'Marine Village' proposed for New Smyrna Beach

There's a new project being touted in New Smyrna Beach, but some folks aren't too keen on the idea.  It's on one of the last remaining tracts of waterfront property there.   New Smyrna Beach Commissioners gave local business owner Mark Pernell the nod Tuesday night to continue developing his proposal for a multi-use development project on the waterfront property that sits next to a marine business he owns.  His attorney, Mark Watts says, "Right now, we're working on coming to an agreement for the contract."

It would be called the Coronado Island Marine Village and it would include a hotel,  a neighborhood market, retail shops, a marina with boat slips, dry dock storage for boats, and a boardwalk. It's the first of many proposed developments for this four-acres of city-owned waterfront property that has won the favor of city officials.  City leaders agree it's a great idea in many ways but have said it's also problematic in other ways. 

One of the biggest concerns for environmentalists are the bird rookeries.  But commissioners say they are also concerned about how the project will look and how it will affect traffic flow in this beachside city.  Mayor James Hathaway says, "We've given them direction they can go forward but they're not going to get everything they ask for in this project."   

Developers assure the project would be environmentally sound.  Watts says, "Mark's an existing business owner in town.  He has a good track record.  Everything we are looking to permit is allowed under existing codes and regulations of the state."

So, the City Commission asked for another meeting in the next 30 days, at which time they hope Pernell and his team can present a 3-D image of the project before commissioners agree to any size or placement details.
And at that time, maybe the bottom line can be discussed they say.  Right now, there is no agreed upon price to even buy the city-owned property.