What is a ‘boatel’? County commissioners couldn’t tell you

Boatels may be coming to Manatee County, but Manatee County commissioners want to clear up some confusion first over what they are.

Commissioners were previously told that when customers checked into a boatel, their boat was hauled out of the water, and they stayed aboard their boat, Commission Chair Betsy Benac said.

Not so, said Misty Servia of King Engineering Associates, which is seeking an amendment to the Manatee County land-use code to allow boatels.

Servia showed several photos of other boatels around Florida, which showed a motel-like structure on the waterfront where boaters can dock. The customers would have access to water activities, like kayaking, but they would sleep in a room in the building.

“This is not what we were told. We were led to believe you would be staying in your boat,” Benac said.

Commissioner Charles Smith concurred.

“This is one of the most unprepared moments of my 29 months on the board,” Smith said.

Commissioner Vanessa Baugh had another thought on boatels.

“I was under the impression they were like little, tiny condos where you would stay,” Baugh said.

Servia held a pre-application meeting on boatels with county staff in November of 2016, seeking to add language to the land-use code to allow boatels.

The request is not tied to any formal boatel application, but there will be an application filed in the future, Servia said.

A boatel is defined as “any establishment consisting of a single building or portion thereof, or a group of buildings that are accessible by water and used for transient lodging purposes. Such establishments shall also provide for boat hauling or launching facilities, rental of covered or uncovered boat slips, dock space, or dry storage space,” documents filed with the application state.

Commissioners voted unanimously to continue the first public hearing on the land-use code until Aug. 3. Benac invited Servia to individually brief commissioners on the boatel request before the hearing to clear up the confusion.

In other business Thursday, commissioners approved a general development plan for 360 residential units on Rye Road and Waterline Road. The project, identified as Rye Estates LLC, Rye Road LLC and Coddington Family LLC, has grown since first being submitted in 2012.

Commissioner Robin DiSabatino called it the project that keeps on giving and growing.

Several Waterline Road residents opposed approval for the Medallion Home project.

Mark Van DeRee said the project is not compatible with neighboring low-density development.

There are also concerns about flooding and transportation impacts, Van DeRee said.

Final site plan approval is still required before the developer can break ground, principal planner Stephanie Moreland said after the hearing.

This story was originally published June 1, 2017 at 1:38 PM with the headline "What is a ‘boatel’? County commissioners couldn’t tell you."