Archives for April 2019

Developing a growing community like Willow Park can often feel like a conundrum. You want it to have all the benefits of a big city but still keep the small-town feel and values of a local community. Within the vision of Willow Park North, Wilks Development is keeping this unique challenge in mind when it comes to expanding and developing the first hotel, a Springhill Suites by Marriott, in the area.

It’s common for people to ask “how will this benefit me?” Well, here’s how…

Event space

As it stands today, the Willow Park area doesn’t have many large event spaces for individuals or businesses to rent out space for events like weddings, corporate events or other larger-scale events.

The new Springhill Suites, scheduled to open in early 2020, will have event space available for rent. The event space can be one large ballroom or divided up into smaller rooms, and also includes a large outdoor area that is part of the rental.

We spoke with one particular business owner, Heather Burton, Parker County franchise owner of the national franchise, Just Between Friends, who is thrilled with the recent announcement:

“We host two events per year, bringing in more than 5,000 people with each event. The events attract local families as well as people who have never visited the area before. I’ve even had people tell me that they’d never been to the area before and after visiting the event and surrounding area, they decided to move their family here!

We have considered hosting a third event but haven’t been able to secure a larger local venue. We are literally bursting at the seams! As a local business owner and resident, I’m thrilled to hear that we’ll be able to rent event space at the new Springhill Suites! Not only will it allow our business to expand but it will also bring additional revenue to the entire area as our event attendees love to shop and will most definitely enjoy all the surrounding stores at The Shops at Willow Park!”

A new place for out-of-town guests to stay

Rather than having to crowd too many family members into your house during the holidays, you now have an alternative. And for good friends who live far away, you’ll be able to maximize their visits to town with a closer option for them to stay.

This is also good news for residents of Aledo and surrounding areas whose children play soccer and other sports who tend to have to travel for tournaments. Previously, there was nowhere for out-of-town participants and their families to stay. Now, with the combination of restaurants, shops and the new Springhill Suites, this area now becomes an attractive venue to host those tournaments.

Positive financial impact for the area

New jobs and increased revenue for all the surrounding businesses due to an increase in visitors to the area all equal more financial resources for local residents and the city.

Who doesn’t need to escape reality for a night or two every now and then?

Whether it’s a girls’ night staycation or a couples’ romantic getaway, you can make the most of your time together by enjoying all of the offerings in Willow Park, including a brand new hotel to stay in.

Take a look at the Springhill Suites website for a peek at the modern look and impressive amenities the new hotel promises to offer. Built with the balconies and pool overlooking the river, it promises to add to the beautifully unique setting of The Shops at Willow Park.

Published December 12, 2018, in Weatherford Democrat
Written By: Autumn Owens

The Willow Park city council unanimously approved a special use permit and site plan for the Springhill Suites by Marriott 60-foot hotel that is proposed to be constructed behind The Shops at Willow Park.

During the public hearing Tuesday, community members Jean Martin and Marcy Galle questioned the process with concerns about the permit and Interstate 20 Overlay District.

“The process staff is using on this agenda item is very confusing and is not currently covered by zoning and use ordinances in our codes,” according to Galle’s email she sent in for the public hearing. “Please understand that I am not against the hotel, but I am against the misuse of this application of the city codes.”

WP Planning Consultant Betty Chew addressed the reason of the special use permit.

“The reason for the special use or specific use request is there is ambiguity,” Chew said. “It is not clear from the map, if this crosses part of [the Interstate 20 Overlay District] or doesn’t cross part of it, so therefore there is a provision in the I-20 Overlay District for a specific use if the structure exceeds 50 feet in height. It has PD and commercial zoning.”

Kyle Wilks, president of Wilks Development, said having a hotel has been the plan from the beginning.

“The hotel is technically not in the Overlay District. This is an opportunity in Willow Park  that will not always be here,” Wilks said. “From the beginning the hotel has always been on the master plan, so it’s not something new or different, it’s always been a part of the process.”

Several other community members were in favor of the hotel.

“If we deny a Marriott, everyone else is going to see that we didn’t open a Marriott and what we’re going to get next is not what we’re going to want,” Shannon Byrd, owner of Byrd Mill in The Shops at Willow Park, said. “We are losing revenue every day because we don’t have anywhere to house people. This just opens the doors for what’s to come in this town and I’m very proud to be a part of it.”

Trinity Christian Academy Head of School Mike Skaggs is also for the hotel.

“We have families come in for a variety of events and we are constantly encouraging them to shop locally, but there is nowhere to stay locally,” Skaggs said. “I’m tired of having to encourage our people to stay on the west side of Fort Worth or in Weatherford and it’s exciting to me to have this opportunity.”

Others who spoke in favor of the hotel included Dr. Joshua Tarbay, owner of Parker County Brewing Company and Weatherford ISD board member; and developer Jim Martin.

The hotel will have a tax benefit for Willow Park and bring in revenue to the city, WP City Manager Bryan Grimes said.

Grimes said as far as the 60-foot height of the hotel that some may be concerned about, there’s a number of reasons for height restrictions but the primary reason that has been brought up is fire protection. Later in the meeting, the council did approve a new ladder truck for the fire department.

“I want to be clear about this, we didn’t buy a fire truck because a hotel was coming. We bought a fire truck because there’s only one [like it] in the county and it’s with the city of Weatherford and we’re thankful for our partnership with them, but if it’s in service and we need it, we don’t have it,” Grimes said. “We also recognize there will be more development coming in that’s going to want to exceed this 30 or 35-foot barrier and so we recognize the need of a ladder truck in the future.”

A survey done by the city that received 113 responses showed that 87 residents said they think WP needs a hotel with 26 saying they do not think WP needs a hotel; 67 residents saying they would use the hotel and 46 saying they would not use it; 42 people saying they would use it for family lodging, 26 for event space rental, 18 for overnight getaways, nine for lodging for sporting events/tournaments; and 92 said they were aware hotel guests from out of town could help fund the city’s tax needs with 17 saying they are not aware.

“The council made the decision to approve the hotel, which is going to be an important thing in our community moving forward,” Grimes said.

View story here.

Published by Weatherford Democrat on February 9, 2019

At the end of the last fiscal year, October 2017 through September 2018, the city of Willow Park made history collecting $1,001,798 in sales tax revenue and is now on track to surpass that amount this fiscal year.

According to the city, at this time last year the city had collected $360,051 in sales tax revenue and has already collected $455,891 since the start of the 2018-19 fiscal year, which began in October.

City Manager Bryan Grimes said WP is averaging roughly $91,000 each month in sales tax revenue and at this pace, should eclipse last year’s total.

“Increased sales tax numbers equate to lower property taxes for our residents but we also feel it shows economic stability and vitality for the city of Willow Park,” Grimes said. “We congratulate all the local businesses whose tireless efforts make it possible for our community to be economically strong.”

Willow Park North, an area of land behind and next to The Shops at Willow Park, is expected to bring even more businesses to the city.

Developer of Willow Park North, Wilks Development, is planning to include town homes, multi-family apartments, single-family homes, retail and office space, a hotel, an amphitheater and community events center.

“The Shops at Willow Park is probably one of the biggest economic improvements we’ve had in the city,” Grimes said at a previous city council meeting.

WP Mayor Doyle Moss said the sales tax revenue shows there is a good partnership between the city, businesses and community.

“I think this is a tribute to our businesses and the job they do in our city making people want to come to Willow Park,” Moss said. “The additional sales tax is going to help us with projects that we need to do. It will help us with our water and our roads and other issues we have, so I think we have a great group of people that do a great job with the businesses and I think we have a great relationship with people.”

For more information, visit www.willowpark.org.

Weatherford Democrat reporter Autumn Owens contributed to this report.