Visitors to Turlock will soon have another place in which to lay their heads after a request to modify and extend the construction of an 85 room Hampton Inn hotel on property adjacent to the Highway 99 Lander exit received anonymous approval from the Turlock Planning Commission on Thursday.
The property, which currently hosts a Denny’s restaurant and a gas station, was originally zoned to accommodate a commercial shopping center in the 1990s. Nine acres of the site were left undeveloped until 2001, when a gas station and convenience market were establish leaving the current six acre parcel. Initially intended to be a commercial center titled Lander Crossings, the land will now be developed for a medical center instead of restaurants near the hotel.
The three story Hampton Inn will include a dining area as well as swimming pool and spa and share a parking lot with the medical facility, which will be open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
While there are more than 11 hotels in Turlock according to the Assistant to the City Manager for Economic Development and Housing Maryn Pitt, the established hotels consistently have a high occupancy rate likely due to the influence of California State University, Stanislaus and the sports complex.
“With the events at CSUS and graduation, as well as the sporting events we host here in Turlock, the hotels are quite full all of the time,” said Pitt.
The addition of a hotel to the community could prove valuable because it allows those traveling to Turlock for events to stay within the community rather than seeking out options in nearby towns.
On Thursday, the commissioners also voted to postpone discussion of amending the East Tuolumne Mast Plan regarding development of 100 acres of land at the intersection of North Daubenberger Road and East Tuolumne Road.
The City approved the East Tuolumne Master Plan in 2005, and shortly thereafter subdivision maps were filed in order to develop the two parcels with a total of 123 lots across the 100 acres. For reasons unknown no further steps were taken, though the downturn in the economy likely played a role.
“Subdivision maps were filed in 2006 and these are still active,” explained Associate Planner Katie Quintero. “If the developer wanted they could come in today and build according to that plan approved in 2005.”
The developer is now looking to increase the number of lots on each parcel to include roughly 69 additional lots on the same 100 acres thus changing the land designation from Very Low Residential land use to Low Residential Land Use. Initially larger ranchette type homes were slated to be built on the properties some of which would face Waring Road. However, should the amendment be approved, a wall will be constructed along Waring Road with a 15 foot landscape bed adjacent to the wall to help enhance the buffer area. A sidewalk would also be constructed and the homes would be less agricultural, ranch properties and instead the size of the nearby Bristol Park residences which stand between 7,000 and 10,000 feet.
