A rendering of a planned expansion of the Eldridge Hotel in the 700 block of Massachusetts.

Lawrence city commissioners approved a tax break for a proposed expansion of The Eldridge Hotel, but the incentive is smaller than once proposed.

Commissioners on a 3-1 vote approved an 85 percent, 15-year tax rebate for the proposed Eldridge expansion. Previously, commissioners had given tentative approval to a 95 percent, 15-year tax rebate.

At their Tuesday evening meeting, though, some commissioners changed their positions on the project. Commissioner Terry Riordan previously had supported the 95 percent, 15-year rebate, but on Tuesday he said he now was more comfortable with an 85 percent, 10-year rebate. Riordan, who is in the middle of a re-election campaign, voted against the proposal because his fellow commissioners said they could not support reducing the term of the tax rebate to 10 years.

Mayor Mike Amyx previously had voted against the tax abatement, but agreed to vote for it at the lesser level. Commissioner Bob Schumm, who also is in a re-election campaign, abstained because he owns property near the Eldridge.

As part of the tax rebate, which was offered through the Neighborhood Revitalization Act, commissioners agreed to a performance agreement that will give the city some ability to review whether to revoke or reduce the property tax rebate if the project has an excessive number of alcohol violations in the future. The Eldridge expansion is expected to include a new bar and restaurant.

In other news, commissioners:

• Approved the creation of a a new pedestrian-bicycle task force. The task force, among other items, will look at how the city could create a permanent stream of annual funding to tackle pedestrian and bicycle issues.

• Approved a package of incentives for the Peaslee Technical Training Center. The project near 31st and Haskell sought assistance to help with renovation costs to get the school open later this year.