The ordinance for the third extension for Wisley Inn and the Super 8 Motel subdivision was put up for discussion at the Urbana City Council meeting Monday night.

According to its memorandum, Khalid Hussain, owner and developer of Wisley Inn and the Super 8 Motel, requested a 1-year extension to construct Wisley Inn and wanted to waiver the requirement of building sidewalks alongside Kenyon Road. The yearlong extension on the project will be for the construction of Wisley Inn itself on the same lot where the Super 8 motel is currently located. The subdivision is located southeast of I–74 and Lincoln Avenue. If the request is approved by the city council, construction for the new hotel would begin in mid-June of this year and would be completed by spring of next year.

Diane Marlin, Ward 7, said the extension is for the developer to complete the project and build sidewalks that would connect the two hotels. Sidewalks along Kenyon Road would be a “waste of materials and it would cost him more,” she said.

The city council already approved this ordinance in June 2008, but there were some cost-reduction changes made to the plan. Some of the cost-saving measures for this private developer were to reduce the length of the water main along Kenyon Road, provide a storm water detention basin and to install connecting sidewalks from Wisley Inn to the other properties. The memorandum stated that the owner has redesigned the development of his project to reduce construction costs in order to progress with the plan of Wisley Inn.

“I think it should benefit the city,” Marlin said. “Hopefully this will get him over the hump and construction will start soon. It would provide more hotel space and attract more people to stay in Urbana.”

Lisa Karcher, city planner, said Hussain is looking to get his finances in place and to make this project as cost-effective as possible.

“It’s important that it provides for another tax base,” Karcher said. I think it’s a positive thing for Urbana.”

David Gehrig, Ward 2, agreed with Marlin about giving Urbana residents more hotel space. He added that Hussain is looking for a little more time to complete his project because of financial changes made to the proposed plan.

“I know we’re seeing this for the second time,” Gehrig said. “It’s an area that we’ve been trying to get developed for a while. It grows the local business. It also gets that section of land into some productive use. The clock is ticking, but he’s looking for some more clock.”