Stillwater staff say planned Water Street Inn addition too close to street

A three-story addition to the Water Street Inn is being proposed by the building's owner. (Image courtesy of the Water Street Inn)

Plans for a major expansion of the Water Street Inn will go before the Stillwater City Council Tuesday.

The Stillwater Planning Commission signed off on the plans March 10, but city staff have raised concerns about the location of the three-story addition.

"It's too close to Myrtle Street, we think," said Bill Turnblad, the city's community development director. "We want them to move it back 8 feet farther than their plans specified."

The project requires a variance to the front-yard setback and a special-use permit for the rooftop patio, Turnblad said.

Owner Chuck Dougherty said Thursday that he has no plans to move the structure back.

"The planning commission approved our plans," he said. "At this time, we are not making any adjustments to them."

The addition would include a rooftop patio and a new primary entrance and lobby. It also would have a tower element, a nod to the clock tower that graced the Union Depot train station that formerly stood on the site.

The 21,000-square-foot addition, designed by ARCHNET in Stillwater, would add about 20 rooms to the 41-room hotel. The hotel lobby in the southwest corner would be moved to the building's north side, and the existing lobby would become the main dining area.

Mary Divine can be reached at 651-228-5443. Follow her at twitter.com/MaryEDivine.

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Stillwater staff say planned Water Street Inn addition too close to street