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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09072010 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes September 7, 2010 Volume 6, page 4 0 5 Call to Order The September 7, 2010 Regular Meeting of the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chair Roach'. Opening Ceremony Commissioner Ecklund led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll Call There were present: Sandie Roach' presiding, and Cindy Ecklund Steven Heinrich Frank DeMarco comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Christy Terry, Community Development Director Dwayne Atwood, Community Development Assistant iirer Excused was: Tena Morgan City Administration Report Community Development Directory Christy Terry updated the Commission of the following business items: • The quarterly joint work session with the Seward/Bear Creek Flood Service Board was not held because of preparations for the Summit in Seward scheduled for October 8, 2010. • A late arriving comment regarding the Conditional Use Permit application for the Tougas R/V park had been received and was provided as a laydown. • Two compliance letters were included in the agenda packet. The Community Development Department was working with the City Clerk's office to review city business license renewals to encourage zoning compliance. Other Reports, Announcements & Presentations — None Citizens' Comments on any subject except those items scheduled for Public Hearing - None Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion (Ecklund/Heinrich) Approve the Agenda and the Consent Agenda City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes September 7, 2010 Volume 6, page 4 0 6 4 Motion Passed Unanimous Consent J The following items were approved on the Consent Agenda: August 3, 2010 Regular Meeting Minutes Unfmished Business Items requiring a Public Hearing — None New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing Resolution 2010 -10 of the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission, granting a Conditional Use Permit to Paul Tougas, dba Seward Information Center to Construct and Operate Kenai Fjords Recreational Vehicle (RV) Park and Winter Storage, on Lots 1, 4, And 5 Block 7, Oceanview Subdivision, located at 1115 Fourth Avenue, within the Auto Commercial Zoning District Terry reviewed the criteria and requirements and directed the Commission to the property location, as shown in the meeting packet. She noted the public notification requirements had been met. Administration spoke in support of the application. The proposed development and use was consistent with the Auto Commercial zoning district. The value of the adjoining property would not be significantly impacted, and public utilities and services were adequate to serve the proposed use. Specific development codes would still have to be met after a Conditional Use Permit was issued. Commissioners discussed the seasonal timeline and potential operation of both storage and camping businesses at the proposed development site. Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing for Resolution 2010 -10 was opened. Paul Tougas, inside City Limits, addressed the Commission as the applicant. Tougas said the proposed project would include approximately half of the camping sites a previous operator utilized. The property was used as a parking lot for two years and the business plan would establish a "premium" RV park. Tougas stated the park would include 25 spaces. In response to a question from Roach', Tougas explained the summer operation would focus on camping. The off season storage was proposed as a way to realize some income during the winter months. Tougas said he planned to install a privacy fence. Ecklund asked the applicant if there would be any problems if a vegetation buffer were in place along Scheffler Creek. Tougas stated the intention was to keep the vegetation, trees and grass. mod City of Sewarg Alaska Planning Commission Minutes September 7, 2010 Volume 6, page 4 0 7 Mary Bailey, inside City Limits, told Commissioners she had concerns about how closely the RV park would be regulated for camping duration. Bailey stated she believed the driveway him into the proposed camping area was not wide enough for large vehicles. No one else requested to be heard and the public hearing was closed. Motion (Heinrich / Ecklund) Approve Resolution 2010 -10 In response to Commission questions, Seward Fire Chief David Squires stated the driveway met City requirements. A second driveway to the property would not be required. Motion (Heinrich/Ecklund) Amending Resolution 2010 -10, Section 6 inserting a new Condition No. 4 to read: A minimum 10 foot no parking buffer shall be maintained along both sides of Scheffler Creek. Motion Passed Unanimous Motion (Roach'/Heinrich) Amending Resolution 2010 -10 to add a second condition requiring the installation of screen fencing. �.. Motion Failed Yes: Roach' No: Heinrich, Ecklund, DeMarco Main Motion Passed As Amended Unanimous New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing Resolution 2010 -11 of the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska, recommending amending Seward City Code Title 15 Section 15.10.140 Definitions to allow accessory buildings on adjacent lots of the principal building or use served Terry explained that the Zoning Code did not allow accessory structures on a lot other than the same lot with a primary structure. If approved, all of the building codes and development requirements would continue to be observed. The City attorney had reviewed the proposed ordinance. In response to Commissioner Ecklund, Terry stated the reason for allowing accessory structures on adjacent lots had to do with the larger zoning issue of lots with an accessory structure being sold, leaving non - conforming buildings. Commissioners further discussed the issues related to allowing accessory buildings to be built on separate lots. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes September 7, 2010 Volume 6, page 4 0 8 Notice of ublic hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the P g gP P q public hearing for Resolution 2010 -11 was opened. Mary Staab, inside City Limits, explained that per City Code an adjoining lot they owned was not suitable for a garage construction because a lot line separating the two properties would need to be vacated. The cost for the lot line vacation would have been more than $2,000. Staab requested that the code be changed to allow accessory buildings to be built on adjacent lots. David Squires, inside City Limits, asked that the proposed resolution be approved. He explained how he would like to expand a greenhouse on an adjacent lot of his residence. No one else requested to be heard and the public hearing was closed. Motion (Ecklund/DeMarco) Approve Resolution 2010 -11 Roach' explained that larger parcels are accessed at lower values per square foot than smaller lots. It would help to maintain values if adjacent lots could be developed without vacating lot lines and creating larger parcels. Heinrich stated he did have concerns that lots with accessory structures that are later sold will have code compliance issues. Commissioners further discussed accessory buildings and accessory uses. Motion Passed Yes: Heinrich, Ecklund, Roach' No: DeMarco New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing Resolution 2010 -12 of the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission, Recommending City Council Amend Various Portions of Title 15.20 Signs of the Seward City Code Terry explained that several work sessions were held on this topic. Staff, public and Commissioners made several suggestions for the proposed code update. The items that were agreed upon were included in the proposed ordinance. There did not appear to be any consensus on signage exceeding the roofline in the Historic District, and signs advertising home occupations. Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing for Resolution 2010 -12 was opened. Fire Chief Dave Squires asked whether the proposed advertising of home occupations would include bed and breakfast operations. No one else requested to be heard and the public hearing was closed. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes September 7, 2010 Volume 6, page 4 0 9 iE The Commission discussed home occupation signage. Motion (Ecklund/Heinrich) Approve Resolution 2010 -12 Motion (Roach'/Heinrich) Amend proposed Ordinance, Section 1, 15.20.30 Signs Allowed Without Permits, R, striking "bubble machines." Motion Passed Unanimous Motion (Roach'/Ecklund) Amend proposed Ordinance, Section 1, 15.20.035 Prohibited Signs, H, striking "on a building." Motion Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed As Amended Unanimous New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing Resolution 2010 -13 of the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission, Recommending Adding Section 15.10.245 Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) to the Seward City Code establishing a process and standards for the siting, construction, and operation of Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) as permitted secondary uses and amending Seward City Code Title 15, Land Uses Allowed Table 15.10.225 to allow WECS in the RR, R1, R2, R3, UR, OR, AC, HC, CB, I, RM, INS and P Zoning Districts Terry noted the Commission had discussed proposed Wind Energy Conversion Systems for approximately two years. Terry also stated the proposed ordinance would not allow the conversion systems to interconnect to the electric utility grid. In response to questions generated at the WECS work session, Terry stated inspectors would be available to perform required inspections. Additionally, there was no indication that property values would be affected by the addition of wind energy systems. Terry also explained the formula that was included in the Ordinance to help calculate noise levels of a wind energy system before installation. The height of the towers would be restricted by the size of the lot, given the setback requirements. Ecklund stated she appreciated the work that had gone into creating a method to review and allow wind energy systems. Heinrich stated the proposed regulations will help with orderly development. Heinrich asked if the City of Seward electric utility was required to provide interconnection for wind energy systems. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes September 7, 2010 Volume 6, page 410 Terry stated the utility is not required to adopt the rules of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. The utility was moving forward to allow interconnection, but the City of Seward was not required to allow interconnection, she said. Heinrich stated he believed the proposed regulations to allow wind energy systems would be less viable if the developers were not allowed to feed electricity back into the power grid. Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing for Resolution 2010 -13 was opened. No one requested to be heard and the public hearing was closed. Motion (Heinrich /Ecklund) Approve Resolution 2010 -13 Roach stated several rooftop wind energy turbines may be required for a residence or business to produce adequate electricity. An engineer may need to determine, in those cases, whether a structure could adequately support multiple units. Terry noted the additional noise with multiple rooftop units would require changes in how the noise levels would be measured. As proposed, the ordinance did not allow for more than one unit per lot. Motion Passed Unanimous Unfinished Business — None New Business — Setting the September 21, 2010 Work Session Topic Terry noted that several hours of work had been devoted to updating Title 15 of the City Code. She suggested that further work on the Land Uses Allowed Table be the topic for the session. Commissioners reached a general consensus that the Development Requirements Table and Land Uses Allowed Table were to be the topic of the September 21, 2010 work session. Informational Items and Reports (No action required) Alaska Railroad Corporation Newsletter Camping Letter to Red's Burgers Vehicles in Public Right -of -Way Letter to William B. Morrell City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes September 7, 2010 Volume 6, page 411 Seward Summit Invitation and Draft Agenda Commission Comments — Commissioners thanked staff for the meeting preparations and the members of the public for providing useful feedback. Citizens' Comments — None Commissions and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments — None Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 10:48 ..m. Ae;,4 AMPIX )cc - e- D ayn Atwo• �, Sandie Roach' C.mmunity D Assistant Chair (City Seal) „�tia is mot 4S RS Yr W • • • lam °