Taylor’s next large chain hotel could break ground this year after the Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a set of variances to the land development code at its meeting this past week, officials said.
The design changes for the proposed Hampton Inn & Suites that got the nod Tuesday will help speed up the project, according to Roshan Patel with Triangle Engineering, representing developer Taylor Star LLC.
The hotel development at 140 N.W. Carlos G. Parker Blvd. will join Home2 Suites and Holiday Inn Express & Suites in the growing area between the Taylor Regional Park and Sports Complex and H-E-B.
The 2.5-acre, four-story project will have 113 rooms and 113 parking spaces.
The site is zoned as P5, a designation which allows hotels but requires developments to have all parking in the rear of the building.
The board, however, approved parking on all sides of the site to accommodate the 113 spots.
Development Services Director Martin Griggs said the developer asked for a variance because the shape of the building along with a 26-foot-wide fire lane and access easement at the front would not allow the structure to sit far enough forward to allow parking in the rear.
The board also approved reducing the facade build-out from 80% of the lot frontage to 63%. Due to the lot’s configuration, the larger facade as required by local rules would have eliminated the drive aisles, access point and fire lane.
The board’s variance ruling does not have to go before City Council for approval, so Patel said Triangle Engineering will be able to move quickly to finalize plans.
