The owner of West Seattle's only existing motel plans to renovate its 50 guest rooms and then seek a neighborhood zoning change from the city to allow taller buildings so that 50 additional rooms could be built on the upper floors.

Motel owner Elaine Rho also is considering adding a restaurant to the planned development.

Rho will have to apply to the city for a change in the neighborhood's zoning designation to allow structures taller than the current 65-foot height limit around the motel. The area north of Southwest Alaska Street between 35th and 37th avenues is zoned C1-65, meaning commercial buildings are allowed but buildings can be no higher than 65 feet.

The zoning designation changes south of Alaska Street to a zone called "neighborhood commercial-3" and a 40-foot height limit.

Rho severed the motel's ties to Travelodge and changed its name because she was getting few reservations from the nationwide lodging chain. The motel had been paying Travelodge 10 percent of its take to affiliate with the national company, Rho said.

The motel's new name is Seattle West Inn & Suites.

Most of the motel's guests stay there because they particularly want to be in West Seattle, she said. Many are out-of-towners visiting for family reunions, weddings and other get-togethers in West Seattle.

Other frequent guests at the motel are employed in the maritime industry and have business on Harbor Island, she said.

Rho is in the process of hiring an architect to design the motel expansion. She is also exploring financing for the project. However geological testing of the soils on the motel property has been completed, she added.

Tim St. Clair can be reached at 932-0300 or timstc@robinsonnews.com