An Avila Beach developer has plans to build a four-story hotel just west of the Edwards Cinema building, between Enos Drive and Battles Road in Santa Maria.

After some discussion over concerns raised by neighbors, the Santa Maria Planning Commission approved the proposal to build a 120-room hotel on Shepard Drive behind the theater building.

The applicant, Legacy Hospitality LLC of Avila Beach, is proposing to build a Hampton Inn & Suites on a vacant 2.1-acre site that is just east of the First Christian Church. The hotel is expected to include meeting rooms, an exercise room and a fenced, outdoor pool.

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The four-story building is proposed to be 53 feet tall, which is well below the city's maximum allowable height of 70 feet. The project requires 112 parking spaces for the 60,281-square-foot building.

The Hampton is proposed to have 120 rooms. By comparison, the Best Western Big America on North Broadway has 106 rooms, the Radisson on Skyway Drive has 190 rooms and 10 suites, and the Historic Santa Maria Inn has 164 rooms and 18 suites.

Officials from the church's school, Crossroads Christian Junior High, appeared before the commission to express their concerns over safety in the area and the ability of hotel occupants to wander onto the school campus.

Sue Pruett, administrator for the school, said officials asked that the city require the developer to build a fence along the property line to keep the two uses separate.

"The commissioners didn't grant the request, but the developer said he would be willing to meet with us informally to work something out," she said Thursday.

Church officials will be meeting to decide whether to file an appeal to the City Council of the Planning Commission's decision, asking the council to require a wall in the approval, she added.

Officials with the church and school were also unhappy because they said they were not notified about the plans for the hotel until just before the Wednesday meeting.

City officials said notices of the public hearing were mailed to property owners within 300 feet of the project on April 24 and notices were in the newspaper and posted at the project site. In addition, the city posts Planning Commission agendas at City Hall, the Community Development Department and the library, staff members said.

The Hampton is proposed to have two driveways off Shepard Drive and is expected to generate 833 average daily vehicle trips, with 60 trips coming during peak afternoon hours, according to the city's staff.

A traffic study was conducted and found that nearby intersections -- including College Drive and Battles Road, Shepard Drive and Battles Road, and Bradley Road and Battles Road -- would continue to function at current levels, meaning that no significant impacts are projected from increased traffic.

Additionally, officials looked at the possibility of requiring a traffic signal at Shepard Drive and Battles Road, but the traffic threshold for a light was not met, according to the staff report.

The hotel is in a perfect location for the business traveler, said Dan Blough, broker on the project, since the site is near Highway 101 and is within walking distance to restaurants, a movie theater and an office supply store.

With the commission's approval, the developer will now work on construction drawings, Blough said.

The commission approved a pair of hotels a year ago on Roemer Court on the north end of town, which are now under construction.

The Fairfield Marriott will be 52,520 square feet and is expected to cater to tourists. It planned for 88 rooms and amenities such as a pool, sauna and exercise room.

The Candlewood Hotel will be 39,731 square feet and is expected to appeal to business travelers. It is planned to have 72 rooms and amenities such as guest laundry service and a business center.

The city already has more than 1,000 hotel rooms, according to the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor and Convention Bureau.

Visitor and Convention Bureau manager Gina Keough noted that even with three new hotels in the pipeline, there will be enough business to go around.

She added that efforts to bring tourists, conferences and sporting events have been limited by hotel space.

By increasing the overall room numbers, the city "expands what we can do as a visitors bureau," Keough noted.

The city charges a 10 percent transient occupancy tax on the price of each hotel room.

Malia Spencer can be reached at 739-2219 or mspencer@santa mariatimes.com.

May 12, 2008

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