By Janine Zuniga
San Diego Union-Tribune
September 3, 2008
CORONADO – The City Council has requested more time to consider changes to proposed expansion plans for the historic Hotel del Coronado.
A small but active earthquake fault that runs underneath the hotel prompted changes to the expansion plan adopted in 2003 that require city approval.
Hotel officials have held public meetings to discuss the changes, which include moving 31 approved guest rooms on top of a planned 20,000-square-foot meeting space. Changes also include adding more rooms to a three-story building, called South Beach, a new Avenida del Sol main entrance, facade improvements and underground parking structures.
Nearly two dozen people spoke at a City Council meeting Tuesday, where the City Council unanimously agreed to hold off on adopting the hotel's 2008 amended master plan, parking plan and development agreement.
Councilman Al Ovrom said he needed more time before making a decision, and the item was continued to Sept. 16.
Some residents who spoke at the meeting said they approved the changes; others complained that South Beach, containing 113 new guest rooms, was too large and bulky.
Councilwoman Carrie Downey said the proposed changes meet all codes and that the “historical view” of the hotel will be better than what was originally proposed.
Residents and business owners have said the hotel used the fault to design a denser project. The number of rooms has not changed but they are larger and most would front Avenida del Sol, a public street between the hotel and the Shores complex. The new rooms will be for-sale condos.
Hotel officials say they need to offer guests what other new hotels are offering to remain competitive.
“Why bother with a master plan if the hotel gets to change it when they feel like it,” said Stacy Gomez, an environmental planner and 18-year resident.
 Janine Zuniga: (619) 498-6636; janine.zuniga@uniontrib.com
|
