Many of those sitting in the audience during the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on Oct. 1 breathed a collective sigh of relief as the July approval of Jim Roiter’s controversial “Belvedere at Thames Street” project was reversed and remanded for the Historic District Commission’s reconsideration.

Following an impassioned meeting on Sept. 17 that saw HDC attorney Andy Teitz and Mr. Roiter’s attorney, Joseph Shekarchi, vehemently deny the claims brought on by attorney Stephen MacGillivray and the appellants he represented, all five board members came into Monday night’s meeting resolute in their final decision based on the testimony each side provided.

“There was a lot of things we were shown, a lot to absorb,” began board member Charlie Burke. “What I saw and do have issue with, to pick one, is the expert opinions.”

Vice Chairman Bruce Kogan echoed his concerns, finding it difficult to justify the complete dismissal of 188 total years of experience in historic preservation from seven experts opposed to the plan, without any indication as to why by the HDC.

“While Mr. Teitz suggested the experts were not credible, that’s not found in the decision,” Mr. Kogan rationalized.

Additionally, board member Tony Brum didn’t understand the commission’s decision to utilize the long-demolished DeWolf Hotel as a means to justify the proposed building’s massive size in comparison to others along Bristol’s historic waterfront district.

“To be honest, I have an issue with using a hotel that hasn’t existed for 50 years,” he stated. “That doesn’t sound like to me an example of a similar structure.”

Chairman Joe Asciola agreed, feeling that the commission was “beating around the rules,” in its attempts to adhere to its own set of guidelines. Board member David Simoes’ only remark pertained to how the final peaked roof design was ultimately determined, essentially ending a discussion that contained virtually no debate between any of the five members as to which way to vote.

After outlining specific topics for the HDC to re-evaluate and attach the proper evidence to, the board officially voted 5-0 in favor of the abutters’ appeal and formally closed the record, preventing any further evidence from being submitted.

“I’m glad to see that the five men of the Zoning Board of Review clearly identified the many faults and understood the HDC guidelines were ignored, the Interior Standards were ignored, and 188 years of experience were ignored,” said Caroline Jacobus, secretary for the Friends of Historic Bristol group that organized in opposition to this proposal.

Even so, the Board of Appeal’s work is far from finished; on Oct. 30, it will begin another round of hearings, this time for an appeal of the Bristol Planning Board’s approval of the project. Discussions will be open to the public and begin at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.