A public hearing on rezoning of lot 29 of city property, at the corner of Highway 59 and Ridgeway Drive, drew a full house at Tuesday's city council meeting. Following nearly two hours of discussion, the city council voted 5-1 to rezone the lot to B-3, allowing for use of a motel. The council then dispensed with three readings of the proposal, and made final adoption of the zoning change.
Kelly Wise, Atlantic, has plans to construct a 45-unit chain motel in Harlan. He approached the city in August about purchasing the land, and negotiated a $75,000 purchase price along with a three-year tax abatement.
Wise said the motel would be built to Comfort Inn specifications, but in the end could be a Settle Inn or Days Inn. It will include an indoor pool, lobby, breakfast room, public computer room and small meeting room. There will be regular rooms and some suite rooms as well.
Neighbors to the proposed motel said Tuesday they don't feel the motel fits the location. With homes being constructed in the area, opponents of the plan feel the lot would be better suited for additional housing. A petition with approximately 70 signatures was presented to the council requesting the zoning change not be approved and opposing the location of the motel.
Neighbors even offered to purchase the lot and build up to four homes.
The location is the issue, said Justin Wagner. "We don't believe that that's the best spot in town because of the other houses (there). It's more about the future development of that land for residential.
"If a motel went into this area, it would stifle future development of the housing market in that area."
Wagner, the spokesperson for the group, said neighbors feel there are other issues as well, including safety and drainage concerns. Eight children under the age of 10 live in the immediate area of the proposed motel, and Wager said "we know that traffic flow will pick up between there," including semi-trucks. "It's a residential street, not a commercial street," he said of Ridgeway Drive.
In addition, drainage of the area of water to the pond at Doc Spearing Park could be compromised by additional pavement, such as the parking lot for the motel, he said. There's also some worry about trash and crime.
The group asked Wise and the council to consider other options for the location of the motel, including across from Pamida or across the highway from Ridgeway Drive. Wagner said the owner of that land would consider selling the property.
Neighbors said they don't doubt that the motel property will be quality construction, calling Wise a credible builder and person, but they are opposed to the location.
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zoning change
The council voted 5-1 to approve the zoning change, and also voted to set a hearing date to dispose of the property. The vote paves the way for the motel construction to begin.
There were supporters of the motel. Shelby County Developsource Executive Director David Yamada said he's heard complaints about the existing motels in town. "I have not heard any good things about the existing motels," he said. People he has worked with who visit Harlan have "not been too complimentary of the condition of our motels. A new motel would be ideal."
Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Director Dawn Cundiff said she's had many complaints about the motels in town. "At one point or another, I have received many complaints on all three motels," she said. She said the community needs more motel rooms to accommodate conventions and conferences.
"We are trying to grow our county and trying to grow Harlan, and right now we have 89 rooms in the city of Harlan," she said. "We need more rooms."
Councilman Rand Petersen was the only person to vote against the zoning change. He said a brand name motel that is recognized would be favorable. However, "I am opposed to you building there," he said. "I have been from the start just because I think it's a residential area, and that should be residential out there."
Councilman Bill Reid called it a tough decision. The motel would be great and competition is good he said, but added that "I don't know if I would want a motel in my back yard. I see both sides of the story. I'm torn."
Councilman Keith Kaufman said he also sees the point of view of neighbors, but that highways are areas of development. "That's kind of earmarked for that type of development," he said. A community only has so much highway going through the town.
He said with the zoning change approval, he hopes the motel area will be landscaped accordingly to be conducive to the neighborhood.
Councilman Orv Roecker wasn't as symphatetic. He said the mentality of some is "it's okay, we need it but not in my backyard. And that's just tough because a lot of back yards join and there's no way to separate it."
