Manatee County commissioners approved a general development plan to add two limited‑service hotels adjacent to the Ellington Premium Outlet Mall and voted to approve several smaller rezones, describing the projects as compatible infill that would serve growing nearby neighborhoods.

Noble Investment Group described plans for a 124‑room Live Smart by Hilton and a 124‑room WoodSpring Suites on roughly 68.8 acres at the I‑75/US‑301 interchange, placing the hotels in existing outlet-mall parking to avoid greenfield development. "By developing lodging in this already commercialized retail zone, this avoids pushing hotel development into greenfield or more environmentally sensitive areas," Owen Berry of Noble said.

Traffic consultants presented a trip-generation comparison showing a net reduction of about 140 weekday peak trips compared with entitlements for the mall’s previously unbuilt phase. Project traffic analyses showed adjacent links operating at acceptable levels of service under current conditions and staff said signalization and CIP work on nearby intersections are planned and funded.

Commissioners who supported the approvals noted the infill nature of the hotels and the need for more room inventory to host tournaments and conventions; supporters also said the projects would generate transient lodging tax and sales tax proceeds with limited demands on schools or other county services. Staff recommended approval for the hotels and for Brightwork (a small straight rezone near Manatee Avenue and 38th Street West) and for the Murphy Commercial rezone (a proffered general-commercial-limited request on SR 64 with a reduced FAR and enhanced buffers). Each approval included stipulated conditions focused on setbacks, proffered use lists and traffic/stormwater analyses at site‑plan stage.

The board also set follow-up reviews and standard requirements for final site plan approvals, stormwater designs and access permits with FDOT as the projects move into detailed engineering and permitting.