A $1,000 fine was levied against the Econo Lodge in Lakeland Municipal Court Wednesday (7.31.19) for non-compliance of a landscape plan for the property at 9822 Huff N Puff Rd.
Lakeland Municipal Judge Taylor A. Cates cited Hinesh Patel and Diptesh Patel $50 a day for 20 days along with court costs of $100, payable at their next court date of Sept. 24th.
During their last court date May 15th, the Judge imposed the conditional judgement for failing to comply with required exterior painting and landscaping of the motel property.
In court Wednesday, the Judge reminded the men they were given a letter Feb. 22nd concerning work to be done on the property with the possibility of a $50 per day fine being levied.
Judge Cates said 150 days (from Feb. 22nd) is a considerable number and he felt there had been some progress on the painting as well as a photometric light plan. Another issue at the property was obtaining and installing permanent signage. The men expect the permanent Econo Lodge signs to be installed in a couple of weeks.
Of the landscaping matter, the Patels explained to the Judge an estimate to complete the landscaping project is $80,000 and they don’t have that money in their budget. They said their sales are only $250,000.
Judge Cates said he was sympathetic to their budget and expenses but the landscape plan had been on the table since May 15th and approved by the Lakeland Design Review Commission (DRC). The Judge suggested the men could seek an alternative process from DRC but in the meantime, he was assessing the $1,000 fine. He added the clock is starting again with another conditional judgment to the September court date.
Background
- In a November 15, 2018 memorandum from the 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.
- 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
Two other court cases Wednesday
- Gary Taylor was summoned to court because of issues with his rental property at 9581 Oak Point Cove. His violations included an uncovered in-ground pool with stagnant water and debris; a fence in disrepair; and a drain pipe discharging water onto a neighbor’s property. The Judge ordered him to remediate the pool and fence and develop a resolution to the drainage issue by the next court date, Aug. 21st.
Gary Taylor in Lakeland Court - Rickey Roberts came before the Court because of a metal basketball stanchion encased in concrete within a City of Lakeland right-of-way/utility easement at his home, 9580 Elm Point Cove. Roberts said the pole had been there 13 years and believed it was” grandfathered ” and not subject to current ordinances. He said he added the basketball goal for his special needs son. Code Enforcement Officer John Highsmith suggested a temporary goal but Mr. Roberts said there is no other level ground on his property. He told the Judge the pole has been removed. He added some concerns he has about No Parking signs on his street. The Judge told him that would be a matter for the City Engineer. The Judge reset the case to Aug. 21st but said Mr. Roberts does not have to return if the goal, in fact, has been removed.
Ricky Roberts, left, in Court
… Photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents
