FLAMINGO, Guanacaste — It was “the first full-service marina in Costa Rica,” as described by past propietor Jim McKee, who ran it from 1989 until 2003. But it ran afoul of opposition on several levels, and the government shut it down for reasons that to this day are disputed. It’s been closed for more than 10 years now, squandering an ideal location between marinas operating in Papagayo and Herradura.

By all accounts that’s about to change, as a group led by Dr. Samuel Shaheen of Saginaw, Michigan, has submitted a marina proposal said to be on the verge of approval. The big hurdle is approval by SETENA, the National Technical Secretariat of the Environment Ministry, and that has reportedly already been granted, though the paperwork is not yet complete.

Joaquín Gamboa, project manager for the Marina Flamingo Development Group, said this week that he was told SETENA had already approved the project, and the only thing lacking was signatures on the document.

Plans also have to be approved by CIMAT, the Commission of Tourist Marinas, and by the Municipality of Santa Cruz, neither of which is expected to be opposed. Backers say construction could be under way by February or March.

“The project would create almost 600 jobs during the construction period of two and a half years,” he said. “And there would be about 400 jobs once the whole project is finished. There will be a hotel with 250 rooms, four stories tall. There’ll be a convention center for 800 people, then a commercial area of 9,000 square meters … and within that a bunch of places for restaurants, bars and all that.”

Plans call for 211 slips for boats ranging from 40 feet to 109 feet, with a fueling station and dry dock. Some 50 condominiums are also planned on the site of the nearby Mariner Hotel, which would be demolished.

The cost is estimated at $33.5 million.