A hotel proposal in the Town of Ulster is inching forward following a public hearing earlier this month, but it’s still unclear whether the project will come to fruition, and if it does, which, if any, franchise it will be part of.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing held on Thursday, April 4 for the project, which is being developed for the Ulster Commons property by Chet Patel and Ulster Hospitality LLC. The project is based on a hotel plan pitched several years ago, but it needs a special use permit and variances because the scope has changed for the 100-room, four story hotel.
“Back when the original overall concept master plan was put into place in 2012, a 100-room 64,000-square foot hotel was planned at that time,” said David Young, a project manager with the Chazen Companies. “We are still looking at a 100-room hotel, a little bit larger in size at 64,810-square feet.”
Also changing in the plan is the setback from the road of an additional 12 feet to around 250 feet in total.
Ulster Commons is a 14.66-acre property with six lots along Ulster Avenue, five of which are already developed; the hotel would be built on the sixth lot. Already at Ulster Commons are a CareMount Medical building, a branch of Ulster Savings Bank, a recently opened Smoothie King, a Tractor Supply Co. store and a vacant fast food restaurant building that was briefly a Hardee’s. Quigley said no one has come to the town with plans for the latter.
Other hotels along the Town’s retail corridor include Courtyard by Marriott, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Residence Inn by Marriott.
Quigley said the Town is awaiting the developer’s next move, which could be determined next month at a meeting of the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency (IDA). The developers, like pretty much everyone else who comes to town these days looking to build anything more elaborate than a lean-to, are seeking a payment in lieu of taxes (Pilot) agreement from the agency.
“[The developers] have not fulfilled their application requirements with the Town because they are waiting to get an okay on the Pilot from the IDA as requested,” Quigley said. “The project will not move ahead without a Pilot.”
While the development’s Pilot hopes are likely to be discussed by the IDA in May, Quigley said that doesn’t necessarily mean a quick resolution.
“There is a process there,” Quigley said. “When it will be reviewed and approved, I have no idea. It’s a waiting game.”
The Ulster Town Board will meet again on Thursday, April 18.
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