Boynton Beach developer to meet with city in hopes of retaining variance granted pre-recession

The developer of a stalled hotel in Boynton Beach will meet with city officials to make his case to retain a height variance that was granted six years ago, in hopes of reviving the project, the Palm Beach Post reported.

Hardial Sibia’s Boynton Holdings asked the city to let the hotel rise five stories, despite a local limit of four stories, the paper said. In 2007, the city’s planning and development board recommended against the variance, however, the city commission approved it. Many neighbors of the planned 102-room Holiday Inn opposed the variance — and still do — but Sibia told the Post he will hold the city accountable for his planning expenses so far, which total about $200,000, if they do not let the project go forward.

Sibia told the Post he would like to work out “a compromise.” [Palm Beach Post] –Guelda Voien