Several weeks ago, a new sign was put up in Francis that says, “Coming Soon … Best Western Plus.” Except for the names of the companies involved in the project, no other details were included.Now residents know more about the proposal. The developers, Henderson 500 and Harwood Development, gave the public a look at their preliminary plans for the hotel at a recent Francis Planning Commission meeting, with the notice that everything is subject to change.Josh Call, who represents Harwood Development, said at the Sept. 19 Planning Commission meeting that the sign was a way for the project to be transparent and to get input from the public.“We don’t want there to be any secrets,” Call said.After the sign went up, the city set up a question-and-answer website at francisutah.gov/news-and-notices/hotel-in-francis-information-and-qa/ to provide more information about the project. A link to concept renderings and a site plan for the hotel in the Planning Commission meeting packet also can be found on the website.The proposal calls for a three-story Best Western Plus on a 10-acre site at the northwest corner of S.R. 32 and Lambert Lane, and estimates the number of rooms could be 72 or 82. The maximum height allowed is 40 feet.Under the plan, the hotel’s footprint would be about 2 acres and there would be at least one parking stall for each room. Trailer and RV parking also would be on site.The developers anticipate having amenities that include a 24-hour pool, hot tub, fitness center, complementary hot breakfast and an outdoor fire gathering area and trailer parking. Guests who stay at the upper-midscale hotel are willing to pay $150 to $200 a night, according to Kevin Henderson, chief operating officer of Henderson 500, a development and management services company.Every Best Western hotel is independently owned and operated, “meaning that we own the property and we have the freedom and luxury to design these hotels how we would like,” he said.His family company has developed big and small hotels, including the Best Western Plus Heber Valley Hotel, Henderson said.“We don’t build low-quality budget or bland properties,” he said.The hotel would have a positive impact on the economy, Henderson said. On average, for every $100 spent on a hotel room, travelers spend an additional $220 during their trip, he said.“Our hotel guests spend money in restaurants, gas stations, event centers, grocery stores and other local shopping and entertainment outlets,” he said.In addition, the project would stimulate the local economy by employing a local labor force, he said.The Best Western Plus, tentatively scheduled for a concept review by the City Council on Oct. 10, would be the first hotel in Francis.Most of the residents who spoke at the Sept. 19 meeting cited concerns about traffic, noise, crime, lighting and privacy in the neighborhood. Their remarks were frequently followed by loud applause.“We’re going to have transient people coming in and out,” a neighbor said. “The city of Francis wants that high quality of life, that rural atmosphere. There is no quality of life and rural atmosphere with a three-story hotel looking down in people’s backyards.”A resident said the number of guests and employees coming and going from the hotel might create a traffic problem, and another worried about the danger to children playing in the neighborhood.A few people objected to the height of the proposed hotel, saying it would be too tall.“There’s nothing currently in the city of Francis with this height and it will stick out like a sore thumb,” a neighbor said.Possible noise pollution was another worry.“We’re going to have noise problems,” a resident said. “We like to keep our windows open. We enjoy our quiet dark places.The Planning Commission makes recommendations to the City Council, which has the final say.Under the city’s approval procedures for the hotel, the Planning Commission and City Council will review the concept plan. Later, the commission and council will review site plans, architectural design and plans for landscaping and outdoor lighting to make sure the project complies with the city code before authorizing the developer to apply for a building permit.The public will have opportunities to have input on reasonable conditions imposed on the project to mitigate reasonably anticipated detrimental effects.The proposed hotel site is located on the northwest corner of State Road 32 and Lambert Lane. The parcel 9.92 acres. Credit: City of FrancisThe post Developers see hotel as boon to Francis; critics worry about impacts appeared first on Park Record.