It’s a sprawling home on a large single-family lot.
Bob and Liz Lang are petitioning the city of Holmes Beach to allow a special exception to turn their home into a bed-and-breakfast inn.
The Langs have owned their 5601 Flotilla Drive property since 2008. Located in the R-1 residential zoning district, the property is a 9,610 square-foot home, featuring seven bedrooms and six bathrooms, with sufficient space to park 18 cars on 0.572 acres.
There’s also a large pool, hot tub and bar in the central atrium and a screened-in loft with a TV-movie projector and sunset views.
“It’s just a beautiful view of downtown,” Bob Lang said.
According to Lang, he and his wife began talking about turning the property into a B&B two years ago. They approached the city in 2015 and have decided to pursue the zoning change and licensing as an inn.
“We think a bed-and-breakfast is a better utilization of the property and better for the community,” Lang said, adding that he believes the canalfront home embodies the “old Florida” look the city is trying to preserve.
The property sits at 5601 Flotilla Drive, across from the Island Library, and abuts residential homes and a canal.
If commissioners approve the request, the home’s garage, now a workspace, would likely be turned into an apartment for the Langs or an innkeeper.
According to state law, the Langs or an innkeeper must reside either on or adjacent to the property for it to be considered a B&B.
Currently, the Langs rent the property once a month, as allowed in the R-1 zoning district.
However, according to the Manatee County Property Appraiser website, the Lang’s have a homestead exemption and they may have to defend the exemption if it is being used as a rental.
If the property is allowed to convert to a B&B, the Langs plan to rent rooms nightly and weekly, requiring either a change to the R-1 zoning or a zoning change.
Before the Langs can apply to the state as a B&B, the special exception to the approved uses in the R-1 zone must be approved by the commission.
And before that happens, the Langs hope to have a meeting with Mayor Bob Johnson, building official Jim McGuinness, city planner Bill Brisson and city attorney Patricia Petruff.
“We want to put something together that makes sense and works for more than just us,” Bob Lang said.
As of Islander press time, the matter was still under review at city hall and had not been placed on a commission agenda.
Is this the “Frankenhouse” across from the library? The one that looks to be an ungainly connection of two or three houses? The one that has been on the market for the last year, and not surprisingly hasn’t sold? Originally listed for $2 mil? “Old Florida”, my foot. Actually, this is a pretty smart solution to an economic disaster. If the house can be rezoned commercial and run as a B&B, it can later be sold as an income producing property. Because, I don’t ever think it will be sold as a single family dwelling.
It was a family home for many many years — DesChambers. They once owned the marina. There’s nothing but greed driving the rental plan. The residential neighbors behind them will lose value. And the previous owner was renting it too. Remember the Mandingo party?!!!!! — Bonner