Ontario Council seeks info on plans for residential units at hotel complex
ONTARIO ― The 120-unit Home2Suites by Hilton Hotel planned for 2577 Walker Lake Road is one step closer to becoming a realty.
Council held the matter to a first reading at its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday and the matter will be held to three readings before it becomes official.
Ontario Council held a public hearing for the hotel complex, to be built just north of the current Cinemark 14 theater complex in the already-bustling shopping center.
No members of the public came to speak except for Chris Knapton, director of development for Moment Development, who told council members that plans are to build the hotel, offices, a restaurant and multifamily residential units, including condos and townhomes.
The Ontario Planning Commission earlier voted to approve and send to Ontario Council the application for a new 120-unit hotel, restaurant, offices and residential housing units on Walker Lake Road.
Council President Eddie Gallo said council had heard from attorney John Spon, representing clients who live in Stone Landings on Walker Lake Road directly across from the proposed hotel project.
According to Gallo, Spon said his clients were not voicing opposition but expressing concern for the possibility of lane expansion of the two-lane road in front of their properties to a four-lane road, like that of the road now in front of the shopping mall complex, which if expanded to four lanes would take away some of their properties. Spon also told council by telephone prior to the meeting his clients want greenspace or land bank, or green line, protecting their sight lines between the complex and their properties.
News: New hotel to be built on Walker Lake Road
Council member Dave Rehfeldt asked what expenses the city will incur to provide services to enhance the hotel complex development.
Mayor Randy Hutchinson said the utilities are available and the developers pay for the tap ins, but the city is studying what, if anything, may need to be done down the road regarding utilities. Hutchinson said that financing would come to the city from a TIF, or tax increment financing, if infrastructure needs occur.
Rehfeldt also asked Knapton about what kind of residences they plan to bring.
"The question I've been asked is what is to prevent this from making this college dorms?" he asked.
Knapton said the development is of a higher nature.
He said he has already had conversations with multi-family developers based in Columbus who are interested in doing a residential piece with his group on the project.
"Most of their stuff is on a higher-end scale," he said. Rehfeldt asked for a report of projects they've done and locations and Knapton said he would provide council with the information.
Knapton said the hotel is already fully funded, in response to questions from Rehfeldt about starting a project and not being able to complete it due to lack of financing.
A groundbreaking is planned for the fall of 2023 for a 120-unit Home2 Suites by Hilton Hotel.
Council member wants to know cause of citywide water main break Oct. 30
On another subject, Rehfeldt said council had not discussed yet the Oct. 30 citywide water shutdown due to a water main break.
"I'm more worried about the future because of it," Rehfeldt said.
Hutchinson said the matter could be discussed at a utilities meeting to be scheduled in January.
On Oct. 31, Hutchinson issued an email to media saying the water main break was due to a fire.
"Due to the gravity of the fire at Milliron on State Route 39 on Saturday (Oct. 29), multiple agencies were brought in to extinguish that fire. During the course of extinguishing the fire, a fire hydrant was closed which caused something called a hammer effect in the city’s lines, which caused several breaks. Considering how many agencies were handling the fire there is no way for the city to determine any fault with any agency, only that the incident occurred," he said.
Last week for leaf pickup; Christmas tree lighting Dec. 1
In other news, this is the last week for leaf pickup.
The city's Christmas tree lighting will be 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at Marshall Park with Ontario High School various music groups performing, hot chocolate and cookies and Santa's arrival.
Council adjourned to enter into executive session for police contract negotiations. Gallo said there would be no action taken following the executive session.
lwhitmir@gannett.com
419-521-7223
Twitter: @LWhitmir
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Ontario Council seeks info on plans for residential units at hotel complex
