A plan to add a Drury hotel in Brentwood gained preliminary approval last week.

The Brentwood Redevelopment Corporation, a public body charged with advising the city about Drury's potential development, voted unanimously to blight the location at the corner of Brentwood Boulevard and Eager Road.

State statutes define blighted areas as those that are an economic or social liability, resulting from inadequate design, crime and other factors.

The designation paves the way for future tax breaks for Drury.

Drury has requested $5.7 million in public funding to help pay for the development. More details about that request are available in a previous Patch article.

Sheri Bilderback, a member of the committee, called the measure a great investment for the future.

“I just feel really good about it,” said Bilderback before the vote. “It’s a high quality development. I can’t imagine anything better.”

What's next?

The Brentwood Board of Aldermen will make the final decision on whether the property should gain a blighted designation.

Drury also will submit a site plan to the Brentwood Planning and Zoning Commission. If approved, the plan will be sent to the aldermen for final approval.

The board will likely make a decision on both the blighting and site plan by the end of March, committee chair John Geppert said. A public comment session would be held before the final vote.