Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Rezoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission approves rezoning for proposed Home2Suites hotel at 250 Saint Francis Street
Summary
The Mobile City Planning Commission voted Aug. 21 to rezone 250 Saint Francis Street from T-5.1 to T-5.2 to allow construction of a roughly 140-room branded Home2Suites hotel.
The Mobile City Planning Commission voted Aug. 21 to rezone 250 Saint Francis Street from T-5.1 to T-5.2 to allow construction of a roughly 140-room branded Home2Suites hotel.
The applicant, represented by Jay Watkins of Maynard Nexon, said the rezoning is intended to permit additional height and rooms. "This is intended to be branded and to be more of an extended stay type product," Watkins said, describing the request as consistent with the comprehensive plan and compatible with surrounding development.
David Clark, president and CEO of Visit Mobile and a nearby resident, said the Home2Suites brand and the additional rooms will help the city capture growing convention, cruise and leisure demand. "This is a really great project," Clark said, noting recent and planned regional investments that he said will increase visitor volume.
Jeremy Milling of Milling Commercial Realty, a downtown property owner who attended the neighborhood meeting, said he supported the rezoning but asked the developer to devote careful attention to the building's aesthetic so it fits the downtown form-based code. "There is a need for this product," Milling said, "but it is extremely important to put the effort into making it fit within the fabric and the aesthetic of downtown."
Watkins and staff noted that renderings provided at the neighborhood meeting were intended to show scale and not final appearance. The applicant also said the project would supply on-site parking and could use nearby public parking decks.
After discussion, the commission approved staff recommendations, adopting the listed findings of fact. The motion passed with the ayes called by the chair.
Why it matters: Commissioners and Visit Mobile leadership described the rezoning as responsive to increased visitor demand driven by a new airport, civic improvements and expanding local attractions. The zoning change allows the additional height that the applicant said is required for the hotel product being proposed.
What's next: The rezoning approval allows the applicant to proceed to design and to follow the Downtown Development District (DDD) and applicable ARB (architectural review) processes for façade and site design prior to building permits.
