VERO BEACH — If all goes as planned, ground will be broken for the 90-unit Hampton Inn & Suites later this month at Miracle Mile. The hotel will be built on and around the land where Rita’s Italian Ice now stands.
Rita’s, which closed recently, is set to re-open possibly as early as next week on U.S. 1.
The planned hotel cleared a few hurdles Thursday as planners went before the City of Vero Beach Planning and Zoning Board and asked for some variances to city requirements.
One of those requirements was to allow for fewer than the 195 required parking spots on site. The plan for the hotel calls for 167 parking spots within the hotel property and 46 parking spots on 20th Place.
Keith Kite, of Kite Property explained to the board that there will be numerous enhancements made to the sidewalks and to 20th Place.
“We are really excited about this,” Kite said.
Barrier islander Jerome Kelley said he welcomed the addition of a hotel to the area.
“I talk to people on the ocean and they are overjoyed,” Kelley said.
