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Planning commission backs recommendation to convert closed U.S. 19 motel into 96 workforce apartments
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Summary
The Pasco County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a conditional‑use request to convert a 148‑room motel on U.S. 19 into up to 96 workforce housing units, including a mix of studios and one‑bedrooms and a plan reserving half the units at 80% AMI. The recommendation moves the item to the County Commission with conditions and an abstention noted.
The Pasco County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a conditional‑use request that would convert a defunct 148‑room motel on U.S. 19 in Holiday into up to 96 workforce housing apartments.
Staff told the commission the project, filed as PDE26‑CUO7, meets a West Market area exception that allows multifamily uses in C‑2 zoning and recommended approval with conditions. The adaptive‑reuse plan would renovate the existing motel buildings rather than demolish and rebuild, preserve courtyard and pool areas and repurpose an adjacent office into tenant amenities, staff said.
The applicant’s representative described the development, called Harbor Point at Holiday, as a workforce housing project with 45 studio units and 51 one‑bedroom units. "These will be apartments, and we follow HUD guidelines," said Chris Clabby, the applicant’s managing partner, explaining occupancy assumptions and screening policies. The team said units will be professionally managed with 12‑month leases, tenant screening and on‑site management to reduce calls for emergency services associated with the prior motel use.
A condominium association leader who lives next door, Margaret O’Brien, told the commission the conversion is welcome. "This hotel is our neighbor ... police, ambulances, overdoses, prostitution — we had it all. I sure don't want it to go back to the way it was," she said.
Commissioners asked about parking, density and affordability. Staff and the applicant said the project would provide slightly more than 100 parking spaces and relied on a parking‑utilization study showing multifamily complexes in the area typically use about one parking space per unit. The applicant also said half the units would be reserved for households at 80% of area median income or below.
After discussion, the commission took a voice vote to recommend approval; one participant identified on the record as an engineer for the project abstained from the vote and the abstention was entered into the record. The item will now proceed to the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners with the commission’s recommendation and the conditions described in staff materials.
The planning commission meeting packet included staff conditions and a recommendation memorandum; the applicant said it will address alternative‑standard requests for parking and finalize site‑plan alternatives at the next stage of review.
