06/09/2010 ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Minutes

Home Browse Search

• • • Mashpee Zoning Minutes Board of Appeals June 9, 2010 To Whom It May Concern: My name is Karen Cowan I reside at 56 Main Street Mashpee Mass. I am unable to physically attend this hearing due to a family medical issue. I would like to voice my strong opposition as a direct abutter to the request of Mr. Peter White, owner of the Plaza Del Sol's motels request to operate this motel year round and to separate out nine units for year round rental to families. I am asking that the town deny this request based on the following. My family has owned property on route 130 in Mashpee for over forty years. I have owned 56 Main Street for twentyyears. Iliad welcomed the fact that there was a wonderful family, short term seasonal motel next door when I purchased my property. The property was well maintained and the former owner and original builder of the property did follow protocols for intended use as a seasonal motel and it was only opened from April first through October 15th every year it was well run and usually full of vacationing families. However, the motel changed hands several years ago and since that time the current owner has been operating the motel against the current protocols year round attempting to establish a precedent for year round use. It should be noted that Mr. White is currently appealing a "cease and desist" order that was issue over a year ago by the town of Mashpee. His current request should not overshadow the fact that he has already been found in violation of misuse of this property. He has continuously been renting units year round in violation of the motel use protocols. . Mr. White has blatantly defied the protocols for use of this property since purchasing it. Mr. White is not operating it as a motel with a maximum stay per unit and individual for thirty days. Several tenants that have lived in these two bedroom motel units for over a year without switching units every thirty days as is required under the current use protocols. He, has been operating it year round as an apartment complex in defiance of the law. He has advertised in the local newspaper to solicit rentals during the winter months. This property is not zoned for use as a multi unit apartment dwelling. Mr. White would have you believe that he is supplying affordable housing for people who cannot afford it, that has been his mantra. Ilearned at prior hearing on this matter that his business of record is called " New England affordable housing initiative". The reality is that this is a for profit business venture and Mr. White's moniker is intended to mislead the public of his true intent. We as residents of the town should be ashamed of ourselves if we allow this motel to become Mashpee's answer to an affordable housing dilemma. A motel environment is not conducive to raising families. The units are small and cramped as they were not intended for long term use. There are no recreational facilities. Small children are forced to play in the active parking lots. Would you be willing to attach a stigma to your child who attends school that they live in a motel? There are many dogs on the premises and in the units often times these animals are allowed to roam freely without leashes in the lot. In addition, Mr. White allows seasonal workers to rent these units (which is well within his right) but often times as many as five or more adults occupy a unit. Again another blatant violation of use.