A Palmer barbecue restaurant's parking variance waits another month after neighbors object

A proposed barbecue restaurant in downtown Palmer will wait at least another month for a decision on the parking variance it needs, after nearly a dozen business owners and residents testified that granting it would set a precedent for every property nearby.

Applicant Troy Vincent wants to convert a two-story commercial building at 579 S. Alaska Street, which has no off-street parking, into a restaurant seating up to 50. He said the building is grandfathered as retail at 10 spaces and a restaurant wouldn't exceed that. He also told the commission he'd counted 698 parking spaces within 600 feet, using Google Earth.

The neighbors weren't persuaded. "Parking has been an issue in our town forever," property owner Lori Koppenberg said, warning that "you allow it this one time for this one place, you will be required to allow it for every single business property that meets these exceptions." Marty Kincaid said the private lots inside Vincent's circle were bought and maintained by owners who met code. "When I make a bad commercial investment, I don't put it on anybody else to absorb my mistake," he said. Michelle Kincaid and others argued the overflow would land on the city-owned depot lot.

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted Thursday to postpone the variance to Oct. 15. Three commissioners were absent, and Jim Cooper, a city resident, had urged the delay, saying a fuller body would get "a much more lively discussion."