By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed the controversial Microtel hotel proposed for town last week.

The facility, a four-story, 78-unit building, brought to the town’s planning commission by developers on March 13, is planned for the east side of Route 113 near Franklin Avenue, across the street from Berlin Intermediate School.

Since the idea was presented earlier this year, the hotel has been mired in controversy. The Berlin Planning Commission struggled to approve the facility because it lacked unique, historic charm like downtown. Members of the planning commission said the structure was too much like a “computer box” initially but efforts have been made by the developer to revise the designs to fit Berlin. Most planning commission members said two weeks ago they supported the new elevations.

The Berlin council met on Tuesday, Oct. 15, and the hotel issue was again raised. To avoid arguments over the look of new structures, the town will adopt and modify the Worcester County design guidelines and rework them to fit Berlin.

The standards for Berlin will use phrases like “may” and “should” as well as “will” and “shall.” Councilmember Jack Orris asked if these adjustments were still too flexible, but Mayor Zack Tyndall argued that the document is preliminary.

“Right now, we have nothing,” he said. “When somebody wants to do a project in Berlin, it is like throwing something against the wall. You do know what to expect. This is a starting point…it helps tee up a developer with a potential conversation with the planning commission.”

Orris proposed a joint meeting between the Berlin Mayor andCouncil and the planning commission to discuss this and other issues. Tyndall also recommended that infill development be a topic of the gathering.

“It would be good for us to understand what is available and what we would like to see,” Tyndall said. “Some infill development has come up before the planning commission, and I think we should all be on the same page.”

The combined meeting will be scheduled for sometime early next year.

The placement of the Microtel has also stirred an uproar among Berlin officials and residents.

Councilmember Shaneka Nichols said the location, across from the school and near a healing arts center, is not optimal.

“Someone should have said, ‘I do not think this is the right location,’” the councilmember maintained. “We missed the mark here. We should have said this location is not good. I know it is planned. I know this is zoned commercial…but right across the street is a school. Right behind you is a daycare. There is a healing arts center nearby. Someone should have shown them some other spots. That is where we, as the Town of Berlin, completely missed the mark when it comes to this project.”

While the hotel’s proposed location is zoned commercial, Nichols said it was previously designated residential. However, that was years ago, before any current member had been elected to the council.

Town Administrator Mary Bohlen argued that every potential issue is often not considered when making zoning guideline changes.

“When talking about zoning, look at the time when zoning was implemented, and folks who implemented the zoning at that time did it thoughtfully with the knowledge they had that day,” she said. “They maybe did not anticipate some projects coming into small towns. But they did what they felt was right at the time. Later, a new group changed that zoning based on a new culture, philosophy, and business, and you may make additional changes. But it is very difficult to look at something and say, ‘No one ever wanted that here,’ because nobody may even think such a thing existed. Don’t beat up past councils or yourself for every single possibility that could occur within a specific zoning. Sometimes, we do not know something is a problem until it arises.”

Nichols said intentionally making decisions on zoning and project location is how to protect Berlin from unwanted structures.

“We need to be more aware,” she said. “That’s what this all boils down to.”

Councilmember Steve Green prompted the Microtel conversation based on the topic gaining traction last week on the We Heart Berlin Facebook page. Residents expressed concerns about not being able to stop the hotel with at least one planning commission member saying the town’s elected officials have not given the planning body the ability to address these sorts of projects.

At the project’s initial planning commission meeting in March, Operator of Zenna Wellness Studio Chrissy Ehrhart, whose facility is close to the proposed hotel, said she was nervous about the dangers of sex trafficking, which she believes may be made possible by the potential 28-day stays permitted at the Microtel.

The potential problem is made more dire given its proximity to BIS and the Bundles of Joy daycare. Earlier last week, Ehrhart again voiced her concerns on Facebook, writing, “I did my diligence in researching and obtaining facts about this type of proposed business. If anyone took it seriously, this next step wouldn’t even be a thought. It’s disgusting to see the interest in monetary gain rather than preservation.”

Despite concerns from residents, businesses, owners and officials, Microtel is set to move forward.