore Resort & Spa on Tuesday, saying a demolition request submitted by the hotel's owner clashes with Belleair's long-term goals.

The board followed advice from attorney Nancy Stroud, who is representing the town on hotel matters.

The meeting was scheduled to discuss a demolition request submitted to the town by the owner of the Belleview Biltmore, Urdang & Associates, on April 21.

While the advisory board cannot deny demolition requests, its recommendation parallels recent suggestions by Belleair leaders, who now think the request conflicts with the town's comprehensive plan and several other town rules.

Urdang & Associates' chief investment officer, Vincent Sanfilippo, told the board that the property was an "underperforming asset" and a demolition permit was necessary to maximize development possibilities for potential buyers.

Sanfilippo was grilled by Michael Harris, historic preservation board vice chairman, who asked him how demolishing the hotel would make it a more successful asset.

"It will create more options for the future owner," Sanfilippo said.

"Wouldn't all alternatives include the structure being there?" Harris asked.

Roger Schwenke, an attorney representing Urdang & Associates, said having the permit would give the new owners a variety of options, including demolishing the entire hotel, razing a portion of it or retaining the whole resort.

Harris suggested that since Urdang & Associates invested in a lagging hotel, perhaps its choice to apply for a demolition permit was a bad idea as well.

With the town's new approach and the appointment of new attorneys, the meeting carried less urgency than it had in previous weeks.

The town code requires a 30-day waiting period before demolition permits are issued, to allow a meeting between the preservation board and the property owners.

Until last week, town leaders thought there was little they could do to stop demolition of the 108-year-old landmark.

But Friday, Town Manager Steve Cottrell wrote a memo that said razing the hotel may be part of a major development, which would require the submission of a site plan and extensive review by residents and town officials.

He said the application may also be denied because it's inconsistent with the town's comprehensive plan, which specifically lays out the Belleview Biltmore's historic and scenic significance to the town.

Former town attorney Joel Tew had said the town had little power to reject a demolition request.

Historic preservation chairman Dave Hutcheson said he was bolstered by the accomplishments of Stroud since her appointment Friday.

"It's kind of a burden off my shoulders to have such competent counsel," Hutcheson said.

Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or at lorri@sptimes.com

[Last modified May 18, 2005, 00:50:19]