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Planning Commission adopts text amendment to allow taller hotels, remove per-room density cap
Summary
The commission approved ordinance text amendment A26-01 to raise the B-2 district height limit from 50 feet/three stories to 60 feet/five stories and to eliminate an 800-sq.-ft.-per-guest-unit density standard for hotels, a change staff said would allow a proposed Live Smart hotel at 50 Knapp to proceed while retaining parking minimums.
The City of Battle Creek Planning Commission on Jan. 28 adopted zoning ordinance text amendment A26-01, which amends the B-2 Regional Commercial district and the hotel's density calculation in section 1251.2.
Staff said a developer is interested in demolishing the former Lone Star Steakhouse at 50 Knapp and building a Live Smart extended-stay hotel. Under the current ordinance, B-2 height is capped at 50 feet and three stories; the text amendment raises the limit to 60 feet and five stories to accommodate the proposed design. The amendment also strikes an 800-square-foot-of-lot-area-per-guest-unit density requirement for hotels; staff and commissioners noted that parking minimums (one parking space per guest unit) remain in force and act as a practical check on how many rooms can be accommodated on a site.
Staff told commissioners the proposed hotel would have about 103 guest rooms; if the struck 800-sq.-ft. requirement had applied it would limit the site to roughly 77 units. Staff said the site currently has about 99–103 parking spaces and that the parking ordinance includes limited allowances for bike racks to meet shortfalls. Commissioners raised concerns about peak occupancy during major events and whether parking could be insufficient at times; staff said the existing parking counts and the ordinance's flexibility should prevent guest overflow onto neighboring properties.
No members of the public spoke on the amendment. Commissioner Gray moved to approve A26-01 with the staff recommendations; Commissioner Morris seconded. Commissioners Hughes, O'Donnell, White, Gray, Morris and Denison voted yes and the motion carried, adopting the text amendment.
