HomeMy WebLinkAbout09112024 Planning & Zoning LAYDOWN_Applicant Comments to Res24-017Applicant Comments for Resolution 2024-017
Provided by Grace Group Properties
Our goal is to rejuvenate downtown and add a "Locally owned" business that supports and
engages with the community that we are part of. Grace Group Properties has family ties in
Seward going back four generations, and this is held in the highest regard when investing in our
community. Our commitment and engagement are not simply business oriented. We help local
clubs like Wrestling and Volleyball with space when needed. We host the local group "Bloom"
that brings together local families to socialize and connect. We have hosted Prom for our
students. Our goal is to be a place that engages with the community and helps facilitate for the
locals. Our business engages with the community and likes to make a difference, whether it's a
bounce house on July 4th or a sports club we are always looking to give back. Our business
model encourages an open, all year-round plan that will also compliment/help others that too try
and help the community of being open more than a 4-month season. We know that this mindset
helps us with the goals to complement our community that we want to support, and not just profit
from the destination city at peak season. It is a long-term investment in Seward. We don't want
to see another empty/closed business in Seward.
A. The Hotel business plan promotes the use of off -site parking with providing a shuttle service.
The number of tourists that currently visit Seward without a vehicle is greatly increasing, due to
the addition of the Cruise Ship contract with Royal Caribbean and the Railroad. All local
hotels/lodges of this size and greater offer a shuttle service. This is because of the large amount
of travelers that visit Seward without a car. This percentage of travelers is only going to increase
very soon. The local hotels do not have issues with parking availability. The Gateway Hotel has
an event space and the business is twice the size of this proposed project and the parking lot is
very empty during the short season they are open.
The Edgewater has off street parking that is never used. There are only 35 available street
parking spots on Fifth Avenue from the city electric/annex building all the way down to
Edgewater, and the street is not full or overrun with cars not being able to park at the other
businesses. Parking on Fifth Avenue has not been an issue with this business model for 20 +
years, and this is because of the type of tourist traveler that visits Seward and this type of traveler
is increasing very soon. The Edgewater also has a conference room available, and dining area for
their guests. The Edgewater is also almost double the size of our project, is not locally owned
and is only open for peak season, no community involvement. The Van Gilder also has off -site
parking, most cruise ship/railroad guests do not stay there, the parking lot is barely used. Being
so small they do not offer a shuttle service.
Our local ties/network in the community have the ability to work with local owners like the
Dunhams at the GCI building for additional parking spots that are never used and are within 200'
of the project. Petro Marine is locally owned and are related to Brittney Wisel. Petro Marine also
have additional parking areas that are not used often. Grace Group Properties also owns the lot
on 213 5th Ave that is 800' away from the project. Brittney's parents own a vacant lot within
600' of this project. These options are being shared, noting that there is ample parking available
nearby that is not being used and could be possibly utilized if ever needed. Our business plan is
built around the transient tourist that is coming to Seward without a vehicle. The visitors with
vehicles we have a parking arrangement for them. There is not another CUP for a hotel that has
had a requirement for event room parking or its employees.
This business location is not a new development to Seward. It is currently still heated and used.
Fuel delivery trucks have no issues. The property has been used prior as a restaurant and many
other things. All past ventures that utilized the same services that all of the other businesses
downtown still require. This is not an added burden. The site does have a shuttle bus loading and
unloading zone that is easily accessible from the alley and the alley has very little to no traffic.
The shuttle driver can easily back into the loading zone to transport guests.
This project does not require any "street" use for loading and unloading any items being
delivered.
B. This project is a hotel, and these types of businesses do not have an issue with noise or smells
like other businesses in downtown bars/restaurants. This project improves the area by removing a
derelict old building that is an eye sore for the area. Hotels do not have any history downtown of
having company vehicles or patrons blocking access to local residents and other businesses,
unlike the examples that were given during public comments about Kayak Adventures and Rez
Art. The business model has about 5-8 employees that do not have cars to get to work, most
employees in the industry do not have vehicles. We currently have employees that also live/lived
downtown and would not need to drive to work. We would never allow our employees to park in
front of someone's residence.
C. Grace Group Properties believes in the beautification of downtown Seward, we will have a
timeless and beautiful building that will contribute to the character of historic downtown. We
also have supported local nurseries and plan to keep that as part of our building design features.
D. The building does not have any plans or requirements to park or inhibit traffic on Church
Street, and loading/unloading guests have adequate shuttle zone. The Edgewater has no such
zone and uses motor coaches that do not have problems loading and unloading guests on the
street. They do not use the alley way. The particular loading location area that this project has on
the alley way is an ideal property location advantage, because there is never a "true" blockage of
thoroughfare in the alley way and access to other business along the alley way. Anyone using the
alleyway for access still have a way of navigating with the use of Church Street. This is a unique
advantage and is unlike many other alley ways throughout downtown that do not have a pathway
for continuing traffic during use when loading/unloading of service vehicles occurs. Other
alleyway paths are blocked for the entire duration of service. This is a strategic advantage to this
property and its design for minimal impact to traffic flow on the main streets. Our snow removal
plan is to install heated sidewalks just like Petro Marines heated sidewalks. These types of
sidewalks are a great safety factor for icy conditions downtown. This will remove any need for
snow removal and would make this area very safe for winter. It also removes the need for any
snow removal storage areas
E. Our shuttle drivers would exercise good safe driving practices by backing into the empty
shuttle zone, so that when they pull out onto the alleyway, they have full visibility. The street
parking in this area of Fourth Avenue between GCI, FNBA and the neighboring church does not
have a congestion parking issue, like the example given on 3rd Avenue in front of Rez Art and
Kayak Adventure or like the area of Fourth Avenue in front of Alaska Shop. This area is similar
to the area of the Edgewater for street parking, but this project is half the size and unlike
Edgewater we will provide and promote our parking shuttle service.
F. The addition of this project to the area will greatly compliment all of the surrounding
businesses, and will be a great asset to the community year round.
Thank you,
Grace Group Properties