Map that includes outlines of two properties to be included in a changed zone
Slide from presentation showing Boone County GIS Map with the two lots affected by the proposed zoning change — Kemba Credit Union property and the lot of the proposed hotel. Photo (of presentation), by Robin Gee | LINK nky contributor

Florence might soon be getting a new extended-stay hotel.

At its brief Jan. 21 caucus meeting, Florence City Council discussed a zoning change to accommodate the proposed hotel at 5935-5495 Merchant St. next to the Kemba Credit Union.

The zone change would include the credit union and a 5.3-acre site next door, 5935 and 5945 Merchants.

The Boone County Planning Commission recommended the change from “Commercial 2 Planned Development” to “Office 2 Planned Development” to allow for the hotel, a LivSmart Studios by Hilton.

Florence Director of Community Development Todd Morgan brought the recommendation to council and shared a presentation outlining the request and decision.

The change would be necessary because of height and square footage restrictions in the commercial zone. The commercial zone allows for a 15,000-square-foot building and a 50 foot height limit. The office zone would allow for up to a 30,000-square-foot building and up to 70 foot height limit.

The proposed hotel would be four stories and would have 99 guest rooms plus a 97-space parking lot. To accommodate the building, the lot would need to be enlarged and would take a sliver of property, two-tenths of an acre, from the Kemba Credit Union lot.

Morgan noted there are several hotels in the area, including Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Suites, which are very close by. Some residents from the Greenview Road neighborhood behind the proposed hotel attended the planning meeting. They expressed concern over lighting on the property. The planning commission added restrictions to their approval to address some of those concerns:

  • The hotel parking lot would be in the front of the building only.
  • Light poles would be allowed in the front parking lot only and limited to 25’ in height.
  • Lights on the sides of the building would be limited to ground or wall level and would be soft white or yellow.
  • A patio planned for the rear of the building would only have low-watt sconce and recessed lighting.
  • The tree line behind the building would remain pretty much untouched, but the hotel would include an additional double row of evergreen trees.
Top Left: aerial view of affected zone including Kemba Credit Union and the lot next door; Middle: rendering of hotel from the rear; Right: another map shows the proposed development property. The dark triangle at right is the portion of the current Kemba property that is needed to make the zone change. Bottom: rendering of hotel front view. Photos (of presentation), by Robin Gee | LINK nky contributor

The commission recommended the zoning change with the restrictions, noting that it fits with both the city’s comprehensive plan and the Houston-Donaldson Study. According to the study document, the 2013 Boone County Houston-Donaldson study laid out specific land uses and zoning to support a “distinct, mixed employment, commercial, residential, entertainment and recreational district.”

Council did not vote on the commission’s recommendations at this meeting.