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2 multifamily projects OK’d PAGE 15
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
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Council OKs controversial extended stay hotel BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
NEWS....................... 4 Gilbert officials unveiled the renovated Town Hall.
Sunday, December 18, 2022
A
four-story extended stay hotel with 122 rooms will move forward at the southwest corner of Power and Germann roads after Gilbert residents unsuccessfully tried to stop it. Town Council last week voted 6-0 to uphold the Planning Commission’s Nov. 2 approval of Woodspring Suites Hotel’s design after Power Ranch resident Joni Joiner filed
an appeal objecting to its color scheme and height. “So, the reason I appealed this situation was because there’s a maximum height of 45 feet,” Joiner said at the Dec. 13 meeting. “It actually exceeds that on both ends of the building. It’s 45 feet and 4 inches. “Reason why that’s a concern is because it is already so high in elevation that it’s higher than the apartments and homes around it. They pushed the limit on the building of it. It’s very upsetting to the community that
it’s tucked in behind two smaller businesses and it’s going to be huge.” Joiner said color was no longer an issue for her as the Planning Commission had stipulated the developer replace the orange exterior color with a neutral tone. Although the hotel is allowed by right under the current zoning, Joiner said. “It’s not the type of extended stay that we want in our community.”
see HOTEL page 6
Town of champions! NEWS....................... 8 Gilbert lawmaker praises, warns teen mental health panel.
BUSINESS..............22 BBQ eatery in Gilbert copies an Austin, Texas, fave. COMMUNITY.............................. 18 BUSINESS.................................... 22 SPORTS........................................24 PUZZLE........................................30 CLASSIFIEDS.............................. 32
Gilbert became a town of champions last weekend as three local schools’ football teams won state championships. From left: ALA Gilbert North head coach Randy Ricedorff hoists up the trophy after the Eagles defeated Snowflake in the AIA 4A Conference; Higley Knights head coach Eddy Zubey hoists their trophy after defeating Cactus in the AIA 5A Conference ; and Highland head coach Brock Farrel celebrates the Hawks’ 6A triumph. Stories begin on page 24. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)
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