DALTON GARDENS - Nonprofit organization Pioneer Human Services, of Seattle, has appealed to the Dalton Gardens City Council, city officials confirmed Thursday.

Pioneer wants to open a federal prisoner residential re-entry facility inside a brand-new but vacant building at 5648 N. Government Way, but the Dalton Gardens planning commission denied a special-used permit.

An appeal hearing will be conducted at 6 p.m. on June 6 at Dalton Gardens City Hall, during a regularly scheduled city council meeting. It is open to the public.

Hilary Young, a spokeswoman for Pioneer, said re-entry programs like this provide a structured environment for the prisoners to rejoin society, which increases public safety.

"It's people who would be coming back to the community regardless," Young said. "We believe this facility is a strong fit for the work."

Those operating businesses next door to the proposed facility are dead set against its opening.

Clyde Rilliet, owner of Affordable Transmissions, said he's concerned about potential theft. He said the people he's talked to are shocked by the proposed location for the halfway house, which would be just north of the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office complex and jail.

"The only good thing about being right there is they don't have far to go when they get arrested again," Rilliet said. "I think they should be out in the boonies somewhere."

Britny Grant, owner of Shimmer nail salon next door, said she has concerns about her female employees and customers coming and going near the proposed facility.

"We don't want to have to say we're located between the jail and the halfway house," Grant said.

The planning commission cited public-safety concerns in its denial. City residents have complained about their property losing value and the potential for the ex-cons to re-offend.

Pioneer wants to house, monitor and provide services for up to 43 residents at a time, all of whom were North Idaho citizens before heading to prison. There also would be an on-site training facility.

The residents would have a range of felony offenses and would be serving the end of their sentences.

They must be inside the facility between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., and would be required to work or be in training, according to Pioneer officials. The average stay would be three to six months. Approximately 100 to 130 residents would go through the program each year.

Port of Hope in Coeur d'Alene provides a similar service.