The Tribune

By Fay Simmons

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

Residents living behind Cable Beach’s former Melia resort have voiced concerns about the noise, safety and impact on their daily lives from Baha Mar’s latest expansion plans to replace that property.

Damien Francis, speaking at a Town Planning Committee public consultation on the proposed project, argued that the area was historically a buffer zone, and questioned how the new service building would affect adjacent residential properties. 

“It’s difficult to understand what services are actually going in and how that will impact our properties,” said Mr Francis.

He suggested that a sound-attenuating fence would be more effective than the proposed landscaping in minimising the impact, adding that the current fences on both properties are down thereby leaving the area exposed. “At the moment, it’s quite open and exposed,” Mr Francis said.

Leslie Munnings also voiced strong opposition to the location directly behind his home. He argued that the service building should instead occupy an existing industrial site, pointing to concerns about the proximity to where his children play, potential noise from generators and past water table contamination. 

“I would feel much better if this plant went where an industrial building currently exists - not to my back door, not where my children play and swim in their pool,” said Mr Munnings. 

“The proposed site would block our view and bring industrial activity too close to residential areas. The area has already been damaged, and this doesn’t provide me with any sort of comfort.” 

Brent Creary, principal of ArchVenture and the project’s architect, responded that the service building - intended to support the new hotel with utilities, fuel and water storage, cooling towers, and standby generators - has been designed to match the scale of nearby commercial properties. 

“We have pushed the building east to increase distance from the residences and are using heavy landscaping to create a visual and sound buffer,” said Mr Creary.

He added that the generators, the only major source of noise, will be fully enclosed with acoustical engineers ensuring that noise levels remain comparable to street traffic.

Graeme Davis, president of Baha Mar, assured residents that the resort owner is committed to addressing their concerns, promising: “We can make the commitment that we'll have a solid boundary in that space.”

The mega resort operator, in documents filed with the Department of Physical Planning, is seeking preliminary site plan approval from the Town Planning Committee - following last night’s public consultation - for a project that will feature 345 hotel rooms, 58 residences and a range of upscale amenities.

Mr Davis, in an October 22, 2025, letter to the Department of Physical Planning, affirmed the new resort will include a spa and wellness centre, multiple restaurants and bars, as well as conference and event spaces.

 “The Baha Mar parcel west development is a proposed expansion of the Baha Mar resort and is located on the former Melia property situated along West Bay Street on the island of New Providence in The Bahamas,” he said. “It consists of a ground-up, 20-storey luxury hotel and branded residence consisting of a two-storey podium, a west and east tower….

 “The programme includes 345 branded hotel and 58 branded residences, eight pool villas, and adult and family pools. Amenities include a spa and wellness centre, fitness centre, conference and event spaces, multiple dining facilities including a pool bar and a signature pool side restaurant, retail spaces, beachfront access and a Kids Club.

 “The gross floor area is roughly 680,000 square feet. A single-storey service building is planned north of Scotiabank at the land known commonly referred to as the ‘Melia vacant land site’.”