‘Hotel: An establishment offering lodging to the traveling public for compensation’, according to the revised definition by the City staff of Coppell. And in Coppell, a hotel must now offer in addition a room size of 285 square feet, a limited service restaurant and a porte-cochere.

 On Tuesday, March 8, the seats in the City Hall of Coppell were rather empty of their own residents. The City Council members had arranged themselves in the elevated semicircle facing the podium, and by 7:30 p.m., Mayor Karen Hunt was ready to call the regular meeting in session.

Tonight’s meeting would be marked by more than attention to only the residents of the town- this time, the dwellings of those who visit, and not stay, would become a subject of deliberation.

After Mayor Pro Tem, Gary Roden, led the invocation and all in the room had pledged their allegiance, Mayor Hunt proceeded to the agenda for the evening.

No citizens made an appearance to seek redressal on any issue, and the meeting progressed to the consent agenda: item seven, economic and infrastructural development in the city. All hands raised from the arc. “None opposed, motion carried.”

The public hearing was then opened by Marcy Diamond, a representative for the City Staff. Diamond voiced the proposal made by the Planning Department to amend the standards for the development and definition of motels and hotels in Coppell.

“Our staff started to look at our existing regulations- we had gotten a lot of hotel activity and inquiries- and felt that the regulations we had on the books really wasn’t what we need to assure the quality of hotels we were looking for in the City of Coppell,” Diamond said.

The Planning Department had interviewed representatives from the hotel industry, researched the surrounding city’s ordinances, surveyed hotels close to Coppell and now Diamond announced their findings:

“We looked at how many rooms they had, and came to a conclusion relatively quickly that the larger number of rooms and more amenities, the generally better the hotel was,” Diamond said.

On behalf of the Planning and Zoning Commission, Diamond proposed to regulate the amenities of hotels, revise the definition of what a hotel is, and, what would be most discussed that evening- to keep a minimum height of five stories for all hotels.

First in response to the proposals came the only public speaker for the hearing, Suhas Naik, the developer for Four Points by Sheraton.

“I am in support of these regulations. [The new regulations] promote good quality development and will encourage better franchises. With that means better rates, better revenues and the better likelihood that, over the long haul, the property will continue to maintain a high standard and operate for 20-30 years.” Naik said.

However, council members had his own doubts about whether all hotels in Coppell would be ready for a five-story construction.

“There are ways around that, and I think that’s why we should probably, rather than putting a minimum height of five stories, delineate whether the hotel is type one, two, or three.” Council member Hill said.

Although supportive of the other proposed regulations, Roden voiced similar hesitations with the new height requirement.

“I was surprised to see the five story [regulation]. I mean, there are a lot of quality hotels that are two and three stories, like boutique hotels…I don’t think this meets what we’re trying to do here.” Roden said.

The semicircle now fell in probing silence, council members contemplating with hands on their chins. “There’s a lot of thought going on,” Mayor Hunt observed. “Do I sense a motion?”

Once council member Franklin had spoken and Rodem clarified the exceptions for hotels under the city’s new codes, Mayor Protem raised the motion to approve the hotel regulations without the mandate for five stories. “None opposed, motion carries.”

Diamond moved to the next item of the agenda, a proposal for the rezoning of existing structures on Bethel Road and South Coppell Road, and to revise the elevations of restaurant/retail centers.

All members approved of the item, “None opposed, motion carries,” and clapping followed from the audience.

The meeting concluded with the mayors, first as Mayor Hunt detailed the mayor and Council reports for the meeting. Hunt spoke of the meeting with the Board of Commissions last Saturday, and the Walk With the Mayor that occurred afterwards, alongside the Living Well in Coppell group.

The Mayor and the group had walked across the new pedestrian bridge in Moore Road Park- which she was eager to share.

“It’s something that everybody should go see. It’s a spectacular view on both directions, and it makes a great connection from the south side of the park to the north trails. If you haven’t had a chance to do that, please do.” Hunt said.

Hunt then reminded the audience of the busy calendar that is to befall Coppell in terms of events in the coming weeks, such as the Eggstravaganza event on March 26- which she advises to come early to, or else “you will have missed the egg part of ‘eggstravaganza’ ”.

As the meeting pulled to a close, Mayor Protem drew the conscience of the audience to attention with his announcement.

“I just wanted to say I had the privilege [last] Saturday evening to be a part of the Special Olympics award presentation at the high school,” Protem said. “And I can tell you there is so much joy and excitement in the room amongst the participants, the coaches and the parents.

If you ever want to feel really good about what’s happening here in Coppell, go to the Special Olympics website and find a way to volunteer as a coach or as a mentor. Just find a way to involve- because they do some really special stuff.”