Jan. 18, 2012--Yet another hotel likely will join the myriad near the Scharbauer Sports Complex.

The Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday approved a zone change that would allow for a Hilton Garden Inn near the northwest corner of North Loop 250 and Deauville Boulevard. The City Council will have to give final approval before the project can move ahead.

The request is for a 2.5-story Hilton Garden Inn that would be constructed adjacent to the TownePlace Suites currently under construction in that area, said Eric West, engineer with Parkhill, Smith and Cooper.

Residence Inn, Courtyard by Marriott and Sleep Inn & Suites already have locations near Scharbauer Sports Complex. A SpringHill Suites, which is a Marriott-owned hotel, also was given approval for construction in the fall of 2011.

West said the Hilton Garden Inn would be a 157-unit hotel and span just more than 36,000 square feet.

In addition to hotel rooms, the building would include a convention center area that would have meeting/ballrooms, West said.

Hotels near the sports complex have seen an increase in business this year, according to receipts submitted to the state comptroller's office. Managers said it's not uncommon for rooms to be booked to capacity, particularly during the week.

The Residence Inn reported $442,200 in receipts for October 2011, the most recent numbers available, up from $310,517 in October of 2010. The Sleep Inn saw an increase of about $30,000 in receipts, with $250,333.89 reported in October.

If given the final nod by the council, West said the Hilton Garden Inn would break ground in the spring and likely take about 12 months to complete.

In other business:

- An apartment complex that's being planned for near Interstate 20 and Terrell Street received the site plan review approval it needed by the Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday.

The 96-unit complex that will be called "Playa Del Pueblo" is being funded, in part, by a Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs grant. The Midland Community Development Corp. applied for the grant to help fill the need for affordable housing.

The complex will be open to families falling below 60 percent of the area's median family income. MCDC is working with San Antonio-based NRP Group on the project.

In addition to the 96 apartment units, the complex also will include a pool and clubhouse. It will be surrounded by a 6-foot solid fence.

- A zone change was approved that would allow for a storage facility on the east side of South Midland Drive, just north of Wall Street.

- The commission deferred a request for a specific use permit brought forward by Bryan Allen of Tobacco Alley, which is located on Midkiff Road.

City staff told the commission it still is unclear with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission on whether a specific use permit is needed for Allen's request. If it is not, he could move forward without returning to the commission.

Allen said they are wanting to add closed-container drink sales to the offerings at Tobacco Alley. Customers would be able to drive up and order mixed drinks with an alcoholic content of 17 percent or less. Alcohol would not be served for on-premise consumption. Allen said drinks sold would be closed more securely than a can of beer like those customers can buy at the nearby convenience store.

The commission initially voted on the request, but after a 4-4 tie that city staff said had to be broken, agreed to table the issue until the city learns whether the permit would be necessary under the TABC's rule.

Kathleen Thurber can be reached at [email protected].

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