More than four hours of deliberation and discussion was not enough time for planning commissioners earlier this month to decide whether or not to recommend a pair of proposed hotel chains to be built in Santa Monica’s urban core.
Accordingly, the Planning Commission will resume Oct. 16 its review of proposed development agreements (DA) for a Courtyard by Marriott and Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton.
The meeting on Oct. 2 was the second time this year that planning commissioners continued the discussion of these two DAs to another meeting.
Back in July, commissioners granted the developer and applicant OTO Development more time to address union issues, determine whether it could make any contributions to Historic Preservation and the Hospitality and Training Academy, develop local hiring and living wage provisions, and address how the proposed project would reduce water use.
A Hampton Inn and Suites would be located at 501 Colorado and would feature 143 guest rooms.
The other hotel, a Courtyard by Marriott, would be at 1554 Fifth Street and include 136 rooms.
Both hotels would be six stories tall and include two subterranean levels for 75 to 100 parking spots.
In the City staff report presented to planning commissioners prior to their Oct. 2 meeting, there were 29 items listed as either an issue that needed to be addressed, an amendment to key DA language, or disagreements OTO Development had with City Hall.
Both DAs are on the Planning Commission’s Oct. 16 agenda. If OTO Development and the Planning Commission can get on the same page by the end of the meeting, it might be possible commissioners would recommend the two DAs to the City Council.
Otherwise, both the applicant and the commission will continue deliberating and discussing community benefits and key project proposals.
