Groundbreaking on the four-story Townplace Suites by Marriott Hotel could take place this summer.

The Ripon Planning Commission granted a six-month conditional use permit extension to Klassen Corp, which made the request on behalf of Venture Hospitality, Inc. at the Feb. 20 meeting.

Townplace Suites by Marriott Hotel is the 54,382-square-foot building featuring 91 guest suites, two meeting rooms, a fitness center, and an outdoor swimming pool, planned on the 2.25-acre lot at 333 E. Main St., next door to Angle Petroleum service station along northbound Highway 99.

Plans were initially approved back in February 2022.

Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart noted that the applicant worked through the conditions for the project, with most of it being off-site improvements consisting of the undergrounding of overhead utilities, partial dedication, and improvements to East Main Street.

Other work included the installation of city street lights along with landscaping / landscaping of Caltrans abatement behind the project site.

All plans have since been submitted to the Ripon Building Department, the developer, however, was in jeopardy of losing all entitlements for this project due to permit expiration limits set within the Ripon Municipal Code – under the code, all approval granted under this title shall expire two years from the date of approval unless a building permit has been issued on the project, Zuidervaart noted.

“The code does allow for up to a one-year time extension upon approval by the Planning Commission – extension requests are entirely within the purview of the reviewing body, and findings need not be made,” he added.

Since the project have cleared the plan check process, the applicant requested a six-month extension, especially with the deadline nearing.

The staff report had recommended the one-year extension for the applicant. Commissioner Dave Collins asked if there was reason not to approve a six-month extension as opposed to a one-year extension.

“The six-month extension is what the applicant had asked – the applicant can still request a second extension, if necessary,” said Zuidervaart.

Commissioner George Saljian applauded the applicant’s good faith efforts in making significant progress on meeting the project’s conditions of approval, seeing no reason not to approve the extension request.

A public hearing was held on this item with no one stepping up in favor or in opposition of the extension request.

Commissioners, in addition, held their annual reorganization session earlier in the meeting.

Saljian was appointed chairman while Jeff Veilleux was selected as vice chairman.