Planners to consider Motor Inn permit

The Planning Commission is scheduled Monday to consider modifying the Costa Mesa Motor Inn’s operating permit to further limit long-term tenants.

Commissioners could recommend that the 236-room Harbor Boulevard motel have up to 25% of rooms for long-term stays rather than 40%, the amount approved in 1999.

Long-term is defined as 28 consecutive days or 28 days in a 30-day period.

The commission could rule that the Motor Inn has been “operating as a public nuisance” and in violation of its permit, based on a variety of staff findings through the years.

The motel was targeted by code enforcement several times last year. One raid last summer alleged 490 health and safety violations in 189 rooms.

Violations included missing smoke detectors, insect activity, exposed electrical outlets, peeling paint and deteriorated walls, according to a city staff report. The motel eventually paid $19,050 in direct fines.

In May, a representative for the owner of the Motor Inn, Los Angeles-based Century Quality Management, told the council that it wishes to tear out the Motor Inn and replace it with 236 new apartments on the nearly 4-acre property.

— Bradley Zint

Twitter: @bradleyzint