COCOA BEACH, Fla. – It will be Brevard County’s only 4-star hotel when it opens in 2027, and it’s already on the largest hotel property in Cocoa Beach (the old International Palms site).
But now, the Westin also wants control of the public beach park next door.
A proposal going before Brevard County commissioners Tuesday morning would give the hotel exclusive access to the south half of Lori Wilson Park for up to 100 days a year, including renting all of the park for up to 12 days a year for Westin events.
The plan would include closing the park’s dog park on the south side by the construction site, so long as Westin builds a new dog park on the north side of Lori Wilson.
Dog park regular Sandra Dzurek is worried about parking.
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”They want the park for 100 days between November and April. This park is so busy during (that) season,” she said. “And if we’re forced to go to the north park, there’s going to be no parking. So many of the people come here, drive here for the dog park.”
At a county commission meeting two years ago, Commissioner John Tobia was the only county commissioner who did not wish to give Westin $1 million a year, every year for 30 years from tourism-generated money.
Monday, Tobia said he’s in favor of this proposal, though.
“There’s more in it for the taxpayers, as well as the visitors of Brevard County,” he said.
Tobia said those benefits would include the potential dog park, which he called an upgrade to what the park has now.
“It will be new and will have a whole bunch of amenities that it currently does not have,” he said.
Other concerns for building a new dog park include harming gopher tortoise nests.
Tuesday morning’s county commission meeting starts at 9. Stick with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates.
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