Anaheim Council Cracks Down on Long Stays at Second Motel

For the second time in as many weeks, the Anaheim City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday to impose strict limits on how long people can stay at a local motel.

Under the new ordinance, the 70-unit Covered Wagon Motel on Beach Boulevard cannot register guests for more than 30 days in any 90-day period. The effect is that people seeking inexpensive housing no longer will be able to stay there indefinitely.

Last week, the city imposed a similar limit on the Lincoln Inn.

Some council members said they will consider applying the same rules to all Anaheim motels.

“These buildings were not built for apartments. They were built for temporary uses,” Councilwoman Shirley McCracken said before Tuesday’s meeting.

Motel dwellers often live in overcrowded situations, bring in supplies such as hot plates and disconnect smoke alarms, McCracken said, creating safety hazards for which the city could be liable. The Lincoln Inn on Lincoln Avenue and the Covered Wagon have a history of code violations and disturbances to which police are called.

The owners of the two properties, however, say they have upgraded their motels and believe the city’s restrictions will limit their ability to compete, as well as cause their guests extreme hardship.

“We’ve done everything the city has asked, and more,” said Gregory Parkin, owner of the Covered Wagon, on Tuesday. “There’s no reason why I should have this restriction.”