Construction of a new hotel, pub and brewery in downtown Punta Gorda could be delayed due to a city code violation of its land.  

Kevin Doyle, owner of Celtic Ray Public House Irish pub in downtown Punta Gorda, and his partner, S4 Global Investments, were found in violation of the city’s exposed soils code. Doyle and S4 Global own three adjoining lots used for overflow parking for Celtic Ray and for events at Laishley Park. 

Over the years, cars and rain destroyed most of the grass on those lots, exposing dirt. Doyle recently had the lots leveled, but according to city code, land in the city cannot have exposed soil of 1 square foot or more.  

The land is where Doyle plans to combine all three lots into one parcel to build a 56-room, five-story hotel, brewery and English pub. He planned to break ground sometime this summer.  

Doyle and S4 Global were given 60 days to sod the land or use another ground cover to bring it into compliance. They also were charged nominal amounts to cover the court cases—$14.46 for Doyle and $28.92 for S4 Global. They have 10 days to pay the fines and 60 days to remedy the situation, otherwise they could face fines of $250 per day plus interest. 

The 60 days would bring them to the end of June, which would be before construction of the project.  

During a hearing with the city’s code enforcement board, Doyle represented himself and S4 Global. The project’s designer Graham Tyler also addressed the board on Doyle’s behalf. 

They explained their plans for the land to the board, and Tyler asked if it would permit a ground covering of shell or gravel that could be used later in the project’s construction. Planning Director Lisa Hannon said they would have to apply to the city for that. 

Sodding would immediately solve the issue and put the land into compliance, they were told. 

“In my mind, it would be crazy to put sod down and spend $20,000 when it’s going to get ripped up anyway,” Tyler said. 

Doyle said he wanted to remove trees on the lot, but for that he would need a permit, unless they were invasive species, Hannon said.  

Also, once dug up, the exposed dirt would have to be covered.  

Now, Doyle must decide whether to sod the land or apply to the city for approval for an alternate ground cover, and the process could prove to be a long one. 

City Council could disapprove the request, and since it meets only twice a month, and time would have to be allowed for the issue to be placed on the agenda, that could take longer, Hannon explained at the meeting.