July 28–WALLA WALLA — A new inn is in the works for Walla Walla.
The new development, a La Quinta Inn, is planned at the southwest corner of Myra Road and Heritage Road. According to documents filed with the Walla Walla Joint Community Development Agency, it will be a four-story hotel with 77 rooms and a total floor area of 40,140 square feet.
According to Lauren Prentice, development agency senior planner, because the building would be in the city’s Highway Commercial zoning district, its plans will be subject to administrative review only and will not go before the city Planning Commission.
An environmental Determination of Non-Significance has been issued for the hotel and additional comments on the DNS are being accepted by the development agency until Aug. 8.
Because two towers on the building will exceed the maximum 50-foot height allowed by the zoning, the developers have applied for a conditional use permit. That application will probably go before the city hearing examiner sometime in August, Prentice said.
The hotel will employ about 12 people, according to documents filed with the development agency.
It was unclear as of this morning what will happen with the current La Quinta Inn on Second Avenue in Walla Walla. Attempts to reach company officials for comment this morning were unsuccessful.
The hotel, along with the new 120-room Courtyard by Marriott being built on Rose Street, will significantly increase the number of hotel rooms in the city.
According to Ron Peck, executive director of Tourism Walla Walla, there are an estimated 875 hotel rooms in Walla Walla as of 2010. The two new hotels will increase that total by about 22 percent.
According to a 2013 survey by Tourism Walla Walla, 55 percent of the visitors coming to Walla Walla stay at hotels or motels, while 25 percent stay at a bed-and-breakfast or guest house. Of the remainder, 15 percent of those surveyed said they stayed with family or friends, 3 percent stayed at a campground or RV park and 2 percent stayed at some other accommodation.
Andy Porter can be reached at andyporter@wwub.com or 526-8318.
