Board tables hotel requestBy KATI BEXLEY | More by this reporter | kati.bexley@staugustine.com | Posted: Wednesday, December 5, 2007 ; Updated: 11:37 AM on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 St. Augustine's Planning and Zoning Board decided Tuesday to hold a special meeting on a controversial request to rezone seven downtown homes as a Planned Unit Development. The board granted applicant Donna Wendler's request to table the project, which would demolish seven homes along Oveido and Riberia streets to make room for an 80-room hotel. Board members voted to review the project and hear public comment in a special meeting on Jan. 9 at 5 p.m. in City Hall. Wendler asked for the additional time to review other options besides tearing down the homes.Wendler, a Realtor, has said the homes's high insurance and property taxes are draining her, and she asked the city for demolition permits because of her economic hardship. The Historic Architecture Review Board denied her demolition application, but she is expected to appeal that decision, said Mark Knight, city planning and building department director.
