After five years of deliberation, the Rehoboth Beach Planning Commission has approved the Belhaven Hotel plan, with significant changes required before construction can commence.

The 92-room Belhaven Hotel will occupy a prime 38,475-square-foot lot at Rehoboth Avenue and the boardwalk. The hotel will include ground-floor retail spaces, a 94-space underground parking garage, a ballroom, restaurant, spa, and a rooftop pool. This project is a modern adaptation of the original Belhaven Hotel, which was a landmark until it was destroyed by the Storm of ’62. The Papajohn family, who owned the original hotel, are spearheading this new development.

John Papajohn, who was five years old when his family purchased the Belhaven property in 1938, along with his son, Alex, presented the first of many iterations of their plan in 2019. Their vision is to recreate the beloved hotel with contemporary amenities while preserving its historic charm.

The commission’s approval includes standard conditions, such as reviews by independent engineers, but also several amendments, such as adjust the hotel’s size to comply with city code, comply with parking space size requirements, and more.