The Rehoboth Beach Board of Adjustment voted unanimously in favor of granting a variance to the One Rehoboth Hotel development team that allows for a narrower drive aisle within the structure’s parking garage.

As approved, a drive aisle that has no parking spaces off it and will only be used by trained valets can be reduced to 16 feet. Code calls for the aisle to be 24 feet.

The drive aisle in question is part of a cost-driven redesign of the project. A site plan has been approved for 60 rooms, a pool, significant retail space and hotel gathering space. A new proposal has been submitted calling for 48 rooms, no pool, no meeting space, less retail space and no underground parking.

Attorney Vince Robertson was on hand representing the development team. Given the significant reduction in revenue-generating retail space and amenities, he said, it would have been a burden on the developers to lose the additional space for the drive aisle.

“Drive aisles don’t generate rent,” said Robertson.

Even with the design changes, the Boardwalk-facing part of the building remains vibrant, said Roberton. Also, the floor-to-area ratio would decrease from 2.76 to 2.49, he said.

GGA Construction is overseeing the project. Dave Grayson, GGA founder, said going underground is very expensive, estimating it would cost $2 million just to install the sheet piling needed to secure the perimeter of the foundation hole during its construction. He said it would cost a total of $9 million for the 30 approved spots.

It’s a deal-breaker and not fiscally sound in today’s economic environment, said Grayson.

Jonathan Silver, Onix Group vice president, said the cost of the original design was about $43.3 million, while the new design is about $32.6 million.

The board generally recognized the financial constraints on the project and voted 4-0 in favor of the request.

Board member Bill Perlstein said he was initially worried about a 16-foot drive aisle, but was no longer uncomfortable after doing some research into the subject. Other jurisdictions allow drive aisles to be 10 to 14 feet, he said, adding that it doesn’t present a public safety issue because only trained valet attendants will be using the space.

The board of adjustment meeting isn’t the last time the hotel will be before the city. The design changes are significant enough that the project will have to go back to the planning commission for new approvals. It’s not clear when that will be.

Residential variance approval

The board also approved a variance request made by the property owner Mary Good at 259 Country Club Drive to permit renovations and additions to her existing single-family dwelling without providing the two off-street parking spaces required for a residential dwelling unit. Her property currently doesn’t have a driveway.

There is no reasonable location for a driveway on her property that would not put two mature heritage maple trees at significant risk, said Good. If the trees were not there, she would install the required driveway, she said.

“But they are there. The canopy spans virtually the entire 50-foot frontage of my property and their large structural roots occupy the very areas in which a driveway would have to be constructed,” said Good.

Ultimately, the board sided with Good, with a condition that the variance will expire if a triggering event occurs and the trees are no longer alive.

Removing big trees, unless the city absolutely has to, affects the whole city, said board member Edith Herron.