A luxury boutique hotel gets green light on Biloxi beach. What about Residence Inn?
Aqua Hotel will be built on Beach Boulevard in Biloxi — but not a Residence Inn — after the plans for a $35 million development changed multiple times over three months after concerns from nearby neighbors were heard.
The Biloxi City Council on Tuesday approved the plan for Biloxi Aqua Suites Hotel, a 48-room upscale boutique hotel geared to couples, with a rooftop pool and other water features and a landscaped courtyard.
Construction is expected to start right away at the site at 1252 Beach Boulevard, said Jerry Creel, Biloxi community development director.
Harrison County Lodging Development of Ridgeland originally planned a Residence Inn at the middle of the property, along and a gate that would open at the rear onto Father Ryan Avenue only for emergency access.
Neighbors on Father Ryan and other nearby streets attended several council and planning commission meetings since March and objected to those plans for a 65-foot tall hotel in their back yards and the exit onto their street.
The developer agreed to downsize the project and upgrade the materials so an emergency exit isn’t necessary.
On Tuesday, the neighbors said the developers agreed to address all their major concerns.
Councilman George Lawrence said with so many changes, he couldn’t support the project. He was the only council member to vote against the latest plans, while Councilman Kenny Glavan abstained.
“Think about the changes that have been presented to you,” Creel told Lawrence. He said each redesign of the project was made at request of the neighbors and every change the developer made came as a result of the meetings.
Under the approved planned development hospitality overlay, the developer has two years to present plans for housing or other use on the remaining portion of the property for Phase II.
