Group pitches plans for hotel in Franklin
From left, Wayne Knirnschild, of Lehighton Investment Group; Lew Rauch, engineering general manager, Lehigh Engineering; Erich Schock, attorney with Fitzpatrick, Lentz & Bubba, on behalf of Interchange Investment Group LLC, discuss preliminary future plans for the proposed Town Place Suites Marriott Hotel in Franklin Township with Tracy Herman, zoning officer, Greg Haas, township engineer; Christine Green, assistant secretary/treasurer; board Chairman Jason Frey; Supervisor Barbara Beltz; and Supervisor Robin Cressley. TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS
A proposed Marriott Hotel in Franklin Township would have 89 rooms, according to an investment group looking to build what would be the third hotel within less than one mile of each other on Interchange Road.
Interchange Investment Group LLC, Bethlehem, met with the township’s board of supervisors at a special meeting on Tuesday to consider and discuss the preliminary future plans of the possible development of the land.
The investment group, which owns the Hampton Inn, purchased 9 acres of land owned by the Hampton Inn for $1.1 million that includes parcels 955, 973 and 1055 Interchange Road, along with 10 Rock St.
Town Place Suites Marriott Hotel would be built at 1055 Interchange Road, the site of the former Jimmy’s Gym, and would have 89 parking spaces.
It was noted that the first 200 feet of the property is currently zoned commercial, while the rest of the area is residential.
“Right now, it’s under the existing ordinance,” said Wayne Knirnschild, with Lehighton Investment Group.
However, township engineer Greg Haas, of Carbon Engineering, said that the township is working on new zoning that would make the whole property commercial.
It was noted that the state Department of Transportation previously said that whenever that property is developed, a traffic light must be put at the intersection.
Knirnschild said the hotel would likely be three stories high, and would probably include conference rooms.
The buildings on the property would be knocked down.
Haas told the investment group that the big hurdle at this point is either to get a plan submitted to the township under the current zoning ordinance, or wait until after the new zoning is completed.
The hotel would join the Hampton Inn, and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, along Interchange Road.
