There’s a new hotel being planned in Benton Township.
The Benton Township Board of Trustees heard this week the 102 room Home 2 Suites Hotel is set to be built at 1923 Pipestone Road, right next to the Home Depot and south of the Hampton Inn. Township building official Loyall Bennett told trustees the Benton Township Planning Commission has signed off on the site plan.
“With the added tourism in the area, we think it’s a good addition to the area,” Bennett said. “All of the recommendations and conditions we put on have been met, with the exception of fire access around the entire building.”
Bennett said the fire chief and planning commission have talked with the developer about addressing that issue.
“We need to ensure that we can get access around this entire property in case we have an emergent situation and we need to get people off the top floor.”
The fire chief is seeking a road or other paved surface to ensure fire trucks can get to tall parts of the building. Developer Sam Patel, who was at the meeting, agreed.
The Planning Commission did request the developer consider establishing access to the property from Napier Avenue. Bennett told us that would mean reopening Crystal Avenue from Napier to the Home Depot, which has long been closed.
The township board on Tuesday approved the site plan. The hotel, when finished, will be part of the Hilton brand of hotels.
