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Board approves conversion of motel garages into 31 apartments as pilot to add housing on Okeechobee Road
Summary
The Planning & Zoning Board recommended approval of a special‑use permit to convert enclosed garages and some motel units at the Casanova’s Boutique Motel on Okeechobee Road into 31 residential units while retaining 84 motel rooms, with conditions requiring a declaration of restrictions, marked parking priorities and landscape certification.
The Planning & Zoning Board on May 14 recommended approval of a special‑use permit allowing the conversion of portions of an existing motel at Okeechobee Road into 31 residential units while retaining motel operations on the rest of the site.
Applicants told the board the property — a two‑story motel with 93 units and 27 enclosed garages purchased in 2022 — will be retrofitted to convert 27 garages (and nine motel units) into 31 one‑bedroom residential units (310–893 sq ft) while keeping 84 motel rooms. The applicant described the project as a “pilot” adaptive‑reuse effort to introduce permanent multifamily housing in place of aging motel uses along the corridor and said unit rents are expected to be in the neighborhood of $1,500 with utilities included.
Attorney Alejandro Arias and representatives from Prestige Companies said the property has extensive security measures, a 24‑hour front desk, required guest identification, annual crime mitigation plans and cooperation with police; management also said room rentals are limited to persons age 21 and over and that many current occupants rent weekly or monthly.
Staff and the applicant proposed conditions including a recorded declaration of restrictions limiting the number of residential units to 31 on site while continuing motel operations with 84 rooms; marking 31 parking spaces and prioritizing parking for the residential units; landscape certification in 2025; and retrofit per signed architectural plans. Staff also noted parking calculations and existing code create a shortfall; the applicant offered 117 on‑ and off‑site spaces (102 on-site plus 14 off-site) and management said many spaces are typically unused daily.
The board discussed public‑safety, parking and neighborhood‑quality concerns raised during the prior hearing and sought additional information — including timeline and affordability targets — which the applicant addressed in the meeting. Several board members expressed discomfort with the interim mix of motel and permanent residents but ultimately supported the application as a measured first step toward full multifamily conversion if the initial retrofit proves commercially viable.
The board’s approval included conditions described by staff; the matter advances to City Council for final action.
