Manatee County Planning Commission recommends approval for Hilton on U.S. 41
BRADENTON -- Manatee County is one step closer to another hotel at U.S. 41 and University Parkway.
On Thursday morning, the Manatee County Planning Commission recommended approval for a preliminary site plan for a Hilton hotel.
The four-story 110-room Home2Suites Hilton would be built on about 2.47 acres.
The 59,446-square-foot project would bring 30 permanent jobs, said Karen Stewart, economic development program manager for Manatee County.
Previous commissions approved development on the site, in the urban infill redevelopment area, but those approvals have since expired.
Laurie Galle, who lives just north of the potential Home2Suites, spoke at the planning commission meeting in support of the project. She believes a large, corporate-brand hotel will bring a level of excellence to the area she feels is currently missing.
"Many tourists who stay on the island will come into town and stay near the airport if they've got an early flight," Galle said.
Galle, who has lived in that area for 22 years, said there are some disreputable motels in the area that are not tourist friendly. She said the problems include violence and "ladies of the night."
"If they have a knife fight or a gun fight, it gives a bad impression of our town." Galle said.
She also mentioned the benefit of a large hotel for the 2017 world rowing championships and for guests attending special events at the Crosley Estate. Galle hopes to see continued "urban core" development along that particular corridor of U.S. 41, including structures capable of housing residents above businesses.
Stewart hopes the project will entice other developers to see the potential in Manatee County's Southwest tax
increment financing, an area the county is focused on improving with infrastructure and development.
"It's going to be a great opportunity for the airport, for the rowing championships held in 2017 and also for other businesses and developers to see that the corridor is a good place to develop," Stewart said. "And that there are opportunities on the corridor and the future of the corridor is looking bright with interest in development in the south county right now."
The planning commission also recommended approval for two residential projects:
A rezone to planned development residential and a preliminary site plan for the Indigo Subdivision, adding 137 lots for a total of 590 lots for single family detached and semi-detached residences and a preliminary site plan for a 158-unit residential project on 43.74 acres south of State Road 70 East.
Janelle O'Dea, business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095 or follow her on Twitter @jayohday.
This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 11:59 PM with the headline "Manatee County Planning Commission recommends approval for Hilton on U.S. 41 ."