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2012-07-23 Meeting Report (Victory Lane) SPIN MEETING REPORT CASE NO. ZA12-067 PROJECT NAME: Victory Lane SPIN DISTRICT: SPIN# 4 MEETING DATE: July 23, 2012; 7:00 PM MEETING LOCATION: 1400 Main Street, Southlake, TX Training Rooms 3C 3D TOTAL ATTENDANCE: Twenty-four(24) SPIN REPRESENTATIVE(S) PRESENT: Lou Hillman - # 4, Ray Tremain - # 9, Vic Awtry - # 7 APPLICANT(S) PRESENT: Jeff Medici, C.H.O.C., LLC (Cedar Hill Operating Company) STAFF PRESENT: Lorrie Fletcher, Planner I STAFF CONTACT: Richard Schell, Planner II, (817)748-8602; rschell@ci.southlake.tx.us EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Property Situation The property is located at 400 N. Kimball Avenue; it is approximately 15.5 acres. Development Details The developer proposes to develop a racing themed conference center in conjunction with a full service hotel. Inspired by similar facilities that have shown to be successful in other parts of the country the developer is looking to take his brand of conference centers, Turn 4, and develop numerous locations throughout the country. The first of these facilities is proposed to be the Southlake location. Full service hotel 175 rooms (site modeled for 250) Î Conference center 23,000 square feet Î Team building facility with racing theme Î High-end restaurant along SH114 frontage Î The proposed hotel is programmed to be full service with a restaurant and bar. The restaurant/ bar operation will consist of a 3,100 square foot primary dining space and a 714 square foot private dining room indoors and will utilize the courtyard for outdoor dining and separate outdoor bar. A 1,800 square foot kitchen is positioned in the floor plan to efficiently service the indoor and outdoor dining areas as well as food service to the 6,900 square foot ballroom. In addition to outdoor dining and bar service the hotel courtyard will be well appointed for both a relaxing and vibrant atmosphere with a pool, fireplace and periodic live entertainment. The proposed Turn 4 conference center is tied directly to the hotel under roof and is programmed primarily to host group events such as corporate team building retreats and celebratory events. With a racing theme, it is a specialty venue where team building events will consist of activities such as racing electric cars and pit crew competitions. Operationally, the facility as a whole, combined with the hotel will be able to host large scale corporate retreats with activities, leisure, banquets, break-out meetings, dining and lodging. For non-corporate or smaller events the facilities will be available by reservation to rent the ballroom, meeting rooms and the track for a fee and is not intended to be a - The project overview also includes a second lot, or out parcel, fronting on SH 114 that will be developed into a restaurant. The Site data for what is shown in the concept consists of a single story 10,000 square foot footprint and 58 parking spaces. Also shown is an outdoor waiting area with bar service. The following exhibits were presented at the meeting: QUESTIONS / CONCERNS How many rooms does the Hilton have? 248 Î Are the electric race cars battery powered? Yes. There will be a battery charging area. Î Will it be ventilated? Yes. How large are the cars? Slightly larger than go-carts. Î How fast will they go? Up to 42 mph. Î Single seaters? Yes. Î Are the cars indoors? Yes. The indoor racing facility is approximately 48,000 square feet. Î Are the cars designed as Nascar or Indy? They will look more like Indy cars, however, our theme is Nascar. We plan to Î solicit sponsors for the cars also to make them more authentic. How will this development impact traffic? A Traffic Impact Analysis was done and it came back positive. Î Is the main entrance off of 114? Yes, with a secondary entrance off of Kimball. Î What about drainage? A flow study was done with the widening of Kimball. The extra run-off will be Î accommodated. Will you have to build up? The property is fairly flat until it falls about five feet where the channel is located. Î What is the development group? CHOC stands for Cedar Hill Operating Company, a real estate holding company. Î Why build this here? Why not further west? This location proved to be the most economical. Î Why Southlake? We felt this was a great location. Î This will cause over-development. People live here to get away from this. Southlake is losing its integrity forgot why people move here. Will there be service trucks entering off of Kimball? No. Î Will you be improving the existing entrance drive off of Kimball? Yes. We are working with the adjacent owner. Î The fortune 500 companies can bring great things here; the location is great. They will want to bring their families here. There is a tremendous amount of parking; any green space? Yes. There are 100 foot setbacks. Î Would you consider raising the racetrack to provide parking underneath to free up other areas? That would take some cost consideration. We have over parked by 45 spots. We Î may be able to do something. What about signage for the hotel? We have to entrance monuments planned; one on Kimball and the other on 114. Î The final design is not ready yet but they will be tastefully done. What kind of value will this add to the city? There will be hotel tax in addition to property tax and sales tax. No estimates at Î this time. What restaurant is coming in? Not negotiated yet. Î Will the management be experienced? Yes. Î How will you manage to get discretionary spending here? With the economic climate? Do you have a plan B strategy? This facility will have a different feel; unique and modern. We believe there is a Î plan to turn the race facility into a smaller convention space. What is the timeframe for this? thstth We will go to P&Z August 9, City Council August 21 and September 4, then Î we plan to move forward quickly... within two months. Is the zoning going to be S-P-1 or S-P-2? We are asking for a S-P-2 generalized site plan because with the restaurant as Î conceptual, we dont have all of the elements for S-P-1. What is the occupancy rate for the Hilton? Their current occupancy is at 69%; they have been hugely successful. Î How many rooms will the hotel have? 175 to start; we have modeled our project at 250 in case we expand. Hilton has Î 248. How much will the rooms cost? About $169-170, maybe higher. Î Will there be corporate rates? Yes, packages will be available for team building events. Î How much does the racetrack cost? About $800 an hour for 15 people per track. Î What about cost for kids? The track will be open by reservation only during the weekends. The rate will be Î reduced for children. SPIN Meeting Reports are general observations of SPIN Meetings by City staff and SPIN Representatives. The report is neither verbatim nor official meeting minutes; rather it serves to inform elected and appointed officials, City staff, and the public of the issues and questions raised by residents and the general responses made. Responses as summarized in this report should not be taken as guarantees by the applicant. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to follow the case through the Planning and Zoning Commission and final action by City Council.