COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Commissioners unanimously approved a proposal to rezone the Cocoa Beach Pier for a big project that will dramatically change the look of the area.
During a meeting Thursday evening, the city commission discussed the plans from Westgate Resorts to build a six-story hotel with a parking garage and swimming pools.
Mary Toolan, who lives nearby, said before the meeting that she was against the proposal.
“On the weekends, this is packed,” Toolan said. “The traffic is already bad here, and what are they doing for the people who live around here?”
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Traffic -- and the view -- are major concerns for many residents.
“It’s just going to be another eyesore,” Sage Boykin said. “It’s going to block up all of our beautiful scenery and stuff.”
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In 2022, commissioners approved the first two steps toward building the project. Last month, Cocoa Beach’s planning board forwarded the zoning request to the city commission.
Westgate has said the garage would double the parking spaces there now and public beach access would still be allowed.
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