A new banquet center just to the north of the Best Western Hotel apparently will be coming to Wayland.
The City Planning Commission Tuesday evening approved a site plan and special use permit for the “Weigh Station” special events center. There was no comment in the public hearing.
Architect Dennis Dryer told commissioners the location is ideal for such a business because, “people having weddings will have a place to stay (at the hotel, still under construction) and a baquet facility.”
The 12,800-square-foot facility will have a capacity for 235 guests. Parking, owners Jerry Bancroft and Tim Bodenberg said, shouldn’t a problem because plenty of spaces generally will be available during the hours of the events.
City Manager Joshua Eggleston said it’s important that the new center not be given any special breaks on parking, “no different than the establishment near and dear to our hearts.”
He was referring to the Lumberyard Events Center at Maple and Railroad streets, which was halted temporarily last August because of inability to meet parking requirements.
Ben Adams, the newest member of the commission, cautioned about potential safety problems.
“We’re having people party near U.S.-131 with a hotel,” he noted, but colleagues said there is plenty of buffer between the freeway and center in case revelers get too carried away.
The special use was approved on a 6-0 vote, as was the site plan, with conditional approval of administrative oversight from Professional Code Inspections, which gives the owners a chance to get started soon.
“I’m just trying to beat the deep freeze for the footings,” explained Bancroft.
