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Mashpee Zoning Minutes <br />Board of Appeals June 9, 2010 <br />could have been solved had he been able to do so. He said that the motel has very strict <br />rules and is a very quiet place, where quiet time is from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. Mr. White <br />pointed at 78 Main Street with the teenagers and their friends and pit bulls. He said that <br />he would contact the owner of 78 Main Street if any of the neighbors have problems. Mr. <br />White said that there have been no major problems in the three years he has been owner <br />of the motel. He brought up the case of one of his guests that was stabbed in Hyannis and <br />came back to the motel to dial 911. <br />Mr. White claimed that the former "investors from India that owned the property for five <br />years" let the property get run down. He said that he has spent a great deal of money <br />improving the property. <br />Mr. White said that he is not trying to run an apartment complex, but is providing <br />transitional (temporary) housing for people who are going from a near -homeless situation <br />(and sometimes in the winter — a homeless situation) into long-term affordable housing. <br />He asserted that there is no other facility that provides transitional housing for Mashpee <br />residents who want to remain in Town. Mr. White said that people are being told that <br />they have to go to Falmouth or Hyannis for transitional housing. Mr. White said that this <br />affordable housing crisis is going on around the state and that his motel serves as a <br />stepping -stone for families that have nowhere to go. He said that his intention is not to be <br />an apartment building or permanent housing for anyone. Mr. White said the <br />`compromise' is for nine of the nineteen units to be designated for `extended staying <br />guests'. He said that he believes that `extended staying guests' are legal under State law. <br />• Mr. White admitted that more than nine units are occupied during the winter with people <br />who need housing. He claimed that "during the course of the year, over 90% of our <br />guests are transitional, transient in nature." Therefore, under State law, he declared that <br />his motel is operating under a "primarily transient nature definition". He said that that his <br />motel is a very nice community and the residents help each other. Mr. White said that the <br />motel is providing "a stable environment with the neighborhood". <br />• <br />Mr. Mark Hopeman, who lives in his truck at camps during the summer and gets different <br />winter rentals, is currently residing at Nickerson State Park. He said that he lived at the <br />motel three years ago and helped with the improvements that Mr. White made to the <br />property. Mr. Hopeman admitted that "bad elements do come through" the motel, but <br />that Mr. White deals with any problems that arise and does not hesitate to make <br />individuals leave the motel. Mr. Hopeman said he was living there when pit bulls were <br />living in one of the units and Mr. White made the owners leave the motel. Mr. Hopeman <br />said the motel is, for the most part, a quiet and supportive community. <br />Mr. Nelson speculated that if the Board were to grant the nine units, he would gamble <br />that in less than two years Mr. White would be back before the Board looking for the <br />other ten units to be designated as transitional housing. Mr. White said that this was not <br />his intention and that he operates his business under a motel license. He said that he <br />believes in the summer, spring and fall most of the motel units are used for tourism. Mr. <br />Nelson asked Mr. White if he would be willing to put that in writing, to which Mr. White <br />said he would. Mr. Nelson reiterated that "at no time more than nine units would be <br />11 <br />