MO 1999-046 to 1999-050 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

. ! City Council Staff Report July 12, 1999 A-99-2 & PD-99-2 Page 7 of 10 Why does the hotel need to be four stories and 120 rooms? The applicant states that the number of rooms is necessary to meet the market and operating needs of a higher -end hotel chain such as Hawthorne Suites. A smaller project could be proposed, but only a moderately priced hotel chain would likely be attracted to the site. This would result in a lower quality project. Additionally, given that two acres have been allocated for the hotel, the structure needs to be four stories in order to accommodate the parking, landscaping, and other site improvements. The developer also believes that four stories are necessary to improve the visibility of the hotel from the adjacent freeway. The I-880 freeway and I-238 "flyover" are elevated 20 to 30 feet in the vicinity of the project site. The proposed hotel is 40'-4" high to the roof eave. The overall height of the building varies from 53'-9" to 63'-8". The developer states that the confluence of the two freeways is a major factor that makes the site attractive to a hotel chain. Therefore, improving the visibility of the hotel from the freeway is an important marketing criterion for a hotel franchise such as Hawthorn Suites. Letters have been attached from Detailed Analysis, dated June 9, 1999, and Hawthorn Suites, dated June 9, 1999, that describe the market demand for a higher end 120-room hotel. Planning Commission Revisions to Conditions of Approval In response to the public comments and discussions with the applicant on the above issues, the Planning Commission amended the recommended conditions of approval with the following revisions and additions: • Add a condition including the Owner Participation Agreement (OPA) requirement to maintain a three diamond level hotel on the property (an OPA between the Redevelopment Agency and the Developer will be scheduled to a forthcoming meeting with the Redevelopment Agency); • Revise a condition to require the applicant to maintain a minimum ten foot wide planter and require the trees to be an evergreen species that will exceed the height of the hotel; • Revise a condition to require the trees along building A and D to be minimum 24" box size trees spaced at a maximum of 20 foot on center, and again to require these trees to be large scaled trees that will exceed the height of the hotel; • Expand a condition to require the applicant to work with the adjacent residents for fencing and additional landscaping requirements; • Revise a condition to require the colors to be changed to bolder colors moving away from shades of white and beige, subject to review and approval by the Development Services Director; • Revise a condition to clarify that fixed sheer curtains and solid drapes and swags be added to limit the amount of window area exposed to residences; • Revise a condition to require the roof material to be changed to either a concrete or other shingle appearance type material, subject to review and approval by the Development Services Director; • Add a condition to require review of the final color scheme for the Captain Roberts home by the Library -Historical Commission; ii9