Simsbury OKs New Hotel Project On Hopmeadow Street

SIMSBURY, CT — Local land-use officials have greenlighted a proposal for a developer to build a 120-unit Holiday Inn Express hotel in Simsbury that will primarily serve a world-class skating center nearby.

The Simsbury Zoning Commission unanimously approved last month a site plan application for Riverbend Development LLC, which plans to sell its 54-acre parcel to another company planning to build the hotel.

According to documents submitted to the town, Bloomfield-based River Bend has agreed to sell its property to the W. Development Co. LLC (Adam Westhaver).

It is Westhaver who plans to build the Holiday Inn Express, according to documents.

The entire 54.26-acre site covers 15 acres zoned for business, with 39 acres zoned for industrial, with a hotel being an approved use of the property.

According to documents, the site will have 142 total parking spaces.

It is hoped the hotel will be used to support skating activities at the nearby International Skating Center of Connecticut, a world-class figure skating/hockey training center.

"The proposed facility will provide conveniently located hotel space near the skating center," reads a project narrative submitted to the zoning board. "The hotel will serve breakfast, but not include a restaurant or a conference center."

Simsbury Planning Director George McGregor told the zoning board Oct. 20 that the town's design review board and inland/wetlands board both approved and supported the plan.

Representatives of the applicant then provided a technical overview of the project, with zoning board members easily approving the site plan 6-0.

Construction is expected to start in 2026, with a likely 2027 or 2028 opening of the hotel.

"I think this is a great plan and it is great for the town," said Simsbury Zoning Commission Vice Chairman Tony Braz.

For the minutes of the Oct. 20 Simsbury Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.

For all documents submitted concerning the 1503 Hopmeadow St. hotel project, click on this link.