By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA–A 46-page detailed feasibility study was made public today at the Monday, Jan. 12 Shelby County Commission meeting that included recommendations for sizing and market position for the proposed Oak Mountain State Park Hotel and Conference Center.

According to the study, a recommendation of 175 guest rooms and approximately 15,000-20,000 square feet of meeting space and a 10,000 square-foot ballroom was made.

“We envision the Project will be designed with a ‘lodge feel’ in mind, blending in with the natural surroundings and topography,” the report states.

The report also states that, “Having a large ballroom will allow the Hotel to handle simultaneous weddings/events as well as being one of the few ballrooms capable of handling 500 plus persons under one roof.”

Key Advisors, Inc. and Bleakly Advisory Group prepared the study for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Shelby County Commission, City of Pelham and the Shelby County Economic & Industrial Development Authority.

The Jan. 17 date for public comment has now been extended according to Shelby County Manager Alex Dudchock.

“We are also going to be extending our master planning survey date until the last day of February,” said Dudchock. “We did have Jan. 17 as the comment time for the master planning initiative. We feel as though it should be extended with us now being able to release this.”

The estimated cost of the project is $39 million but Dudchock added that this number is “Very premature.”