(Front view of proposed inn. Credit: Divine Group)

By David Caraviello

The group behind a controversial hotel development on Paris Mountain has moved and rescheduled a planned information session about the project — because the previous venue was too small to accommodate the anticipated turnout.

Divine Group, the developer of the planned Inn at Altamont near Travelers Rest, has rescheduled its public information session to Feb. 27 from 6-8 p.m. at the Greenville Shrine Club & Event Center at 119 Beverly Road.

The facility can hold up to 400 people, according to Divine Group CEO Krut Patel, as opposed to the previous location at Furman University, which was limited to around 250, and initially scheduled to host the session on Feb. 13.

“This information session is a ‘drop-in’ interactive session, so we will be able to accommodate more than 400 people throughout the evening,” Patel said in an email. “We will have information booths set up and different members of our team present for questions and answers. We will also have public input opportunities through all aspects of the development.”

The change to a larger venue is indicative of the project’s polarizing nature.

Greenville County Councilman Steve Shaw of Travelers Rest, among other elected officials, has reservations about the plan, and a group called Save Paris Mountain opposes the development, saying it would threaten Paris Mountain’s small-town charm and have a detrimental environmental impact.

An online petition opposed to the Inn at Altamont project had garnered more than 11,000 signatures as of Tuesday. The $60 million hotel project would be the single largest investment in the history of Travelers Rest, according to Divine Group.

“The Divine Group developers may paint a rosy picture of ‘growth’ and ‘economic benefits,’  but we see the truth — this project threatens Travelers Rest small-town charm, the environment, road safety, our tax dollars,” opponents say on saveparismountain.org.

They add, “We should focus on developments that directly benefit TR residents, rather than projects that cater to external interests.”

The Inn at Altamont would be a 150,000-square-foot Marriott-branded property featuring 150 guest rooms, a ballroom and event lawn with a capacity of 2,000 people, farm-to-table dining experiences, a resort-style pool and spa, sophisticated bars, and rooftop with 360-degree rooftop views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, according to Divine Group.

The hotel’s anticipated opening would be in 2030.

Half of the 40-acre property would be conserved rather than developed, the company added.

According to Divine Group, the hotel’s design would preserve the mountain’s natural silhouette, while the project would boost the Travelers Rest economy through the addition of up to 100 new jobs.

The development would reimagine Travelers Rest’s longstanding reputation as a way station for travelers, the company claims, and “a comprehensive study by a team of engineers evaluated all major intersections surrounding The Inn and found there would be no impact on local traffic."

Not everyone agrees. Part of the property for the proposed hotel is zoned as an Environmentally Sensitive District, which is designed to thwart large-scale commercial development .

Patel confirmed that Divine Group is seeking to have the property annexed from Greenville County into the city of Travelers Rest and rezoned to accommodate the 150-room hotel.

Half the land would be preserved as green space, and a parcel would be donated to the city for use as a public park. He added that the property is currently zoned for 800 multifamily units, which would be a far denser development straining more of the mountain’s resources.

“When the property came to the market, we saw the disastrous impact someone could make on our cherished landscape. We decided to step in, acquire the land, and design a development that is more thoughtful for the natural space on site as well as the local economy,” Patel said.

He added, “Current designations of multifamily don't require a public hearing or any input from the county outside a storm water and land disturbance designs, which cannot be withheld. Our new zoning would restrict greatly what could go on the property.”

Meanwhile, Paris Mountain has limited water and power infrastructure and no sewer services, according to the group opposing the hotel.

“The proposed development would lead to the destruction of native plants and wildlife habitats, exponentially increase light and noise pollution, and significantly strain local water, sewer, and power infrastructure, along with already strained emergency services and fire districts,” Save Paris Mountain claims, according to its website.

“If allowed, the zoning change would set a precedent for further commercial development on Paris Mountain and other protected areas, leading to more large-scale projects that would permanently alter our cherished landscape and vanishing ecosystem.”

Other projects by Divine Group include Ken’s Crossing, a 49-unit residential development currently underway in Duncan; Abner Creek, a 136-unit residential development underway in Greer; several VGo gas station locations; and the Outlet Pointe strip center in Columbia.

The value of projects development by the company exceeds $200 million, according to its website.

The project wouldn’t impact the 1,700-acre Paris Mountain State Park, which is on the summit’s eastern side.

The hotel development would be on the mountain’s western side, where numerous individual homes are located off long, winding Altamont Road, a favorite route among local cyclists.