Residents still have questions over Love Beach approval

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Love Beach residents said they were not formally notified of The View Love Beach project being approved and found out about the approval “through the grapevine.”

Dominique Strachan, a resident of Palms of Love Beach next to the proposed development, told Tribune Business that if the project goes over the 28 feet high covenant in the zoning by-laws the developer would be breaking the law.

Referring to Luther Smith, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works who said that the project’s developer, Austrian billionaire Dr Mirko Kovats, had the restrictive covenants on height restrictions “extinguished,” Ms Strachan said this was foolishness and that she intends to show clearly that the property should be zoned for buildings no higher than 28 feet.

Zoning documents for the Love Estates area that were shown to Tribune Business also show that each lot should have only one main resident or dwelling as typical for residential areas. So while the height restrictions have been extinguished, the matter outstanding would be the condominium and plans that are being discussed The View Love Beach, inclusive of a spa, restaurants and other communal features.

At a virtual Town Hall meeting on this project held on November 13, 2020, Alexander Christie, lawyer from McKinney Bancroft and Hughes for the Mylor Group, the company said to be the vehicle behind the development, said that there will be “no re-zoning” of Love Beach to a commercial area.

However, residents do not believe that this project will not turn into a commercial venture as much of it is being kept in the dark.

Ms Strachan also said: “It’s not zoned commercial, it is residential. We have all the covenants and there lawyers from Callenders and Co and from Lennox Paton were all at the town hall meeting with us and presented all of the paperwork and Dr Kovatz’s representatives couldn’t even open their mouths because they had no answer for us. They knew we were right.

“Like I said, they were declined and had to go back to the drawing board because they cannot build more than two storeys high and they cannot have any commercial enterprise on any of the lots. It’s a bunch of foolishness and we have all of the supporting documents.”

Another resident of the Love Beach area, speaking under condition of anonymity, added: “None of us got any letter saying that this project was approved. We

found out about that through another resident, but I haven’t received any letter to say that this project was approved by any appeals committee.”

Rejecting Mr Smith’s claim that residents were formally notified by letter when Town Planning Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (TPSDAB) made its decision in late August, they continued, “We heard about it after the fact through the grapevine and through social media that they were approved on appeal, but they were not transparent with this deal at all. We don’t know anything about this project.

“We don’t even know what this project looks like anymore since it was rejected by the Town Hall meeting that we had. Nobody knows what this project looks like and the developer is not talking to the community, but yet this project is supposed to start in two weeks. How is this going to affect our community and our property value? This project is too big for our community. A development like this is not for this community.”

All of the members of the board of the TPSDAB were away on holiday and could not be reached for comment, neither could minutes of the meeting where the project was approved could be made available.

Comments

Baha10 says...

This is turning into an embarrassing Comedy … “We don’t even know what this Project looks like …” yet the Article is headed with a Photo of the Project?!?

As for Restrictive Covenants … the Court ruled years ago that there are none applicable to Love Beach, as British Hoffman (who historically owned all of this land) failed to impose properly, hence the multitude of Condominium Developments that have ensued in this area over the years, including the Condominiums in which it would appear certain Owners now complain of a similar development to theirs, which begs the question … why is this Investor not allowed to develop in similar manner?!?

Posted 31 December 2021, 4:14 p.m. Suggest removal

Emilio26 says...

Bana10 it seems like certain someone or a particular group of residents in Love Beach has a personal problem with Dr Kovats.

Posted 31 December 2021, 8:16 p.m. Suggest removal

Baha10 says...

That would appear to be the unfortunate reality, but as we all know on this “little” Rock … time will reveal … problem is the Country suffers in the meantime … fortunately Kovats appears willing to stand his ground … and form what I can see and read … he is on “solid” ground!

Posted 31 December 2021, 9:13 p.m. Suggest removal

Proguing says...

If the picture depicts what is going to be built, it is obvious that this project is too big for the area

Posted 1 January 2022, 10:38 a.m. Suggest removal

Maximilianotto says...

The restrictive covenants have been extinguished in 1980 by court judgement. Columbus Cove, Love Beach Walk to name a few, have been built higher, also the existing building.

Posted 31 December 2021, 5:40 p.m. Suggest removal

Proguing says...

Hmmm right after the article is posted, the usual cheerleaders pop up to promote the project, just like with BPC...they obviously have some kind of vested interest in this venture

Posted 1 January 2022, 10:47 a.m. Suggest removal

Baha10 says...

Figuring out ways to keep this Country afloat is something “all” Bahamians “should” be supportive of … including the encouragement of foreign investment.

Posted 1 January 2022, 1:02 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

Know nothing about Dr Kovats so this statement is not about him.

But its clear to me that lots of unscrupulous characters pass through the Bahamas. Just because someone says they have money and want to do "someting" it doesnt mean we should engage them. It was absolutely shocking to hear a PM say ~*of course I knew this investor had been charged with fraud, whats new?* A talk show host then backed up Minnis by saying *everybody make mistakes*. Everyone else saw this guy and his shady deal a mile away. He went on to embarrass the PM and the country by forging a signature in the highest office in the land in front of the most senior officials in the land. This was the guy the PM and the host were fervently backing saying "look at all the money we could make". Same with the carnival fiasco, "its money". same with gaming, its money. same with Nygard "look at all the money". Same with the drug dealers, "look how generous they are". Where do ethics and character and principle fit?

Posted 2 January 2022, 6:31 p.m. Suggest removal

Baha10 says...

Well said …

Posted 2 January 2022, 9:34 p.m. Suggest removal

Emilio26 says...

ThisIsOurs well I remember about two years ago when Dr. Kovats wanted to buy the now closed and abandoned South Ocean Resort but he failed to strike a deal with the Canadians that owned the property so as a result Albany ended buying the property.

Posted 3 January 2022, 8:04 a.m. Suggest removal

B_I_D___ says...

Someone get some nice side cash on approving that...

Posted 3 January 2022, 4:03 p.m. Suggest removal

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