Municipal Judge Taylor A. Cates ruled on three cases in court this morning (9.24.19) including the continuing case of the Econo Lodge at 9622 Huff N Puff.
He also ruled on an RV which has been parked in a residential driveway for months and a noise complaint in a Lakeland neighborhood.
Econo Lodge
During the morning session at City Hall, Judge Cates ruled that Patel Pramudhbhai must have the DRC (Design Review Commission) approve a revised landscape plan before the next court date of Oct. 24th. The Judge issued a conditional judgment of $50 a day for 50 days to be levied as a final judgement if the revised landscape plan is not received and approved by the DRC. The revised plan was due to the City Aug. 16th.
Representing the Econo Lodge was Diptesh Patel. He said he was prepared to pay a $1,000 fine and court costs levied in July and payable today to the Court. Diptesh said Hinesh Patel, who has the paperwork related to the landscape plan, has been in Africa since Aug. 22nd and won’t return until Oct. 8th.
The Judge said to Diptesh he didn’t see a technological reason why the plan can’t be submitted to the City. He then asked City Planner Forrest Owens if the revised plan is received by Oct. 8th, would there be time to get the paperwork reviewed and to the DRC before their meeting Oct. 17th? Mr. Owens said he thought he could get the paperwork completed.
The Econo Lodge, rebranded from Motel 6 in June 2018, has been in and out of court in Lakeland and Shelby County for years with code violations including painting, signage, exterior lighting and landscaping. The property was built in 1973 before Lakeland was incorporated in 1977.
RV code violation
Thomas Taylor was summoned to court for parking an RV in his driveway at 9742 Green Spruce Drive since the beginning of summer, according to John Highsmith, code enforcement for Lakeland. City code prohibits parking such vehicles on residential premises.
Mr. Taylor explained his mother-in-law is living in the trailer while she undergoes dialysis. He said the RV is better suited to her medical and limited mobility needs than having her inside his Lakeland house.
Judge Cates gave Mr. Taylor until the next court date of Oct. 24th to resolve the situation and remove the RV. “If it can’t be sorted by then, there will be consequences,” said Judge Cates, indicating there would be fines for Mr. Taylor.
Loud and disturbing noises
Mabel Daugherty of 9623 Whispering Woods Cove was cited because of complaints that her yard maintenance person is cutting grass at 6:30 in the morning. Mr. Highsmith said he talked with Mrs. Daugherty’s daughter who said neighbors have agreed the grass–cutting can start at 7 a.m. Mrs. Daugherty explained her yard person is 70-years-old and likes to start early before temps reach their peaks on hot summer days. The Judge said he wanted to make sure he was clear that the yard maintenance could not start until 7 a.m. or there would be another court summons. He added that 30 minutes would not make much difference in the morning temperatures.
… Photo by Lakeland Currents
