OREM -- Planners for Orem approved the 12-story high-rise hotel for the corner of 800 North and University Avenue despite pleas from neighbors who think the project is over the top.
The planning commission voted 3-1 Wednesday in favor of the $45 million project proposed by Paul Washburn & Associates for owner Jimmy Zufelt.Because only four members of the commission were present, the project moves forward to the City Council without a formal recommendation. However, commissioner Stan Adams said he feels the hotel/conferencing center/office building's project is in harmony with the zone and master plan.
Some neighbors said they think the hotel is "way too high" and should be on the other side of Orem, closer to the freeway.
The 298-room hotel will exceed the zone allowance of 48 feet by 104 feet. The parking terrace will be 55 feet high and the twin office towers will be 66 feet high with a clock tower that reaches to 86 feet.
"I am 110 percent against this. I really object to the height; it's excessively high," said Jeanne Lowe. "This is too close to residences and neighborhoods."
Resident Mark Anderson asked, "How many times are we going to see this movie? The last attempt to put a hotel on this spot was defeated by a groundswell of opposition."
Washburn said he and the architect, former city councilman Stephen Sandstrom and engineer Steve Sowby have worked for two years to solve numerous challenges on the site.
He said Zufelt is going to pay for a traffic signal at the 1550 East intersection that will be created onto 800 North. He said Zufelt has already paid for a "very comprehensive" traffic study that actually helped the Utah Department of Transportation plan changes for the overpass interchange at the mouth of Provo Canyon.
Commissioner Shiree Thurston said she's concerned about motorists coming out of the canyon at a high speed to find a traffic light just around the curve. Washburn said there are plans to tighten the curve and slow traffic that's coming too fast into a curve that includes traffic turning left off University Avenue onto 800 North.
Washburn said every effort is being made to restore the riverbanks of the Provo River to its natural beauty and six acres are being donated for a park.
He said geotechnical studies have dispelled earlier fears about fault lines, the gas line owned by Questar will be moved only slightly to accommodate the building, and fears about toxic tailings have been allayed.
"There is no toxic material on the site," he said.
City engineers have asked that Zufelt provide a functional water, sewer and storm drainage system prior to receiving a building permit, and Washburn said that's understood.
"It's exciting to do a structure this size in our own backyard," Sandstrom said. "This will be a luxury, class A hotel with two-level luxury suites on the top level."
Sandstrom said it will be built using natural stone and colors that will blend into the mountain area. The office towers will provide much-needed office suite space for the area, he said.
If the height were dropped, Sandstrom said it would be difficult if not impossible to attract a hotel chain like DoubleTree or Hilton to operate it. He said it's also essential to provide enough rooms to support the conferencing center.