HAMPTON—The Riviera Motel at Hampton Beach will be torn down to make room for a proposed 23-unit condominium complex.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment approved several variances, including one for height, for the project on Thursday night.

The project will now go before the town's Planning Board.

Owner David Keir said they plan to tear down the motel, located at 431 Ocean Boulevard, and the home located in the back of the property to make the project a reality.

The five-story, 23-unit project will include three one-bedroom and 20 two-bedroom condominiums. Parking will be underneath the building.

Hampton attorney Stephen Ells, representing the Keir family, said they were seeking variances for the minimum lot area per dwelling and height.

They were also seeking six other variances because the condominiums were going to be multi-family dwellings.

Ells said the reason why they were seeking the height variance was for aesthetic reasons recommended by the Hampton Beach Area Commission.

"We requested the height variance to add architecture to avoid having the appearance of another flat roof at the beach," said Ells, who noted they were asking for 54 feet when 50 feet is allowed.

Ells said the project is similar to other condominium projects in the area and conforms to the town's Master Plan.

He also noted the project would not diminish surrounding property values by showing the board a letter from Bob Preston, of Preston Real Estate, that said just that.

"If anything, it would increase neighboring property values because you're tearing down a hotel that was constructed in the 1970s and putting up a new structure," Ells said. Several abutting neighbors raised concern about the project, citing that it was too dense for the area.

Others were concerned about setbacks and that it would be too close to their own condominiums, obstructing their views of the ocean.

Issues regarding fire safety, snow removal and trash collection that were brought up will be addressed at the Planning Board level, Zoning Board members said.

Zoning Board member Vic Lessard said the height variance was justified because it was a recommendation by the Hampton Area Beach Commission.

"Would you rather just see a flat roof?" Lessard asked.

Zoning Board member Jack Lessard, who was in favor of the project, said that the majority of the variances were because it's a multi-family project.

He noted that the owner could construct 46 contels on the lot without seeking any variances.

"That would be a lot worse than this place," Lessard said.

Zoning Board member Matt Shaw said he was also in favor of the project and it met the five criteria in which variances are granted.

"It's going to be better than what is currently there," Shaw said.

In other business, the board approved a variance request made by the Boardwalk Inn Cafe to redo and extend the second-floor deck.

The board also voted to extend the existing second floor balcony for the property formerly known as Guido Murphy's an additional eight feet towards Ocean Boulevard and to reconstruct the existing stairs to the second floor to meet code.

The Planning Board took jurisdiction of a plan to tear down Riviera Motel at Hampton Beach to make room for a proposed 23-unit condominium complex. The board sent the plans out for department review and will revisit the proposal at its April 16 meeting.

Owner David Keir said they plan to raze the motel at 431 Ocean Blvd., and the home in the back of the property to make the project a reality.

The five-story, 23-unit project will include three one-bedroom and 20 two-bedroom condominiums. Parking will be underneath the building.

The ZBA has already approved variances for the project.