Manatee County Commission narrowly OKs turning motel into affordable housing

A missing affidavit from the property owner of the Knights Inn Motel in Bradenton launched a lengthy battle among Manatee County commissioners, who narrowly approved allowing the motel to be turned into affordable rental housing.

Tuesday’s action to rezone the property at 2302 First St. is expected to clear the way for for Harvey Vengroff to purchase the property and begin the transformation.

Some commissioners were reluctant to move forward without documentation from the owner acknowledging and approving the land use change. Commissioner John Chappie wanted the item continued until the documentation had been filed with the county, and commissioners Vanessa Baugh and Betsy Benac agreed due process wasn’t being followed.

Commissioner Carol Whitmore said the commission’s approval would actually protect the current landowner.

“If we pass this motion today, it will protect him because right now he’s using residential for farm workers under a federal contract, which is not allowed in the current zoning,” she said. “If we don’t approve this today, then code enforcement could shut them down today and we would be turning a blind eye on code enforcement not enforcing what it’s zoned for.”

The motion passed 4-3 with Commissioners Charles Smith and Larry Bustle siding with Whitmore and Commissioner Robin DiSabatino.

The landowner has 31 days to challenge the ruling, but Smith said it would be unlikely.

“I don’t think he’s going to come back and argue against the fact that he’s currently in violation without this approval,” he said.

Vengroff has transformed several motels in Sarasota County into affordable housing, and is set on redeveloping Knights Inn as his next project. Rents for a studio apartment, including water, electric and cable, could be about $600 a month.

The commissioners supporting a continuance made it clear they are for the project, but oppose to approval without all documentation necessary.

“I’m fully in support of this,” said Chappie. “But I don’t see how it would be a good thing when we don’t have the an owner officially in agreement, in writing. We are talking about a land-use map change that we all agree needs to happen, but we don’t have a land owner in agreement, as of today.”

Benac agreed, noting, “I have a very uncomfortable feeling moving forward. ... I want to make sure due process is being followed.”

Read more here: bradenton.com/news/local/article41212743.html#storylink=cpy

This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 12:34 PM with the headline "Manatee County Commission narrowly OKs turning motel into affordable housing."