Wichita city council members are expected to consider a lease agreement at their next regular meeting for a project to build a new hotel at Eisenhower National Airport.

The agreement was on the council agenda this week, but changes were made and Mayor Jeff Longwell said time was needed to look over the contract and make sure the community can understand what the project involves.    The council delayed action until their July 2nd meeting.

The city’s director of airports, Victor White, said the size of the parcel of land has been reduced by almost half and other changes have been made to the terms of the lease agreement.   A development group plans to build the hotel on a 264,000 square-foot parcel, with construction beginning as soon as October or as late as December.  The FAA will need to provide air space clearance for the project.

White said the Doubletree by Hilton Wichita Airport had first right of refusal on the property, which is just north of the Hampton Inn and Suites.   Doubletree did not exercise that right so city staff went into negotiations with the developer.