New hotel, restaurants planned for Carmel Valley Road corner

Another hotel and more restaurants are now being planned for the last vacant commercial lots off Carmel Valley Road and Valley Centre Drive beside the Hampton Inn and the Tio Leo’s restaurant. Developer Hunter Oliver told the Carmel Valley Community Planning Board at the Jan. 22 meeting that he and his father, Fred, plan to build a 112-suite hotel, three new restaurants and 82,000 square feet of office space.

The Olivers, who also built the neighboring Residence Inn, consider the area “the trophy corner” for their family.

Last March, Fred Oliver told the board their initial plans for a 125-room hotel, two restaurants and an urgent care facility. Hunter Oliver said that Scripps then decided it did not want to do an urgent care facility.

Oliver said he and his dad were disappointed and worked to revamp their plans.

Their new plan involves a six-story office building with fine dining on the bottom, the six-story hotel and a below-grade parking garage.

Oliver said they have heard from hotel guests that dining options are lacking in the Southern part of Carmel Valley, so they hope the three new restaurants will fill that void. He said they are aiming for upscale fast casual dining, not necessarily chain restaurants.

The hotel will be 50 percent double queen rooms to accommodate families, sports teams and business travelers. Oliver said they built the Residence Inn with all king beds and turn away many business clients who are in town for training at local corporations. The Olivers always wish they had queen bed options there.

A central piazza will also offer a gathering place for visitors.

As there is a 60-foot height limit in the zone, the Olivers will be requesting a change in the limit to allow them to build to 95 feet. Oliver said there are precedents, as the neighboring Marriott was granted a 12-story hotel and eight-story office building.

The Olivers plan to return to the board with details as they move through the city’s review process.