Kent State Hotel Clears Last Public Hurdle

Developers of the are just about ready to pull building permits and start construction on the 95-room hotel and 300-seat banquet facility.

The Kent Board of Zoning Appeals granted a variance to the project Monday night that represented the final public hurdle before construction can start on the project.

The variance allows the developer, Columbus-based hotelier The Pizzuti Companies, to build the hotel without having to design it so the building fronts onto Haymaker Parkway. Instead, the building's main entrances will face Erie and South DePeyster streets.

Kent Board of Zoning Appeals member Paul Sellman said the hotel site design represents a perfect example as to why the board has the ability to grant a variance for projects.

"I think the hardship is you have three street sides basically," Sellman said.

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