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Daily Condo Rentals A Go At Little Harbor

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By LIZ BLEAU

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2008

RUSKIN - The county commission has approved Little Harbor's request to convert 158 condominiums to daily rentals in a 4-3 vote.

Commissioners Rose Ferlita, Mark Sharpe and Ken Hagan voted last week to deny the request.

Originally, the developer of Little Harbor, a 1,500-unit condominium and single-family resort at Bahia Beach, sought to convert 450 units to daily rentals but, after an initial recommended denial by a zoning hearing officer, reduced the number of units and sought a remand.

The commission voted to approve the daily rentals with the condition that the 158 units would "function as a part of the resort area and shall not become a one-night rental-only hotel."

The units are to be sold as condominiums, the developer's representative said, but the owners would have the option to rent them out on a daily basis. Under the existing zoning code, residential units cannot be rented out for periods of less than a week.

Residents in the area have opposed the plans to convert residences to hotel use.
Mariella Smith, who resides in the Bahia Beach area, said allowing the conversion sets a bad precedent for the county and that the hotel units would bring an increase in traffic and change the character of the neighborhood.

Steve Griffin, a planner with the Planning Commission, said the change "should not adversely impact the adjacent properties and would be compatible with the existing development pattern that's occurring immediately within the area."

Smith contested the developer's claim that the hotel units would bring less traffic than residences. She said the homes were built as recreational homes, which have less traffic than resort hotels.

"Common sense tells us any hotel will bring much more traffic, daily transients, instead of seasonal residents. And hotel rooms require much more staff - housekeeping staff, restaurant workers, office staff - all working around the clock, as well as truckloads of linens, food and beverage and other hotel supplies," she said.

Charles White of the Planning and Growth Management Department staff said the conversion to hotel units would have no additional impact to the adjacent roadway network.

Reporter Liz Bleau can be reached at (813) 865-1557 or lbleau@tampatrib.com.

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