The city of Shenandoah has nine hotels open within city limits and is anticipated to gain six more in the next few years. City council denied a request for a zoning amendment which would allow for an Elements by Westin to be built on Vision Park Boulevard at their Oct. 26 meeting.[/caption]The Planned Development District No. 1, which covers Vision Park Boulevard, permits only one facility under the hospitality use classification to be constructed on the road. In addition, that facility is limited to a three-story building not to exceed 75 feet.
Because a TownePlace Suites already resides on Vision Park Boulevard, representatives from Elements by Westin requested that the PDD No. 1 be amended to allow for a second hotel on Vision Park Boulevard that could be a five-story building not to exceed 75 feet.
During the citizens’ forum and the public hearing at Wednesday’s meeting, five residents stated their opposition to the amendment in addition to several others who submitted letters of opposition to the council prior to the meeting.
Many of the concerns brought up by residents included increased traffic, increased crime, over-saturation of the hospitality industry and a slippery slope of amending other zoning ordinances.
“Ordinances are there for a reason—to keep Shenandoah a very intimate, friendly town and we’d like to keep it that way,” resident Betty Lahiri said. “I’m not for The Westin not building, I just don’t think that’s a good piece of property to build on. We have to be mindful of what we do with what little land is left in Shenandoah and I just don’t think that a tall high-rise hotel is what we need right there.”
Several hotel representatives and nearby business owners conversely stated why the location was ideal for an Elements by Westin. The proposed eco-friendly hotel would have extended stay accommodations, such as a shuttle service, bicycles and in-suite kitchens to minimize traffic—one of the biggest resident concerns.
“I understand the passion of the people who live here and feel that they will be affected, but when you talk about this level and type of hotel, this is exactly the kind of location we’re looking for,” Marriott International representative David Aupiel said. “A lot of sites we strive to be in are a mile or so off the interstate because again, people are staying for a long time and they want to have that feeling of being at home when they’re on the road so that’s why this is a great location for us.”
Joel Tally, a representative from the nearby Nexus Hospital, also spoke to endorse the amendment, as the hotel would provide nearby accommodations for the families of hospital patients.
After hearing both sides, the council unanimously voted to deny the request, which was contrary to the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation to approve it. Mayor Ritch Wheeler was absent from the meeting.
“Personally, I think that the zoning and the decisions that people have made when they purchased homes nearby there, they made those decisions based on what the zoning was and to me that’s a covenant to them and that’s why I would be denying this,” Council Member Ron Raymaker said.
