The future of the cabins at the Elephant Rock property, which has been bathed in local controversy, will get another chance at a plea to keep them.

The Town of Palmer Lake Board of Trustees had its regular meeting Feb. 8 at Palmer Lake town hall where its agenda called for the review and discussion of selecting a bid for asbestos abatement of the outbuildings of the town’s Elephant Rock property.

Just as Elephant Rock’s cabins and what’s described as the “longbuilding” came to the point of asbestos abatement in lieu of being torn down, Richard and Lindsay Willan, owners of the already approved EcoSpa development on the property, approached the board with another plea and idea for making use of the cabins in connection to their project. Richard Willan said in his statements to the board that Franco Pisani, the owner developing the Star View Ranch project at Elephant Rock which was also approved, has expressed the same interest in using the cabins jointly with EcoSpa.

Prior to Willan’s approach to the board, which was preceded by an email from him before the meeting, town administrator/clerk Dawn Collins said two estimates for the asbestos abatement of the outbuildings were received. One was for $94,000 and another for $67,000.

Willan noted the EcoSpa development was at least a $1.5 million investment to make it run nicely, and “the cabins would be a good asset,” he said.

“Maybe there’s some way we could all get together and chat about it before you decide to pull them down and understand what we really want to do with it,” Willan said.

The EcoSpa owner expressed his idea to make use of the cabins as short-term stays for long weekends at the spa, therapists to rent and EcoSpa employees managing long weekend bookings as well. EcoSpa would be responsible for running and maintaining them, Willan said.

Mayor Glant Havenar clarified with Willan he had thoughts regarding and wanted to discuss how to keep the cabins in the ownership of the town and have a way to remediate them without it costing the town of the town staff any monetary encumbrances. Willan said she was exactly correct.

In addition, Willan made it clear his idea was not to use the cabins as AirBNB rentals but solely aligned with EcoSpa weekend events and programs, possibly weekend stays for Star View Ranch as well should Pisani show continued interest, Willan said.

Havenar asked if the board was willing to hear a presentation to update the leasing agreement with EcoSpa to include a viable use and responsibility of the cabins. Shanna Ball said she was in favor of hearing it and felt many citizens would as well.

“I’ve had a lot of feedback from a lot of citizens who would like to save the cabins,” Ball said.

Jess Farr was against hearing more or the same alternate uses for the cabins given the ideas the board has heard and gone over for the past 3-4 years, she said. Farr said she’s gotten feedback from citizens expressing the same opposition.

“We all know where I stand. We should have already torn them down,” Farr said. “It’s going to be the same plan, but you guys love meetings, so sure.”

The majority consensus from the board resulted in allowing the Willan’s to make their proposal for the outbuildings at an upcoming meeting or workshop. The board approved to table the resolution on the asbestos abatement 5-1 with Farr voting against.

The outbuildings at Elephant Rock has been a topic of local debate with some citizens wanting them to be torn down to create open space, some citizens wanting the cabins to remain standing for historical reasons. Some citizens have also expressed a desire to have the entire property left alone.

The longbuilding and six cabins sit on approximately 15-16 acres of the Elephant Rock property which was gifted to the town over three years ago.