City OKs Hampton Inn & Suites on Pharrs Road

The Snellville City Council unanimously approved a five-story, 102room Hampton Inn & Suites. The 64,400-square-foot building, with 102 parking spaces, will be built in Park Place Snellville, a new development at the corner of Pharrs Road and Scenic Highway which recently saw the grand opening of Cracker Barrel, Freddie’s, Zaxby’s and Aspen Dental. An Outback Steakhouse is also planned for the development.

As part of the agreement to change zoning from residential housing to commercial development, the developer agreed to pay the city $215,500 for the city’s tree bank fund among other conditions.

There had been concerns the hotel would cause traffic issues at this busy intersection, but developers convinced council members that daily trips would be reduced by nearly two thirds from what was previously approved for a 12,000-square-foot restaurant.

“There is a need in the city for a quality limited-service hotel in the Scenic Highway Commercial Corridor as there are very few options for travelers to utilize while staying in the area,” said Planning and Development Director Jason Thompson. “Eastside Medical Center, adjacent restaurants, retail businesses and neighboring residents could all benefit from having a nice Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton within the city.”

Upcoming

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “State Fair” by Agape Players. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. $17 to $32. Infinite Energy Theater, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. AgapePlayers.org.

Chipper Jones Book Signing by the Gwinnett County Public Library. 5-6:30 p.m. April 8. $27 signing line ticket, including a copy of the book. Coolray Field, 2500 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville. The retired Atlanta Braves player will sign copies of his book “Ballplayer.” Books must be purchased through Eagle Eye Book Shop at the store or through their website on Tuesday. Tickets to the Gwinnett Braves game, also on April 8, are required. No memorabilia. Photos are allowed from the signing line only. 770-978-5154, EagleEyeBooks.com.