Des Plaines gives early approval for new hotel

Des Plaines aldermen gave preliminary approval to plans for a new hotel at the intersection of Touhy Avenue and Mannheim Road.

The proposed five-story Fairfield Inn & Suites with 136 rooms will be located by the LongHorn Steakhouse and Wyndham hotel - formerly the Radisson Hotel - at 1450 E. Touhy Ave.

Although the proposal still needs final approval, aldermen plan to let the developer provide 127 fewer parking spaces than would normally be required of a hotel this size.

A study showed the parking lot shared by the two hotels and restaurant would not be full during peak hours because many customers use shuttle service to nearby O'Hare International Airport.

The operator plans to implement a paid parking system to restrict parking by drivers who aren't customers.