John Coffelt, Editor

LX Hotel on 201 Murfreesboro Highway was granted site plan approval during the Aug. 19 Manchester Planning Commission meeting that included on the punch list the demolition of a structure built without proper approval.

Codes Director Brittany Fiske said during the meeting the hotel began an awning at the front of the business with no permits or site plan approval. Codes issued a stop work order in April on the project.

Fiske also said the hotel began, without permits, work on an additional structure on the footing of a dumpster pad that is on the property line, outside the building envelop of the lot.

“My biggest concern with this site plan is they also received a stop work order for a concrete block building that began constructing in the rear,” Fiske said. “They decided to utilize an existing dumpster pad enclosure and added to it to create what they call a ‘storage building.’”

Fiske said, however, that building, which is fully in the setback area and is not preexisting, is not well constructed and looks to inspectors like the owners plan to use it as additional rental units.

“There are three bays in the unit with block walls separating the bays. There is a space above the three doorways for air conditioning units,” Fiske said.  

The city has the authority by ordinance to double the fees for building permits rather than impose fines when a stop work order is issued in these instances.

Fiske said there was a third stop work order issued for some interior work being done, but the state Fire Marshal’s office will be handling that matter.

The Planning Commission unanimously approved the site plan that requires the exterior building to be torn down. The dumpster enclosure is permitted to stay.

Representatives from LX Hotel were not in attendance at the meeting. County data indicates that the property is owned by ARIES MAARS LLC. The Group under the contact name Bhadrkia Patel was granted a beer permit at the location in 2018 following the change from Greenleaf Inn. Lx Hotel, BW Signature Collection is a subsidiary of the Best Western brand.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.