The City Council took another step toward commercial development along the Interstate Highway 80 corridor when it approved a zoning change Tuesday that allows construction of two hotels and a restaurant north of the highway.
With the change to commercial zoning, construction of a Cracker Barrel restaurant east of Larkin Avenue will start in the spring, said City Manager John Mezera. Construction of a Courtyard by Marriott and a Budgetel Inn will begin later next year.
Mezera said the project would increase the number of hotels to seven near the Larkin Avenue interchange on the city’s southwest side. The $10 million project is expected to generate $6 million to $8 million in annual sales revenue and could create as many as 250 permanent jobs, Mezera said.
