Palmer Food Bank outgrows current space

PALMER — The Palmer City Council unanimously approved an amendment to the zoning map to allow for the Palmer Food Bank to move locations on to the corner of South Denali Street and Arctic Avenue. The process for the zoning map amendment from high density residential to general commercial in Resolution 21-005 was unanimously approved at an Aug. 19 meeting of the Palmer Planning and Zoning Commission.

“There’s a strong need to increase their facilities. Their facility is very tired, worn out and it doesn’t have the space needed to provide for the population as it grows in Palmer,” said Tom Sojka.

The Palmer council heard a presentation from Sojka and Palmer Food Bank Director Jeanne Borega at their meeting on September 28 before the unanimous passage of OR 21-016, granting the zoning map amendment. The current building is positioned on South Valley Way.

“The building is old, it was built in the 40’s and it’s actually just too small and we just have a hard time handling the number of clients we’re getting plus the amount of food we’re getting,” said Borega. “We just need a bigger building and we found this lot and it seems to fit our needs.”

Borega has worked with the Palmer Food Bank for over two decades and served as the director for the past nine years. The three quarters of an acre lot stands across from the Palmer Highway Church of God and is officially listed on the Palmer Zoning map as lot seven, block six, Snodgrass-Newcomb subdivision #2. A total of six comments from the public were received concerning the zoning map amendment with only one in opposition.

“I look forward to this going through and new facilities coming in for the food bank,” said Councilman Richard Best. “You guys do such good work and great community service.”