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Residents weigh in on Diamond hotel proposal
Last week, nearly 40 Herndon residents aired their concerns with the new Element Hotel proposal by Diamond properties at a special Herndon Planning Commission work session.Residents, along with commissioners and some council members, split into groups to discuss various aspects of the proposal.
Residents in a “community impact” group discussed what types of businesses they would like to see in the proposed 13,000-square-foot retail aspect of the proposal. According to planning commission chairman Carl Sivertsen, residents in the group generally approved of independent restaurants, gift shops, clothiers, jewelers and other independent shops.
They did not want to see check-cashing establishments, salons, pawn shops, dry-cleaners, fast food franchises, tattoo parlors or banks occupy the space.
“In respect to banks, I think people felt they are already overrepresented in the downtown,” said Lisa Gilleran, director of public works for the town.
In the “operations” group, residents, commissioners and neighboring property owners discussed a shared easement behind the hotel proposed by developers. One option would have delivery trucks enter the area from Lynn Street and exit onto Monroe Street.
“I am concerned about traffic, as I live on Monroe,” said Vicki Robertson. “Hotel construction is also a concern.”
Dr. Tom Finley, one of five property owners who would share the easement, voiced concerns about noise being made by delivery trucks as they passed his office. “I'm willing to give [that option] a shot if it doesn't adversely affect me, but if it becomes a nightmare, I'd like to be able to go back to [another option],” he said.
The Herndon Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposal on July 7. “I've heard rumors that 50-70 people are coming to testify,” Sivertsen said on Monday.
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