A major mixed use development is one step closer to receiving final approval from the City of Greenville.
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Monday to recommend approval of zoning changes for the Greenville Towne Center project to the City Council.
Commission Chairman George Gregg said, prior to seeing a presentation from developers during Monday’s meeting, that he had concerns about the center.
“I think I have been convinced that this is going to be a quality project,” Gregg said.
The Commission did recommend on minor change to the plans for the center, which would be built along the Interstate 30 frontage road in Greenville, concerning the potential for limited service hotels to be a part of the project.
Commission member Tim Stainback asked whether any hotels which would be built as part of the center would be subject to additional regulations passed in 2011, in response to what was perceived at that time to be a glut of such properties in Greenville.
“I talked to one of the hotel guys and he says they are already having troubles,” Stainback said. “I don’t see why we would want to reverse that.”
Gerald E. Luecke with Hodges and Asssociates, the architects of the project, said the developers have not entered into any negotiations with any specific hotel companies, but said they would be willing to comply with any stipulations concerning hotels which would be included as part of the planned development agreement.
Commission member Ben Collins moved that any such hotels would have to appear before the Commission and Council and obtain a conditional use permit, before being allowed to build inside the Greenville Towne Center, which is also expected to include retail and commercial businesses, private event/meeting halls and even multi-family tracts.
Greenville Board of Development President and CEO Greg Sims said the planning for the project has been under way for years and credited Scott Steenson with III:I Emerging Market Partners in Plano with sticking with concept through the prolonged economic recession. Sims said the center would be among the finest developments in the area.