The owners of Econo Lodge (formerly Motel 6) at 9822 Huff N Puff in Lakeland appeared in Lakeland Municipal Court today (3.20.19) over three code violations.
Judge Taylor Cates, Lakeland municipal judge, presided over the case of Quantum Hotels LLC and owners Diptesh Patel and Hinesh Patel.
The violations related to façade improvements, landscaping and lighting. Presenting information to the Judge were John Highsmith, Lakeland code enforcement officer, and Forrest Owens, city planning director.
In a November 15, 2018 memorandum from the Lakeland Design Review Commission (DRC), the motel owners were given a Feb. 1, 2019 date to improve landscaping and comply with Lakeland regulations on signage and update or construct the signs. All façade and lighting improvements were to be installed and/or completed by April 1, 2019.
The case has been re-set to 8:30 a.m. April 17th with the following requirements to be met, according to Judge Cates:
- Make meaningful progress on items from a Nov. 15 memorandum.
- Begin the process for new signage on the property.
- Show more “good” than “bad” on the exterior painting.
- Work through the lighting issues.
Judge Cates said if the owners are not proactive, they are at risk of assessed fines of $50 a day potentially multiplied by 30 to 60 days.
Motel 6, which rebranded itself in June 2018 as Econo Lodge, part of the Choice Hotel chain, made renovations which were not in compliance with DRC guidelines.
The owner has come before the Lakeland Municipal Planning Commission/Design Review Commission (MPC/DRC) for code violations which previously took them to Shelby County Environmental Court.
In 2017, the owner started painting the building white without prior review and approval by the DRC. The property was cited in August 2017 and on Jan. 18, 2018.
The 1973 property has been in Lakeland longer than there has been a Lakeland, which incorporated in 1977.
Mr. Highsmith said what the City wants to see is progress. He said the case has fallen through the cracks with changes in City staff over the last year. But the motel has been given numerous warnings from his office and the DRC.
Lakeland court meets the third Wednesday of each month if there are cases pending.
… Photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents
