“Money talks”: Palmer residents voice opinions about the new UHaul store

PALMER — On a light agenda at the Palmer City Council, audience participation ruled.

Numerous citizens and business owners came to voice their distress to the Palmer City Council for their decisions that led to the opening of a UHaul storage facility in the old Fred Meyer building in downtown Palmer, during the council meeting Tuesday night.

“Money talks,” said Councilman David Fuller.

The council heard comment from 10 concerned public citizens and business owners about the negative impact the UHaul building has had on their property values and the vibrant downtown community.

“Kroger real estate is dedicated to backfilling store locations with new users who best meet the neighborhood’s needs,” read Councilwoman Sabrena Combs from the front page of the Kroger Real Estate website during council comments. “I think it’s pretty evident that didn’t happen in this situation and a lion's share of the blame can go to Kroger.”

Jeff Johnson, a 35-year Palmer business owner, hit leadoff, ardently defending his vision for the city of Palmer with his developments.

“Over time that’s been my goal, with my development, is to try to make the city a better place... At no point ever thought we would end up with a 60,000-square-foot storage facility in the heart of our town,” Johnson said. “My guess is that we’re going to see change coming... It’s just unfortunate that the administration that runs the city doesn’t have that same vision.”

One by one, people came forward to address their distaste with the new UHaul store. Some of the comments became critical of Palmer City Manager Nathan Wallace and his interpretation of Title 17 of the Palmer Municipal Code.

“I feel like the zoning code is meant as a tool that we can shape our community. I feel like it hasn’t been used for that,” said Gary Wolf. “The intent of the zoning code was to have a high density retail area that we could have a vibrant downtown. I just really would like the process to be followed. Why short change it and hold the zoning code in contempt because you don’t want to follow it?”

During council comments at the end of the meeting, many council members addressed concerns that had been brought up during audience participation.

Deputy Mayor Richard Best read from the code on permitted uses.

“Permitted uses: tool and light equipment rental,” said Best. “If we all had the money to do what we wanted that isn’t probably what we would do. Kind of armchair quarterbacking going on right now. It’s unfortunate and I know that people’s passions are up but we do have a code we have to adhere to, and I believe we did follow the code.”

Residents continued to address the situation.

“This is really a defining moment, it really is, for the city of Palmer and what it is and what it could be,” said Kevin Meddleton, in addressing the Council with Samantha Berg.

“There were so many other possibilities for that space and it just makes us sad to see that space go to something that’s really not going to enhance the town,” said Berg.

Meddleton brought up a friend of his who lives near a UHaul store in East Anchorage and claims that it is a constant source of criminal activity with break ins nearly every night and people trying to siphon gas out of the trucks. Berg described it as a magnet for crime.

Cynthia McMillain began to air a grievance of living on Alaska Street where someone, she is unsure if it is police or not, has been placing notes on cars left out on the street for 24 hours. She then divulged into the topic that had fixated the community’s comments to the council for nearly an entire turning of the seasons.

“If that’s not going away, I want to be able to park my RV in front of my house while I load for my camping trip,” said McMillain.

After taking a tongue lashing from the local business owners, the council devoted extra time during council comments to address concerns. Councilman Pete LaFrance got personal, addressing Wallace directly.

“Nate, let’s talk about this. I think this building will be your legacy as city manager. How you’re interpreting code is not appropriate,” said LaFrance.

Wallace and City Attorney Michael Gatti added input to the issue. Wallace stated that he did not want that building to be his legacy, but if his contract was not renewed in October, it likely would be.

“Mr. Johnson hit it right on the head. Back in 2006 [Wallace read] ‘Palmer needs to modify it’s zoning code to better achieve the following goals: recognizing the differences between commercial development in downtown and in other commercial areas’ and that was in 2006, and we haven’t done anything to address that,” said Wallace. “I agree we need to look at our zoning and we need to have the input of the folks here to make sure that it’s what matches our vision.”

Contact Frontiersman reporter Tim Rockey at tim.rockey@frontiersman.com.