Lot near Dunedin Causeway has sat vacant for years. Townhouses, hotel and winery now proposed.

DUNEDIN — For years, local resident Dave Pauley has looked at a fenced vacant lot at 265 Causeway Blvd. and wished that a lawn mower would appear.

On March 13, Pauley told members of the city’s Local Planning Agency he favors a mixed-use development proposed for the site. Afterward, the board unanimously approved a design review of the proposed 1.5-acre, four-building project, set to feature townhouses, a hotel, surface parking, a wine shop, a swimming pool and other amenities.

The City Commission’s first hearing on the $14 million project is slated for April 4.

Setbacks were among the topics that raised some concerns, but speakers at the meeting mostly expressed support for the project.

Deborah Kynes, a planning agency member, said officials should look at setbacks and traffic impact, but she also had compliments about the project.

“I thought the architecture was very nice looking,” she said. “I had no issues.”

Sandbar Grill co-owner Mark Maurer said, “I’m looking forward to it bringing more residents, bringing more people, bringing more merchants to our area.”

Local resident John Kloster said, “I frequent the causeway daily, and I am all for this project moving forward.”

The zoning of the property is tourist facility, which allows a maximum height of five-story buildings.

As proposed, the project consists of:

• Two residential buildings, each with four townhomes for a total of eight units. Both buildings are three stories in height with two floors of living area and rooftop patios over ground-floor parking.

• A three-story, mixed-use building with four townhomes and a 1,796-square-foot winery. The townhomes will consist of two floors of living area and rooftop patios over ground-floor parking. The winery consists of two floors, including ground-floor parking and a rooftop patio.

• A four-story, seven-room hotel building with three floors of guest rooms over ground-floor parking. Doug Anderson, managing partner for development and construction with Coastal ICF Construction Services, said the hotel will be utilized by both the Blue Jays organization and, when they are not occupying the rooms, the general public.

• Surface parking, swimming pool and cabana.

The property, which is situated within a designated tourist district, once was the site of a restaurant and lounge, demolished in 2005.

“Staff has determined that a three- or four-story mixed-use at the proposed density and intensity on this property, together with what’s going on around it, does comply and is consistent with our compatibility requirements in our comprehensive plan,” said Joseph DiPasqua, assistant director of community development.