‘Attractive nuisance’

PALMER— Atli Dobrova did not have his permit to turn the Eagle Hotel into a residential care facility approved at the Palmer Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Feb 15. The Commision approved Dobrova’s request to postpone their decision more than 90 days until May 17.

Dobrova brought his completed Conditional Use Permit to the Commission to conduct renovations and begin going through the state licensing process to offer a group home at the Eagle Hotel, which was built in 1947 and covers .51 acres on South Colony Way in Palmer.

The CUP was filled out by hand. During David Meneses’ staff report under Factor 4 of the CUP, the staff found the following: no percentages or layouts of commercial and residential uses have been provided.

The first six of eight total public commenters following the presentation from Dobrova and his counsel, Jessica Johnston, Sarah Watson, and architect Brian McMillan, opposed the project. Michelle Heun gave a glimpse into the Police responses to the Eagle Hotel. Ninety-seven calls were made in 2017, up from 51 in 2016 and 44 in 2015. Fourteen of the 97 were for security checks, nine for Medical Assist, nine for Disturbances, eight for Welfare Checks. Included among reasons for responding were warrant arrests, violating conditions of a domestic order, misconduct involving controlled substance, violations of a municipal ordinance, leaving the scene of a crime or accident, protective custody orders, drugs, five assault calls, four trespassing calls, three stolen vehicles, two suspicious vehicles and six suspicious circumstances. Other public commenters was against the qualification as a residential care facility, as opposed to an assisted living facility. Valerie James commented on poor management. Levi Kincaid proposed a sunset clause if the demands were not met.

“This hotel is an attractive nuisance to the Palmer Downtown area, and a financial burden on other city services, such as continued Police response and calls for service. This must be taken into consideration. I encourage you to deny this application,” said Heun.

Commissioner Richard Bernedetto was most concerned with security. With close proximity to downtown bars, Bernedetto was concerned that wandering drunks would be able to walk right into the building, as the doors are not allowed to be locked in a residential care facility. Commissioner David Petty saw flaws with the parking plan. With the proposal of 36 to 50 residents and 30 to 60 employees, he questioned where they all would park. Commissioner Douglas Carothers questioned the number of people they could serve with the number of available rooms. Carothers also questioned the number of staff that would be on site and what qualifications. Benedetto again questioned where the required 4,000 square feet of open space would be. Many of the questions were left unanswered to be determined once they go through the state licensing process.

“I am incredibly concerned with the lack of information as to how this property is going to be used,” said one public commenter.

Commissioner Merry Maxwell questioned where the required outdoor space would be. Commissioners also raised the question of safety based on the busy intersection of Colony and Fireweed. While the presenters seemed adamant that the downtown location would be beneficial to the community involvement of those being cared for, Commissioners were more concerned with traffic navigation and dangerous activity.

“I need to see more numbers; I need more information,” said Petty. “It sounds like it’s a pretty bad area. I’ve been in Palmer 10-plus years and it’s always been the same.”

Johnston, who does not work for Dobrova, but had interest in helping out on the project with her eight years of experience in the industry, outlined the plan for Dobrova. Johnston claimed the plan was to use the kitchen on the bottom floor for residents but renovate an area for an art studio for the residents, but also possibly run a cafe out of the bottom floor. The cost of renovations remained uncertain, but Watson claimed that Dobrova was willing to inject $3 million into the project.

Johnston claimed the economic impact of having cognitively impaired individuals with expendable income and employees working in Downtown Palmer amounted to $1.25 million, just in payroll. Palmer City Attorney Michael Gatti helped sort out confusion over how to formally postpone the Commission’s decision until the May meeting.

Dobrova has owned the Eagle Hotel for six years, and owns similar facilities in Anchorage, though not nearly the same size. Johnston described the capability of the building’s service capacity as revolutionary. The Commission continually found areas that needed more attention and planning to question. Overall, Dan Lucas, Chair of the Commission, had high hopes for the project.

“I’d like to see improvements in Palmer everywhere,” said Lucas.