SRIA discusses hotel room owner stay
BY BRADLEY "B.J." DAVIS, JR. Gulf Breeze News bjdavis@gulfbreezenews.com

Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) officials held a March 7 workshop to discuss the effects of a proposed ordinance amending the time a hotel room owner can stay in his or her room. Currently, the ordinance states "the owner shall not reside in the unit for more than two weeks in any calendar year." The amendment would extend that stay to 16 weeks. Authority members questioned the issue of bed tax.

"Why are we not charging (hotel room owners) a bed tax if it's a hotel?" asked SRIA board member Kelly Robinson. SRIA attorney said owners pay a bed tax based on rental consideration. Authority members also discussed the definition of a hotel versus a condo.

"It seems to me it's pretty clear if you're going to treat it as a hotel, then it's a hotel whether or not its financed by a group or not," said Robinson. "If you're going to allow people to stay there because they own the unit, then it's a condo. If you want to build a condo/hotel and you want to have a 1,000 square foot unit, who cares as long as you pay your fair share of taxes."

According to the Escambia County Code of Ordinances, the definition of a hotel/motels is "a building or other structured used, maintained, or advertised as a place where rooms are clearly and primarily offered on a short term or transient basis for sleeping or living accommodations and which may include accessory uses related to guest service and convenience."

Local business and hotel owners discussed their views on how hotels accommodate Pensacola Beach better than condos.

"I've got two shops here on Pensacola Beach, and I've also got one over in Perdido Key. Because of the condominium nature of the dwellings in Perdido Key, business is somewhat mediocre," said Peter Clayton with Go Fish Clothing and Jewelry. "Business here on Pensacola Beach is quite well during the summer because hotels turn the customers over quickly. I see a new batch of people come through every two to three days."

Other board members agreed that consistent, maximum hotel occupancy was ideal for Pensacola Beach.

"The whole deal is to get people to stay here year round," said Robison.

Escambia Board of County Commissioners will address a proposal amending the ordinance on April 10.