The Development Applications Board's decision to grant in principle approval to the redevelopment of Elbow Beach Hotel has drawn fire from the Bermuda National Trust.

The DAB voted last month to approve in principle the application which was revised on May 5, 1997.

But acting chairperson of the National Trust's environmental committee, Edith Robinson told The Royal Gazette the Trust was objecting to the in principle approval of the hotel's residential development plans.

The Elbow Beach redevelopment plan entitled, "Master Plan'', includes proposals for 66 additional suites, a conference centre, a tennis facility, parking, a sewage treatment plant, a new service road and the residential development area.

"In granting approval for the residential development, the DAB has effectively rewritten the law and turned the in principle application into a meaningless exercise,'' Ms Robinson said.

She also called the DAB's decision a mockery of the process and said: "The Board's decision allows developers to simply propose that land be developed without providing any information in the first instance as to what they have in mind for the site.'' Ms Robinson also pointed out that the Planning Act and Rules stated that an applicant for approval in principle must submit a site plan, showing all the proposed development.

"In this case no details were submitted other than the development footprint,'' she noted.

And she said the public had learned nothing at the in principle stage which created a presumption of favour for, "whatever plans are submitted for final approval''.

The DAB, however, in granting Elbow Beach in principle approval for the residential development area noted: "The board reserves for its final approval all details defined as reserved matters relating to the height, density, siting, design and external appearance of the buildings and the provisions of amenity space, landscaping of the site, parking and means of access.'' The DAB has approved the Corporation of St. George's application to construct an access ramp for handicapped persons and modify existing steps at St.

George's Somers Garden on York Street.

ENVIRONMENT ENV