The Village of Flower Hill’s Board of Trustees on Monday approved the site plan for a proposed Comfort Inn at the former location of the Gold Coast Motel at 1053 Northern Boulevard.
A representative of the McSam Hotel Group, which has owned the property since 2008, presented a building plan that includes gutting and rebuilding the existing interior of the motel.
Village of Flower Hills officials expressed support for the project.
“Knowing that a corporation as large with standards that Comfort Inn has makes me feel very comfortable with the direction you’re going in,” said Village of Flower Hill Mayor Elaine Phillips.
Richard Turi, the McSam Hotel Group’s representative, said the group operated the Gold Coast Motel for a year and a half until the building was damaged during repairs to a leak in the building’s roof.
The contractor that was hired, Turi said, neglected to place a cover over the repair work and storm waters caused irreparable damage to the interior.
Turi said McSam’s insurance company then brought in its own contractor, whose work became the subject of legal problems that were not settled until last fall.
When McSam’s legal troubles were resolved, the group “made a decision to make a deal with a franchise, Turi said.
Turi said McSam has long history with Comfort Inn, which includes work together on eight other projects in New York.
Turi said McSam intends to add “Comfort Inn amenities,” including a breakfast buffet, an exercise room on the ground floor and a new elevator, as part of the renovation plan.
“Before, we didn’t have a focus,” Turi said. “Now, we do.”
Turi, who presented plans for a multi-color stucco exterior, said the project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The group’s building permit, which only covered the motel’s rear wing, expired last week, according to village officials.
The board is in the process of reviewing a new building permit application, according to Village of Flower Hill Clerk Ronnie Shatzkamer.
Michelle Haas, whose house at 41 Knollwood Road sits behind the hotel, said a 6-foot fence between her home and motel property is breaking down, and asked that it be replaced now that the motel’s renovations appear to be moving forward.
Haas said that when she first moved into the village 16 years ago, a 12-foot fence was replaced by the 6-foot fence that stands today.
“The higher the fence, to me, the better,” she said.
Village of Flower Hill Building Superintendent James Gilhooly said a taller fence would require a variance from the zoning board but could be done as a separate permit as to not hinder the building progress of Turi and his group.
