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Central Point finds room for new motels Fairfield Inn project starts; 2 others planned By Buffy Pollock CENTRAL POINT � Overnight visitors soon may have as many as three new motels to choose from � if plans for all three come to fruition. Ground already is being prepared for the first, a 68-room, three-story Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott. The 36,000-square-foot structure will be located near the intersection of South Peninger Road and LaRue Drive and visible from Interstate 5. Construction is scheduled to begin in December, and the motel could be open by early July. The Planning Commission has reviewed a site plan application for the second, a combination 109-room motel and 4,000-square-foot restaurant planned at the same intersection as the Marriott. A franchise has not been chosen yet for either business, and city planning technician Matt Amitore said the site had transportation and access issues that needed "ironing out." The third motel is planned for property outside city limits but slated for annexation. The property�s owner has said he intends to build a motel after the property is annexed, city officials say. The property is on East Pine Street near the airport and Table Rock Road. Amitore attributed motel developers� sudden interest in Central Point to the town�s location and continued growth. "They started looking at the demographics of Central Point," Amitore said. "For people traveling south on I-5, this will be the first place they�ll see a hotel in the Rogue Valley." Amitore said the demand for lodging facilities will rise in the future, thanks to a planned amphitheater, increased traffic headed to Medford and the fact that Central Point�s growth seems to be commercial-based. Timothy Hovet, who submitted the application for the Fairfield Inn and Suites on behalf of property owner Hotel Investment Property, said he spent a great deal of time researching the area before selecting the property near the interstate. "It�s a beautiful site," Hovet said. "A great site. Central Point is excellently located. This was one of those sites that, for those of us experienced in the hotel business, we walked on it and knew it had the right demographics, right traffic count, the whole works." Hovet said he became aware of the proposed amphitheater after the property was purchased. "There�s no one thing that makes or break the site. It�s just a great site," he said. Although the motel�s site plan has been approved by the Planning Commission, a building permit is still needed before construction can begin. Public Works has recommended site plan improvements to driveways, sidewalks, drainage, lighting, and utility connections, and Jackson County Fire District 3 has requested the motel�s sidewalk be set low so fire vehicles could pass. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.