Council must approve area rezoning

ROYAL CITY - The old hotel building at 112 South Evergreen in Royal City might be remodeled into a housing complex.

In order for the remodel to take place, council must approve residential zoning in the area. The hotel is a commercial zone.

"Personally I think it ought to be condemned," Mayor Justin Jenks said about the building.

He said he was concerned with mixing residential units with commercial units due to problems possibly arising, including noise complaints.

"If that's the type of people we're going to bring in … I'm against it," Jenks said about future tenants.

He did not clarify what "type of people" but said he preferred a residential area attracting "quality" people.

"There's going to be a headache," Police Chief Darin Smith said. "Be prepared for complaints."

A scenario of a business playing loud music and a restaurant staying open late were discussed.

Citizen Sharon Chesterman said the housing opportunity might be a good idea.

"I think that somewhere we need to find a way to get people to stop complaining," she said. "It's the difference between moving forward and moving backward."

There is an elderly population in need of smaller domains, she said.

"In view of the housing crunch in the Royal City area, it seems like our idea would be beneficial to the community," Highland Financial of Central Washington Manager Mark Payne noted.

Jenks tabled the issue without a vote from the council.

He requested a rough layout of what the remodel might look like in addition to time to investigate the project.

Payne is interested in remodeling the structure so the top half is residential and the bottom half is for commercial use.