Site plan for hotel is granted approval

February 09, 2006|B ANDREW SCHOTZ

HAGERSTOWN

A site plan for a 103-room hotel off Railway Lane was approved Wednesday by the Hagerstown Planning Commission.

The five-story hotel will be called Homewood Suites by Hilton.

The planning commission voted 3-1 to approve the site plan.

Chairman Douglas S. Wright Jr. and commission members Martin E. Brubaker and Frederick A. Nugent voted yes. Commission member Kristin B. Aleshire voted no.

Three other commission members were not present for the vote.

With site plan approval, Bowman Development Corp. can start working on the land, but must get a building permit before constructing the hotel.

The hotel site plan didn't meet the city's requirements for landscaping in 13 areas, Stephen Bockmiller, a city development planner/zoning administrator, told the planning commission.

The commission insisted on two noteworthy changes before approving the plan.

The plan showed a 5-foot buffer around the parking area. The commission insisted on 10 feet.

The other change was for pedestrians.

Jeff Tedrick, the project manager for Bowman Development, said the tentative plan was to have a walking path connecting the back of the hotel to Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar next door.

The commission wants a walkway connecting the buildings through the parking lot, according to Bockmiller.

The city's board of zoning appeals previously approved a special exception so the new hotel may be 68 feet high. The city ordinance allows a maximum of 50 feet.

Homewood Suites by Hilton is part of a 30-acre casual dining and hotel park near Interstate 81 and Halfway Boulevard.

Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, Outback Steakhouse, Holiday Inn Express and Bob Evans are open there.

Tedrick said other restaurants are planned.

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