By Diane Smith
Record-Courier staff writer
The owner of the 175-year-old Palmyra Hotel didn't get the answer he was hoping for when he asked the Environmental Protection Agency what kind of septic system he could install on his property.
Meanwhile, township trustees have agreed to look further into the possibility of buying some land behind the township garage from the hotel owner.
Doug Rice, who owns the 19th century structure at the corner of S.R. 225 and Tallmadge Road in Palmyra, had the EPA inspect his 1.74-acre site last month, and inquired about a commercial septic system. Rice wants to open an ice cream shop in the building.
Palmyra is about 15 miles southeast of downtown Ravenna.
The letter from the EPA, also sent to the township trustees, said Rice would have to get the appropriate building and zoning permits from the township and Portage County. It also references the work Rice needs to do on the building.
"Although the building is historic and very old, it is also in very poor condition, and restoration would require a significant effort," the letter states.
The three-story structure, which was built in 1832, once was a stagecoach stop and later housed the Knights of Pythias lodge. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. In 2002, Rice obtained a historic marker for the building, noting its importance as a stagecoach stop in the19th century.
In light of the letter, Township Trustee Henry Michael said he does not think trustees should grant Rice's request to sell him the small tract of land the township owns adjacent to the hotel. Both Rice and the family that owns the land next door have inquired about buying the property, with Rice saying he wanted it so he would have enough land for a septic system.
Trustee James Deffenbaugh said he spoke to Rice recently, and was told by Rice he is unsure what he can do with the building. Earlier this year, the township's Board of Zoning Appeals turned down Rice's request for a zoning permit needed to improve the building.
"He doesn't have a lot of money, and he doesn't have a zoning permit," he said. "He is not sure what the zoning board wants. Without a zoning permit, he can't get a building permit. He's not clear on what he can do now."
He said a discouraged Rice recently asked him if he wanted him to raze the hotel, "sell it on E-bay" or restore it.
"I told him everybody I talked to would like to see it restored," he said.
Trustees did, however, agree to look more closely at Rice's offer to sell the township some of the land he owns behind the township garage.
Assistant Prosecutor Chris Meduri is being asked to look into the legalities of the land purchase.
Rice has offered to sell up to four acres of land to the township, originally setting a price of $4,000 per acre. However, Deffenbaugh said, Rice recently indicated he raised the price by $1,000 an acre.
Rice also has agreed to sell an acre of his property to the Portage Park District, which wants the land so it can install a small parking lot for its nature preserve.
Trustees acknowledged that buying the land might help Rice in his efforts to restore the hotel, but insisted they are not trying to bail Rice out financially.
"We need to get what we can, because like my grandpa said, they're not making any more of it," Michael said. "We're out of property now. We have to do something."
As for Rice and his expansion plans, he said, "I think he's got a long road to hoe, unfortunately."