The Belleview Biltmore and Cabana Club Poised For Next StepsBELLEAIR - The Belleview Biltmore Hotel has received a favorable decision from a three judge panel of the Circuit Court for Pinellas County, Florida, sitting in its appellate capacity, regarding the restoration of the historic property. On May 28, 2009, the Circuit Court entered an Order and Opinion upholding the Belleair Town Commission’s grant of variances and approval of site plans necessary for the restoration. The complaining parties have thirty days from the date of that decision to take an additional appeal to the District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. The attorneys for the Belleview Biltmore Hotel do not know if the additional appeal will be filed. The Belleview Biltmore Hotel also owns a parcel on Sand Key which it proposes to redevelop with a 38 room boutique hotel as part of the overall project. The City of Clearwater Community Development Board approved redevelopment of the Sand Key site on September 16, 2008. Several neighboring residents appealed this decision to the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings. On April 13, 2009, the assigned Administrative Law Judge rejected this challenge to the approval and upheld the decision of the Community Development Board. The residents have now filed a Petition in the Circuit Court for Pinellas County, Florida challenging the decisions of the Community Development Board and the Administrative Law Judge. That Petition remains pending before the Circuit Court. The attorneys for the Belleview Biltmore Hotel expect the Circuit Court to render a decision within the next thirty days as to whether the Petition sets forth a sufficient basis for the appeal to proceed. The historic restoration project for the Belleview Biltmore will include:
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