By Matthew Burgoyne
Staff Writer 

    The Corridor Planning Commission met with the planners of the new Holiday Inn Express to recommend some changes to be made to the future development plans.  Members of the Corridor Planning Commission approved a majority of the plans for the new Holiday Inn Express, which will be located off of Interstate 20.      The purpose of the commission was to give conceptual approval to the planners of the new building structure.
    Everything from the number of parking spots to the placement and disbursement of trees was discussed to ensure a final approval at next month’s meeting.  Kevin Hall, landscape architect with Williams and Associates, and Ranjit Banerjee, a representative with Sidlivi Hotels, will take the recommendations made by the commission and create a set of final plans.
    Though there is no rush on the final plans, they are needed as soon as possible to complete the project.  Monica Callahan, Senior Planner for Madison, needs the plans at least a week and one day prior to the next meeting. As the staff representative at the commission, Callahan will distribute the final plans to each of the commission members to be looked over for final review. At the next meeting, the commission will vote to either accept or reject the revised plans.  
    Some of the revisions or recommendations that were made by the commission deal with the aesthetics of the new structure. On the plans, the trees were distributed evenly throughout the property, but this is not necessary.
    Also, the shape and entrances to the parking lot caused some concerns for the commission because of the odd shape of the lot. The designer of the new project will have to address these problems in the final plans. 
    The members of the commission in attendance also discussed the need of a new member of the commission. Dan Jones has left his seat on the commission. Callahan suggested that the commission look for an architect or a builder for the other seat, because of the experience and knowledge they would have to offer.  The next meeting for the Corridor Planning Commission will be on June 23. Here they will vote on the final plans for the new Holiday Inn Express.