Developers are appealing the rejection of a five-star resort at Coral Beach by Planning officials.

'Brickman Holdings 3' has lodged an appeal against the Development Applications Board's refusal of planning permission for the Four Seasons Hotel in Paget.

The plans include a 150-room hotel, 60 fractional ownership villas, 20 residential units, a spa, fitness centre, tennis courts, pools and conference centre to be located at Coral Beach and Horizons. Refusing the 'in principle' planning application last month, the DAB said the development would defy the zoning of Draft Bermuda Plan 2008.

The committee also said insufficient information was submitted "to enable a proper assessment of the proposal to be undertaken".

The Environmental Impact Scoping Report also did not give enough information on the scale of "possible environmental impacts".

The DAB said fractional units would intrude on land zoned for recreational use, plus Open Space Reserve. The development would also encroach on Agricultural and Woodland Reserve.

Submitting the appeal on behalf of Brickman however, agent OBM Ltd. said the environmental specialist had considered the committee's concerns "premature and not germane to this stage of the approval process, an Approval in Principle Application".

In compiling the Environmental Impact Scoping Report, the specialist had "followed the Department's own outline requirements for an Approval in Principle application".

The consultant also recognised additional information would be needed as part of the 'Final Application' (an Environmental Impact Statement).

In the Grounds of Appeal, Colin Campbell, OBM's regional director, said: "The client... looks to the (Environment) Minister to assist with his consent for this project, which is in the best interest of the entire Bermuda community."

Despite fractional units earmarked on the Horizons nine-hole golf course, the development would retain "a significant portion of Recreational zoning as open space".

Similarly, development impinging on Open Space, Agricultural and Woodland Reserve would seek to "enhance the natural environment" through vegetation and landscaping, plus horticulture.

Mr. Campbell said that in finalising the master plan, "we will consider zoning boundaries in detail to best suit conditions and circumstances on every part of the site".

He said: "This approach will enable final zoning recommendations to be more favourable with respect to the allocation or proportion of conservation zoning eventually agreed upon. It is the goal of the development team to retain as much existing vegetation as possible."

He concluded: "Given the current global financial market disarray this project is of national importance, and a historic pivot point in Bermuda's development history.

"We are confident the Minister and community will see the rigorous standards of excellence demanded by Four Seasons for this development are perfectly in keeping with the public interest."

However, he added the developers were unlikely to pursue a Special Development Order. Instead, "transparency" through the planning process was preferred.

"The general public will be shown transparency for the entire undertaking of this project that has been presented to the Department of Planning, technical officers, various Ministerial consultants, and the Development Applications Board," said Mr. Campbell.

George Wardman, a landlord with Horizons Ltd., said he was confident Brickman Holdings would complete the project.

"They've always said they are taking a long-term position on this and they're not frightened off by market conditions," said Mr. Wardman.

"I believe good quality investments like this will succeed. What is very clear to me is that Brickman is solidly behind this project and I do think they will make it work."