By CAMILLA COHEE NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Several new appeals have been filed over Ty Warner's plans to rehabilitate the oceanfront Coral Casino.
The $35 million project was approved by both the Montecito Planning Commission and county Historic Landmarks Commission within the last month.
The appeals all center around concerns that the proposed renovation would damage the 1937 beach club's architectural integrity.
In May, club members Cynthia Ziegler, Charles Maunz and Eric Black filed an appeal of the planning commission's decision, which automatically sends the plans before the Board of Supervisors for review.
More recently, Ms. Ziegler and Mr. Maunz filed an appeal from the landmark commission's decision. Also appealing are local attorney James Kahan and Jacqueline Roston, both members of the club who also are worried about Mr. Warner's proposal to add a second-story restaurant to the club, designated a county historic landmark in 2002.
The appellants also have concerns about the use of the club by guests of the Four Seasons Biltmore Resort.
An appeal of the planning commission's decision was filed by supporters of Mr. Warner's plans who do not want the use of the proposed new sundeck limited, as the commission suggested.
County supervisors are expected to hear all the appeals on July 5.
The appellants could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. Ms. Ziegler has been the backbone of opposition to the project for several years. She formed a group known as the Coral Casino Preservation Committee, which has argued that while the renovation has many positive aspects, it alters architect Gardner Dailey's original design too much.
Mr. Warner's representative, Greg Rice, wrote a letter urging the opponents to drop their appeals. On Wednesday, he said, "These appeals are not due to violations in codes or guidelines -- numerous experts and agencies have confirmed compliance with all local and historic ordinances. It's also not a lack of community support. These appeals are creating costly delays simply because our plan is not to the personal liking of a few individuals."
Whatever the outcome, he said, "the delay created just by adding another hearing with the Board of Supervisors is pushing our construction time well into the summer of 2006."
In his appeal, Mr. Kahan states that the Coral Casino is one of the most significant non-Hispanic architectural treasures, if not the most significant, in the county and should be treated as such.
"If our architectural heritage is to have true meaning, exceptions should not be given to zoning and other land use laws to allow the compromise of the architectural integrity of buildings with historic importance," he wrote in the appeal, filed on May 16.