Plenty of North Bend residents think their city needs a modern hotel. Where to build it is another question.

An amendment has been proposed to North Bend’s zoning code to allow a hotel to be built between Interstate 90’s Exit 31 and the Forster Woods neighborhood and Rock Creek Ridge apartments.

Forster Woods residents don’t want their neighborhood bordered by a hotel, which, they say, could increase their crime rates, create traffic and public safety problems, and lower property values.

“But mostly it’s what kind of customers this will draw to the area,” Patti Brown said. She moved to Forster Woods two years ago to be closer to her grandchildren, who also live in the neighborhood.

“Everywhere on the block you’ve got child, child, child,” she said, standing in a playground next to her house and pointing to homes with young children. “This neighborhood is very prolific.”

George Wyrsch, who proposed the amendment and owns the land that would be affected, said he shares residents’ concerns.

“Guests would want a safe, quiet place to stay for the night,” he said.

Wyrsch, who owns several gas stations and service stations in the city, said he has talked with Hampton Inns about building on the site at Ribary Way and Bendigo Boulevard South.

Plans have been drawn up for a 78-room, four-story hotel that would have 99 parking spaces. The plans were on display Monday, August 10, at a sparsely-attended open house at the North Bend Railway Depot.

The hotel would cater to business travelers, tourists, and visiting family and friends, according to Wyrsch. He and his wife, Sharon, will be its owners and operators, he said.

However, several Forster Woods residents said they are very skeptical of Wyrsch’s claims.

North Bend is one of a handful of communities between Seattle and Coeur d’Alene directly on I-90 without a hotel, according to Gregg Dohrn, a community planning consultant working with Wyrsch.

The proposed hotel, which would not have a restaurant, would draw people to the city and its downtown, said Dohrn.

“We will be losing potential business without a hotel,” North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing said.

Forster Woods residents agree the city needs a hotel, but say it should be built on the other side of I-90. Several residents said the city is ignoring their interests.

“Mr. Wyrsch has the city council and the mayor in his hand, saying ‘this is what I want to do’,” said Dan Ahner, president of the Forster Woods Homeowners Association.

Hearing said he supports building a hotel on the property, but denied any collusion between himself and Wyrsch.

“There might be better places for a hotel but there is nobody clammering to put a hotel on those other places,” he said.

While no other hotel has been proposed in North Bend, hotels could be going up in other places in Snoqualmie Valley.

The city of Snoqualmie has talked to developers about building hotels in two locations on Snoqualmie Ridge.

One possible hotel would be close to I-90 and target a similar market to Wyrsch’s proposed hotel. The other would be a boutique hotel with retail located closer to the Ridge’s center.

Quadrant Homes has expressed interest in the hotel closer to I-90, according to Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson.

The city is also in negotiations with Salish Lodge, which is owned by the Muckleshoot Tribe, about expanding its facilites.

The Snoqualmie Tribe is also exploring building a hotel at the Snoqualmie Casino, which is located on its reservation.

Wyrsch isn’t worried about competition, though.

The Salish Lodge and a hotel at the casino would be destination hotels, and there is enough demand from travelers and visitors to support several hotels in the Valley, even two in North Bend, he said.

“We’re just touching the market demand for many services in this town,” he said.

However, no market studies have been performed or made public.

Wyrsch’s proposed amendment will be reviewed by at least two committees before North Bend’s City Council votes on it. The city’s Economic Development Committee will review it on Thursday, Aug. 20, and there will be a public hearing held by the Planning Commission on Thursday, Aug. 27. The City Council will likely vote on the amendment in October.

Wyrsch has also been trying for over two years to secure permits for an 8,000 square foot office building in downtown North Bend.