The west side of Fayetteville could soon be getting another hotel that would help serve the Piedmont Fayette Hospital and Pinewood Studios area.

On Oct. 15, the Fayetteville City Council heard a proposal from Kamlesh Patel about building a Holiday Inn Express at 1231 West Ga. Highway 54 that is just east of the hospital.

Patel represents the IHG hotel group and IHG said the current Holiday Inn Express located in downtown Fayetteville will be leaving the IHG system April 15, 2017.

“Therefore, we have been granted to construct a new Holiday Inn Express to replace that one with a brand new one,” IHG said.

The new hotel will feature between 87-93 rooms, and there will also be an upscale restaurant located on the site, according to the application.

The hotel fronts Hwy. 54 and is meant to add a more urban feel to the environment, according to Patel. Once the new hotel is completed, the current downtown hotel would no longer be branded a Holiday Inn Express.

Councilman Jim Williams asked if more landscaping could be planted near the highway, but Director of Community Development Brian Wismer explained all those issues would be addressed during preliminary plat discussions. Thursday’s discussion was simply a first read of the rezoning request, he added.

The first read was approved 4-0. Councilman Ed Johnson — a candidate for mayor in the Nov. 3 election — was not at Thursday’s meeting.