Zoning board again vetoes condos at Legends Resort

VERNON-At a special meeting on Aug. 15, the Vernon Township Zoning Board delivered a resounding and unanimous "no" to Spring Creek Holding Company's request to reopen its failed application to build some 400 condominiums on land surrounding the Legends Resort. The board had denied the Spring Creek request earlier this year, its decision strongly influenced by Spring Creek's reluctance to commit to renovating the 600-room former Playboy resort hotel on the property. Spring Creek, which was to develop the land, which includes the 27-hole Legends golf course now operated by Crystal Springs, and Shinnihon, the current owner, had asked the board to reconsider the denial. But, when developers still wouldn't commit to refurbishing the hotel before beginning construction on the luxury townhouses, the board again rejected the project, which first gained preliminary approval in 1988 but has proceeded in fits and starts since then. "A bright line ought to be moved to where the board is comfortable; that is, that no construction will take place until the hotel is renovated," said board attorney Richard Clark. "The applicant hasn't offered that." Spring Creek had sought to build either 398 luxury townhouses or 438 age-restricted units. Among the architectural renderings of the project were depictions of a sparkling and reborn resort hotel, which was to be the focal point of the project. In the past four years, according to the company's attorney, Tom Collins, the $20-million hotel, built in 1971, has undergone more than $4 million in renovations. But much work remains to be done. Although Spring Creek architect Stanley Forrest and chief operations officer Al Warrington were on hand for the meeting, only Collins testified. From the beginning, the application, which originally called for 600 units, has been contentious. There were environmental and housing-density challenges. And the ownership changes of the property and the steady deterioration of the hotel made it a focal point of criticism by township residents. In June 1998, a Louisiana investment group bought the hotel and turned some of the suites into time-share units. The plan was to combine several rooms to create studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom configurations, with each unit having a full kitchen and use of the resort's swimming pools, restaurants and other amenities. Robin Barron of Sussex testified that she had bought a time-share unit at Legends about five years ago. "They promised restaurants, pools, a spa, but delivered nothing, Barron said. "We were such supporters of the place, and thought it would be a good thing for Vernon. We feel we've been duped. "They should fix up the hotel and make it a shinning star and give us what they promised," she continued. "I would never let them build a darn thing until they fix the hotel."