An ambitious, multi-million dollar plan has been proposed to redevelop Sonesta Beach hotel into a combination luxury residential and tourism complex.

The plans submitted to the Planning Department last week would see 66 dwelling units built and the main hotel and existing staff units completely upgraded.

New residential units will be constructed across the property which stretches almost 13 acres along the South Shore and is to be renamed Southampton Beach Resort.

According to the plans submitted for approval in principle, the residential component of the development would include 22 rental units and 44 dwelling units which will be sold.

The property is zoned Residential Two and Tourism with Green Space conservation areas.

The plans call for an additional 146,050 square feet of new building and would increase the site coverage to 14.4 percent from the current 9.5 percent.

The property currently belongs to the Aetna Life Insurance company which, The Royal Gazette understands, is looking to sell.

Former White Sands owner James Dwyer expressed an interest in the property last year but the deal reportedly fell through when the American failed to come up with the necessary financing.

White Sands has since fallen into receivership.

A letter from Aetna was included in the planning application stating that the firm is aware of, and approves of, the plans submitted for the redevelopment.

The current configuration of the hotel includes 64 staff units and three private homes.

Under the new plans, the staff accommodation would be revamped and the 404 existing hotel rooms would be increased to 441 with the 204 rooms in the main building refurbished, as well as the 99 units at Bay Club Bayside.

Ten new hotel suites of 700 square feet each will be built alongside Sinky Bay under the name “Bay Club Beach Cottages”.

Bay Club would also include 27 new housing units to total 30,000 square feet.

The agents for the development are Cooper and Gardner and only preliminary drawings were submitted for the project as it is in its initial stages.

Two existing homes on Cross Point are to be refurbished and another three detached homes of 3,800 square feet each including a one-car garage will be added, according to the plans.

The existing restaurant at Cross Point will also be extended.

Extensive development is planned along the South Road boundary of the property where 22, new two-three bedroom cottages will be constructed to total 22,000 square feet.

And the area which currently houses the hotel's tennis courts will also be built up as “Boat Bay Village” with 42 new townhouses of 2,100 square feet each.

In addition to refurbishing the rooms in the hotel's main building, the plans call for both the spa and conference facilities to be enlarged and the main entrance relocated.

The Planning Department is consulting with both Tourism and Forward Planning on the proposal.

Attempts to contact Sonesta general manager Michael Collard yesterday were unsuccessful.