Laserfiche WebLink
t17-15-?,114� l�:�b From-WYNN & WYNN 54$-TT5-1E44 T-517 P.QU/034 F-233 <br /> SHPEF ENTERPRISE+FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29,2008 page$ <br /> - L a Plaza ►Del rah. Motel au nt <br /> In Occup n�� Zoning Dispute <br /> ut <br /> By BRIAN H.KRHRL Mr, Robbins acid be and his Barnstable,and Yarmouth allow <br /> Attempts by the owner of Lgi wife were in discussions with the occupants to Stay for extended <br /> Plaza Del Sol Motel to.provide previous owner to buy the motel, periods ot'time during the winter, <br /> short-term, low-rent housing but the negotiations did not:pro- both to tide over business is the <br /> during the winter Have brought cued. otY',aeason and to provide a ser- <br /> on an order to cease and desist Ms.Robbins said she racogniz- vice to the community,according , <br /> from the: Mashpoe Building De- as the newt for affordable hous- to interviews with building it), <br /> partment and llrovottcd the ire iag in li'lashpee and on Cape Cod, veotlbal departments and more <br /> of neighbors,but Peter White in- but she doe$not want it In her than a half-dozen phone inter, <br /> lists what he is doing at the Route neighborhood. views with hotel managers this <br /> 190 motel it legal and provides a .After a review and consultation week, <br /> need in the community. with a town attorney, Building At least four hotels inFolmo4th <br /> The controversy has drawn in Commissioner Richard Stevens allow longterm stays,with two al- <br /> four town departments,ineluding found that Mr,White was in viola- lowing residents to pay monthly <br /> police and fire,and threatens to tion of zoning because too many of rents.Many in Barnstable allow <br /> force Mr.White to evict several of the rooms were Occupied by suests extended stays as well. <br /> his tenants,whom lie said would staying lottger than 30days, In Yarmouth tenants are al- <br /> have a hard time finding another According zo a handwritten lowed to stay for more than 30 <br /> place to live. calculation sent to lair.White and days,as long as they do not be- <br /> The issue brings back a long- provided to The Enterprise,the come permanent residents and <br /> held controversy about the trite town figured that more than half the motel'a business'is "in gen- <br /> of the motel, which has at least the total units with guests were eral"limited to transient guests <br /> three times in the past decade occupied for periods longer than staying lem-than 80 bays,accord- <br /> to,en proposed to be used as an 30 days,fo Mr.White was to vlo- ;ing to Yarmouth Buil+,ifnfC Com- <br /> affordable housingcompleX,New lation of the state building code missioner.fames Brandolini, <br /> Seibury,Housing Assistance Cor. restriction stating 4hat month However, Yarmouth mind Barn- <br /> poration, and a previous owner must be"primmW'for transient stable both have spectfie Zoning <br /> of the ,establishment have all guegts8taying loss than SUdaya. ordinances permitting some mo- <br /> floated proposals to remodel the Town Manager Joyce M.Masoa, tels to allow the longer stays, <br /> motel into affordable housing, who was been Involved in the dis- Mashpee was no such ordi- <br /> according to archives of The Fn- putt,said there are eblldlrea llV- nance. <br /> uerprise, ing at the motel wbo are attend- " o the question is what are we <br /> Mr,White said he believes old ing school in•Mtlsiipee,which slid doingthat makks this illegal?The <br /> motel$provide an opportunity to said is a clear sign that the guests answer is nothing- Mr. White <br /> address Cape Cod's widely ree- are not temporary, said. <br /> ognized shortage of affordable Ail Investigation rpsulutig f vm lie accursed the town of"jug- <br /> housing.He said building single- the earliercompiointIssued by Mr, gling" statistios to rind him at <br /> family homes with affordable and Mrs,Robbins found Mr.White fault. <br /> deed restrittioils is not enough to be in compliance with zoning. "I think there is more to this aw- <br /> to provide the amount of hous- In an earlier interview before ry than meets the eye,'lie said, <br /> ing needed,so towns must look at the decision was issued,Mr.Ste- Ms.Mason said that in addition <br /> multi-familly Rousing, vent; said he sympathizes with to the building departiuent's in. <br /> The issue appears to begin both sides in the issue-Mr.White spettion,she also ordered loves• <br /> with neighbors Rebecca S. and is trying to do a good thing,pro- tigations by the Mashpee tlealth <br /> Michael T.Robbins,who earlier viding "bridge housing," which Department, the police depart. <br /> this year filed a formal complaimt is particularly needed given the anent,and the fire department. <br /> against Mr.White,their second in current State of the economy and "Those investigations were re, <br /> the five months since ALL White the housing market But he said quested because I had received a <br /> purchased the property, asking he also understands the perspec- verbal complaint about the type of <br /> the building department to look tive of the neighbors,who do not operation there,"Ms.Mason.said. <br /> into whether the motel is violat- Want permanent residents there Mashpee Police Chief Rodney <br /> ing zoning regulations by allow- and are concerned about traffic C.Collins said numerous allega- <br /> iug numerous guests to stay for and property values. tions made by MB.Bobbins were <br /> extended periods of time, "Not that I am against what he investigated closely,raid the only <br /> Ms.Robbing said in a pair of is doing,but it Is not Allowed in infraction found was one man <br /> talephque interviews that she the zoning,"Mr,Stevens said this staying there with a warrant out <br /> requested the zoning investiga- week."lie has to reduce the num• for his arrest. <br /> tion because We bhildini should bar of occupants that are staying Mr.White said the rite depart, <br /> be w5vd as a motel.She said she for longer than 30 days.He leas to alent's Inspection was the second <br /> is a relative of the original own- get it down to under bale" he has undergone since he aur- <br /> ora and proprietors of the mote), Dar,White,however,holds that ghAnodthoprorestyyinSeptember. <br /> and she believes it wn%,nover in- he is not in.violation ot'the'billd- '� Mr:White said)he will take the <br /> tended to be used as affordable i ,¢¢lie;"'sib ;tile 6"WA'1t9Cd.an lowif-s dpeisiom to thi•vWashpcc <br /> housing,With more than a hint of !!rft'F ltteihq ,.ta 1¢platp„tile 20ning Beard of Appeals.,,. <br /> nostalgia she said the motelpsed portionoftrama►entgueste. Ifficisfarcedtocomply,hegold <br /> to be a high-end place,well kept, he said Clio town should look at he will have to kick out several of <br /> and wail-renowned. She said statistics from a fall year of busi• the occupants. <br /> she lives in what used to be her ness,rather than the month when "We are Vying to provide lem- <br /> grandporents'hnuse, heismostlikelyto have long4erin po;'aty shelter for people, and 1 <br /> "My thing is lie is not running occupants, to figure Whether he am sorry that that is objectionable <br /> it as a motel.He is running it as has`primarily"transient guestb, with some people in town,oT somo <br /> an affordable housing complex,I He said hotels have allowed people intown hall,"he said. <br /> don't IiVe across the street from long-terns guests golog back in. Ms.Robbiiiti, though, said the <br /> an apartment complex,"she said. history and up to today,Including issue is about fairness as much as <br /> "They shouldn't be there long many professional athletes who anything. She said she complies <br /> term,They should not be getting stay in hotels during the playing With toning and other town regu• <br /> oil the school bus to my front season. lations, and fin should Everyone <br /> yard." several hotels in Valnlnutb, else, <br />