Unicorp CEO Defends Controversial St. Regis Arch on Longboat Key

Whittall says the 14-foot metallic structure is an 'integral part of the wedding experience' at the luxury resort.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 5:20am

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a polished, metallic archway structure made of sleek, geometric shapes floating on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the abstract corporate and legal debates surrounding this controversial development.The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort's beachfront archway has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over the island's development and aesthetic future.Longboat Key Today

Unicorp President and CEO Chuck Whittall is pushing back against the Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Board's recommendation to deny ordinances that would allow the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort's beachfront archway to remain. Whittall argues the arch is a 'classy' addition that enhances the guest experience, while the board has raised concerns about it setting a precedent for other waterfront developments.

Why it matters

The fate of the St. Regis arch has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over Longboat Key's development and aesthetic future. The town's strict sign code has put the resort at odds with local officials, raising questions about how far luxury resorts can go in shaping the island's character.

The details

The 14-foot metallic archway, which stretches over the resort's private rock groin into the Gulf of Mexico, has been cited by Longboat Key's code enforcement for violating the town's sign regulations. The resort's legal team has argued the arch serves a 'public safety purpose' by identifying the responsible entity for emergency responders, but the Planning and Zoning Board dismissed this justification as 'legal gymnastics.' The board voted 3-2 to recommend denying the ordinances that would allow the arch to remain, with some members warning it could set a dangerous precedent for other waterfront developments.

  • The St. Regis arch was erected in August 2025.
  • The Planning and Zoning Board voted on the arch ordinances on March 17, 2026.
  • The Longboat Key Town Commission is scheduled to take up the issue in May 2026.

The players

Chuck Whittall

The president and CEO of Unicorp, the developer behind the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort.

Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Board

The local advisory board that recently voted 3-2 to recommend denying ordinances that would allow the St. Regis arch to remain.

Longboat Key Town Commission

The town's governing body that will ultimately decide the fate of the St. Regis arch in May 2026.

BJ Bishop

A Longboat Key town commissioner who has publicly vowed to push for the removal of the St. Regis arch.

William Pepe

A Longboat Key resident who has expressed deep frustration over the resort's 'noncompliance' issues to Commissioner BJ Bishop.

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What they’re saying

“A comment was made not to be like the Jersey Shore; that is ridiculous and unfair since we are the only groin in town that is privately owned.”

— Chuck Whittall, President and CEO, Unicorp

“When I read that in the material, I put BS in the margin because it was so obviously bull.”

— S. Jay Plager, Planning and Zoning Board Member

“This particular sign is tasteful, and I congratulate the gentleman who developed it. The die was cast back then to have a major commercial entity established on our otherwise little residential island... this little bit of archway and sign shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody.”

— S. Jay Plager, Planning and Zoning Board Member

“I don't think it's good policy. We don't want to see Longboat Key turn into the Jersey Beach.”

— Nicholas Gladding, Planning and Zoning Board Member

“I first raised this issue when the sign went up and I will continue to urge my colleagues we follow our sign code and have this removed. I believe it is scheduled for our May meeting and I urge you to attend.”

— BJ Bishop, Longboat Key Town Commissioner

What’s next

The Longboat Key Town Commission is scheduled to take up the issue of the St. Regis arch in May 2026, where they will decide whether to allow the structure to remain or order its removal.

The takeaway

The debate over the St. Regis arch has become a proxy battle for the broader tensions between Longboat Key's luxury resort development and the island's residential character. The outcome will have significant implications for how the town balances economic growth with preserving its unique coastal aesthetic.