American Canyon’s main drag, Highway 29, could get a different hotel, though adding gas stations behind an upcoming Circle K seems dubious.
This week the City Planning Commission had two discussions that could affect the ambience of Highway 29. It recommended that the city council approve a Hampton Inn and advocated a ban on new gas stations until some details are worked out.
The American Canyon Highway is the first sight of Napa County for many visitors. It’s a mix of new shopping malls, old buildings and vacant lots.
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A three-story, 112-room Hampton Inn with facilities including a fitness center and meeting room is located south of Donaldson Way. Among other things, it would replace a house with a windmill in front of it on a 2.5 hectare property that is largely empty.
“We are very excited to bring this project to the city of American Canyon, and we think it will fit and power the surrounding businesses well,” said Al Shaghaghi on behalf of the developers.
City officials have spent months thinking about when the city could hit the saturation mark for hotels. The city has Fairfield Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, and Doubletree. A Home2 Suites is planned. The huge Watson Ranch is to get a hotel. There are several potential hotel locations.
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This is a major reason the city council raised some concerns last December about reallocating land for a Hampton Inn.
The developer of Hampton Inn submitted a marketing study by Economic and Planning Systems, Inc. a few months ago. It looked like the Hampton Inn’s competition – upper-middle-range and upper-range hotels – in southern Napa County.
“Between 2023 and 2025, hotel demand growth is likely to support another 275 additional rooms that could be satisfied by the proposed Hampton Inn or other hotel proposals,” the study said.
The planning commission wanted to ensure that every hotel built on the site was of a certain quality. It is recommended that at least a three-star Forbes rating is required. Forbes awards up to five stars.
“I think the bottom line is that I like the project. I think the project makes sense. I think it fits, ”said Commissioner Eric Altman.
Next, the city council will make a final decision on the Hampton Inn.
The planning officers also tackled the topic of petrol stations.
American Canyon has spent several months investigating a possible ban on new gas stations. The city has three along the 3.5 mile stretch of Highway 29 and a Circle K is planned to be built.
Other gas stations were mentioned. The developers have withdrawn an application for a Rotten Robbie gas station. A request from 7-Eleven to add fuel pumps is on hold pending the outcome of the ban.
Enough is enough, the planning committee seemed to agree, although it didn’t need a vote. The reason was not so much the attempt to avoid a “gasoline alley look”, but the fight against climate change.
“We really hope that American Canyon can serve as an example to other jurisdictions across the valley on how to work together towards a fossil-free future,” said Lori Stelling of Napa Climate NOW! Commissioners said.
The biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions is traffic, said Brent Cooper, director of community development for the city. The single largest source is passenger cars.
“So there is a connection here to gas stations that sell fossil fuels,” said Cooper.
But the planning commission could not work out a recommendation to the city council in one night. The delay in action should ensure that all legal details about dealing with gas stations that are ceasing to operate are correct.
Existing petrol stations would not be used in a compliant manner. The commissioners agreed that if operations were to be suspended for six months, service station use should not be resumed.
“That’s one of the problems with non-compliant use,” said Cooper. “Over time, you want to let them run out.”
However, translating the details into legal language will take more time. This includes checking exemptions for things like natural disasters and possibly estate problems.
Existing petrol stations could not be expanded under the proposed ban to dispense more petrol or other fossil fuels.
Long-time local climate activist Jim Wilson liked what he saw with the proposed new gas station ban.
“As a Napa resident, I was thrilled to see you embody this idea of decisive, short-term action,” Wilson told the planners.
No citizen raised any objections to the proposed new petrol station ban during Thursday’s session.
The American Canyon in Napa County runs around an old landfill that overlooks wetlands and is approximately 4 km long.
Barry Eberling
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You can reach Barry Eberling at 256-2253 or beberling@napanews.com.
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