The minutes of the day-long Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute hearing before the DAB were released yesterday by Planning.

They further revealed one objector believed more than 4,000 residents were opposed to the $10-million entertainment and educational complex.

Dockyard and the US Base land were suggested as better sites for the BUEI.

In introducing the application at the hearing for developers and objectors, senior planner Mrs. Aideen Ratteray Pryse said technical officers had given the project the thumbs-up.

She stated: "The technical officers of the Department were of the opinion that the proposal was reasonable and therefore they were recommending that the application be approved.'' The DAB turned down the BUEI plans on grounds it was "excessive and not in keeping with the Bermuda image''; the proposed site was unsuitable for the development; and provisions for traffic expected to be generated by it were "inadequate''.

BUEI developers, who include Board of Trustees president Mr. David Lines and Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul, are planning to appeal to the Environment Minister.

In her presentation at the March 9 hearing, and according to the minutes, Mrs.

Ratteray Pryse said the BUEI would be located off East Broadway next to the former Crow Lane and between historic Pembroke Hall and Moonray Manor.

It would consist of six attached buildings, the central feature being a multi-level exhibit hall towering 31 feet above the new Crow Lane.

A new dock would be built on 4,000 square foot of reclaimed land.

And parking for 46 cars and 46 cycles would be created on an eastern section of the site.

"This building came to within 55-feet of the new Crow Lane and as a reference, (Mrs. Ratteray Pryse) indicated it would achieve a height two feet shy of the standard 33-foot light masts on the roadside,'' according to minutes.

Architectural consultants for BUEI developers, who included Mr. A. Anway, said the latest set of plans were the ninth in a series "designed to generate the most acceptable development for the applicant and the objectors''.

All nine plans respected the sensitivity and importance of Pembroke Hall and vistas through the site, and the waterfront was "under-utilised, consultants said.

With regards to traffic, they said the BUEI was expected to attract 700 visitors a day in peak season and 200 in off-season, giving a "worst-case scenario'' of 100 vehicles/cycles on site during busiest hours of operation.

Among objectors were: Mr. Tim Marshall, Ms Toby Butterfield and Ms Amanda Outerbridge (director) on behalf of the Bermuda National Trust, Mr. Sanders Frith-Brown, Crows Nest Condominium owners and nearby residents Mrs. M. Gray, Mr. J D'Alessio and Mr. and Mrs. J. Taplin.

Mr. Frith-Brown produced a collection of letters to the Editor of The Royal Gazette raising concerns about the BUEI.

He suggested there were in fact 4,006 objectors to the proposal, taking into account the entire Trust membership.

He said the BUEI would be a "positive addition'' to Bermuda.

However, he maintained the site was too small for the development and therefore the applicant should consider alternative locations, for example the Cooper Victualling Yard at Dockyard or the US Bases land.

He further said the DAB would set an "unfortunate precedent'' if it allowed developers to reclaim 4,000 square foot of land along the waterfront.

It would lead to concrete developments extending from the site down to Number 8 shed, he said.

Mr. Marshall, for the Trust, said 80 percent of the site would be concrete or road.

Among other points, he noted the Bermuda Aquarium had a reasonable mix of open and developed space, whereas, the BUEI plans did not.

The BUEI was more suited to a city-centre environment, not the outskirts of Hamilton.

He also suggested Dockyard as an alternative site.