Developers to move forward with Henderson Beach project

The wheels are starting to turn in the city's planning department ahead of the proposed Henderson Beach Resort project.

On the agenda for Monday night's City Council meeting is an item that requests a re-plat of properties along Matthew Boulevard, which would become a major subdivision called Henderson Beach Resort. The subdivision would be comprised of six total lots and a private right of way.

"... the reason for the re-plating is simply to set up the access road and each of the parcels for the Phase-1 Parkside Hotel, the Water Experience (swimming amenity for the entire resort), and the other three phases of the northern tract of the Henderson Beach Resort development," project developer Bill Hagerman wrote in an email to The Log.

The proposed Henderson Beach Resort project would be a Tier I development that consists of a 177-room hotel, with spa, restaurant, bar and grill, retail, conference rooms, real estate sales and laundry, in addition to two residential condominium buildings totaling 96 units.

The project was filed on behalf of Dunavant Gulf, LLC, which also owns the Henderson Beach Inn and a handful of parcels along Matthew Boulevard. The Henderson Beach Resort project initially received preliminary approval as a larger Tier III development, but was downsized to a Tier I project.

All told, the project is expected to cost more than $40 million to construct and add about 600 jobs locally through construction and actual operation.

The re-plat would have to be approved by city leaders before the project could move forward.

In other business:

City leaders are also set to honor Evelyn Drowne for her service to the city of Destin; issue a proclamation to Drowne and Dot Jones of the Environmental/Tree Committee for Arbor Day; and make appointments to a variety of city committees. A presentation from Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) is also on the agenda. The group will present a resolution to the council to support banning the sale of flavored tobacco.

Monday night's meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the City Hall Annex. City leaders will convene in an executive session at 5 p.m. to discuss the pending litigation related to the proposed strip club, The Runway.