(Editor’s Note: Owners of the Econo Lodge were in Lakeland Municipal Court May 15th on code violations and Diptesh Patel said A2H was working on a landscaping plan for his property, but he had not received it. A representative from A2H, Jim Atkinson, a senior planner, said there is no contract with the Econo Lodge. “A2H does not have an active contract with Econo Lodge, and is not currently working on any plans for Econo Lodge. In addition, there has not been any discussion regarding future contracts to perform design work for Econo Lodge,” said Mr. Atkinson.)
The Econo Lodge in Lakeland didn’t fare too well in Lakeland Municipal Court this morning (5.15.19).
Judge Taylor Cates imposed a conditional judgment on the owners for failing to comply with required exterior painting and landscaping of the motel property at 9822 Huff N Puff Rd.
The 8:30 a.m. court started 34 minutes late because of tardiness of the defendants. Judge Cates admonished the defendants that everyone’s time is valuable and encouraged them to be on time for the next court date so everyone will be in a better frame of mind.
With City Planner Forrest Owens and Code Enforcement Officer John Highsmith present, Judge Cates asked Hinesh Patel and Diptesh Patel the status of the landscaping plan and painting for the building as well as lighting and permanent signs.
Mr. Diptesh Patel said A2H was working on a plan but he didn’t have it yet. He then asked Mr. Owens if he (Mr. Owens) had contacted A2H on behalf of the motel. The Judge said it’s not Mr. Owen’s job to contact A2H. Judge Cates then explained that it isn’t about just getting a plan with nice drawings of plants and flowers. It is about getting a plan approved by the City. He added, “We’re further away from where we need to be.”
Mr. Owens noted there was mention at the April court session about some type of subdividing on the property which might impact a landscape plan. The Judge replied the subdivision issue is just a red herring.
About the exterior paint, Mr. Diptesh Patel said the building was finished and door and frame work had been started.
Mr. Highsmith also told the defendants they could be cited going forward for tall grass and standing water on their gravel lot across the street from the motel property. Judge Cates said those two issues had not been brought formally to the court, but he thanked Mr. Highsmith for bringing them to his attention.
The Judge received a report on a photometric light plan and permanent sign replacement at the beginning of the session, noting progress was being made on those two items, but that proceeding on lighting changes without furnishing a photometric study would be at their peril if the changes did not meet City requirements.
In closing the court session, Judge Cates said if he were grading the progress of certain elements, some would get a fairly passing grade and some not at all.
He asked Mr. Highsmith the date of the initial letter to the men which was Feb. 27, 2019. He imposed a conditional judgment of $50 per day until the owners come into compliance. He noted that 52 days have already passed amounting to $2,600 and that the judgment could end up being significantly more.
He re-set their court date to July 17 and said at that point, he will decide if the judgment goes final. Judge Cates said he hopes on July 17, all can be congratulated for a job well done.
Background
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.
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.
… Photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents
