Jan. 29, 2013--CHIPPEWA FALLS -- Another hotel is planned for the growing corridor along Highway OO in Lake Hallie.

Eau Claire developer Dave Wogernese has submitted plans for an 84-room hotel on a 4.71-acre site immediately west of U.S. 53 and north of Highway OO. Wogernese said he will wait until after the Village Board votes on a conditional use permit next week before discussing the project. The vote is scheduled for Monday.

Village Trustee Pete Lehmann said he knows the occupancy rate at the nearby Holiday Inn Express hotel is high, based on the room tax the village receives, so he isn't surprised another hotel is planned for that area.

"It strengthens the validity of the investment (in infrastructure) there," Lehmann said. "And it sits next to (U.S.) 53, so there is good visibility there. It matches the land use and desire for that area."

The hotel would be accessed from 30th Avenue, which is old Highway OO. The road goes behind the Kwik Trip convenience store, and right now has just a couple of houses on that street. Lehmann said the village may need a traffic study of that intersection because of the growing number of businesses and restaurants along Highway OO.

The Lake Hallie Plan Commission unanimously approved the conditional use permit earlier this month, Lehmann added.

Chippewa County zoning administrator Doug Clary said a conditional use permit is needed because the land is zoned for industrial use.

The address for the hotel will be 12705 and 12707 30th Avenue; it has two addresses because a restaurant may be built in the parking lot, in front of the hotel, he said.

Clary said the plans call for a four-story building with a pool. No project cost was included in the blueprints.

It is unknown if the hotel will be part of a national chain. A construction date also hasn't been unannounced.

Vetter can be reached at 715-723-0303 or [email protected].

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