During the August 11, 2008 regular meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission, the board reviewed two requests by the Bank of Franklin County to develop the property located at the corner of Highway 100 and Rabbit Trail Drive in Washington, Missouri.  The first request subdivided the lot into two lots; the second was a special use permit for a proposed 3-story hotel.  The board approved both requests. 

The proposed hotel will occupy the southern lot.  The the northern lot, adjacent to Highway 100, will be used by the Bank of Franklin County for a new branch.  The location is currently zoned C-2, General Commercial and the new lots will retain the C-2 zoning.

 

The photo below shows the future location of the hotel and bank.  A temporary Bank of Franklin County branch can be seen operating on the site today.

 

The site plan presented during the meeting shows a hotel with 103 off-street parking spaces.  An additional 19 parking spaces are possible on the site, should they be necessary.  The hotel is proposed to have 90 units, which would result in just over one parking space per available unit.

 

It was noted during the meeting that the hotel does not intend to have an adjoining restaurant.  Also discussed during the meeting were plans to control the impact of increased lighting, noise and traffic in the area.

 

There were no objections raised to the lot subdivision request.  In response to the special use permit, however, a number of nearby residents voiced concerns over noise, lighting, safety, as well as impacts on property value of area residences.  The board considered the comments and concerns voiced by the residents.

 

After hearing the details of the plan and the concerns of citizens, the board approved both the subdivision request that subdivided the existing lot into two smaller lots, and the request for a special use permit.  The special use permit was necessary because the hotel parking lot is proposed to be located within 50 feet of adjacent residential lots.

 

The requests will now go before the City Council for final approval at an upcoming council meeting.