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Council approves four-unit boutique hotel at 6101 Ringgold with conditions
Summary
The council approved Resolution 37-82 permitting a four-unit boutique hotel at 6101 Ringgold Road (Spring Creek), limiting the approval to four units, restricting extended-stay conversions (no more than 29 days), and requiring the applicant to return for approval of additional units or building expansions.
The East Ridge City Council approved a request on Feb. 12 allowing Eric and Christy Chapman to operate a four-unit boutique hotel at 6101 Ringgold Road (tax map 169L F-043.01) in the C-2 General Commercial district, subject to conditions the council set during the use-on-review discussion.
Planning staff explained that the property can be used for commercial purposes on the ground floor with residential units above; the applicants asked to restore motel-style lodging and to invest a proposed first-phase several hundred thousand dollars to renovate and operate four themed rooms as a boutique lodging option. Staff and council discussed site circulation, parking, traffic on Spring Creek/Ringgold, and proximity to residential parcels. The council limited approval to four units, required that the use not be converted to extended-stay residential use (extended stay defined in the ordinance as under 30 days, with council indicating no intent to permit the unit to become a de facto apartment), and required the applicant to return for review before adding more units or altering the building footprint.
Planning staff noted the property could qualify for the city's facade improvement program and potentially for border-region development incentives tied to sales tax performance if the investment and timing met program rules (applicant would need the hotel motel business operational by May 17, 2027 to meet one program deadline discussed). The council also indicated it could impose additional site-review conditions (landscaping, buffering, lighting, camera/safety measures).
Quotation: "It's a great opportunity for the city," the applicant said of the planned boutique hotel, adding that the owners plan to invest in a phased renovation and a unique product for East Ridge.
What happens next: The resolution passed by roll call; the approval is limited to four units and requires compliance with site review, parking, and non-extended-stay conditions. Any expansion beyond the four units will require further council review and approvals.
