Council approves Colleyville’s first hotel

As the debate continued on whether Colleyville should approve its first hotel, opportunity won out over concern.

“Grab it before Euless or Grapevine gets it,” resident Kathy Hadley urged the City Council.

Last week council members unanimously approved a zoning change to allow a Hampton Inn and Suites to be built along Texas 121, just north of the La Hacienda Ranch restaurant. City leaders, staff members and residents realize how important the new business could be for Colleyville’s future.

“Anytime you’re involved in economic development you’re trying to help build a solid economic, financial, ground,” said Marty Wieder, the city’s economic development director. “To be able to provide a need that has been unmet until now is good.”

The five-story hotel on about 2 acres will have 91 guest rooms, conference space and an interior and exterior pool.

Irving-based Icon Lodging’s proposal estimates the hotel could generate $13.6 million over 5 years for Colleyville through hotel occupancy taxes, property taxes and guests shopping and dining in the city.

Colleyville is one of the few cities near Dallas/Fort Worth Airport that does not have a hotel. That’s something even residents said Colleyville could not pass up on.

The hotel has faced some opposition.

Some have argued that it’s too big for the property. Neighboring La Hacienda Ranch had concerns of the hotel guests using its parking and the building ruining the restaurant’s ambiance, but by the Jan. 20 meeting, restaurant owners worked with hotel developers and withdrew their opposition.

The two properties will be divided by a wrought-iron fence.

Grapevine-Colleyville school district parents shared their concerns about a hotel being right next to Colleyville Heritage High School, so the hotel offered to build an 8-foot masonry wall to separate the properties.

The council asked the hotel developers if they could begin construction within a year, but Santos Martinez, representing Icon Lodging, could not provide the council with a construction time line at the meeting.

Wieder said there is a possibility for more hotels in the city, but it’s all dependent on the residents.

“The one thing we all heard, even those who spoke in opposition, several made comments they were not necessarily opposed to a hotel per say it was more location specific,” he said. “If our residents can remain positive for more hotels we may certainly have a chance.”

This story was originally published January 24, 2015 at 12:17 PM with the headline "Council approves Colleyville’s first hotel."