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Home My WebLink About07162013 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes July 16, 2013 Volume 7, Page 37 ilrr. Call to Order The July 16, 2013 Special Meeting of the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Sandie Roach'. Opening Ceremony Commissioner Fleming led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll Call There were present: Sandie Roach' presiding, and Cindy Ecklund Martha Fleming Dale Butts comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Donna Glenz, City Planner Dwayne Atwood, Planning Technician Excused was: Bixler McClure, Alexis Campestre City Administration Report City Planner Donna Glenz updated the Commission on the following business items: • The Seward City Council had approved the proposed FEMA Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps and corresponding Code updates. • Glenz informed the Commission that handouts of the DFIRM Code updates were available and could be used as working copies while the City Clerk's office was preparing the official copies for distribution. 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/Fleming) Approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes July 16, 2013 Volume 7, Page 38 The following items were approved on the Consent Agenda: June 4, 2013 Regular Meeting Minutes Unfinished Business Items requiring a Public Hearing — None New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing — None Unfinished Business — None New Business — Resolution 2013 -13 of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska, providing recommendations to City Council regarding the parcel legally known as the West '/2 of Lots 19 and 20, Block 30, Original Townsite of Seward, located at 408 Madison Street Glenz noted the history of the property and the life safety issues related to the unsecured, abandoned structures and junk on the lot. The property was owned by the late D.E. Wood. She stated no heirs had been willing to accept ownership of or responsibility for the parcel and property taxes had not been paid for several years. The property ownership was to be transferred to the City of Seward through the Kenai Peninsula Borough tax foreclosure process and Administration was seeking direction on whether to retain the property or dispose of it for private use. Glenz noted the City Building Inspector and the Fire Chief had stated the structures on the parcel were unsafe and required demolition. Staff had received verbal communication from the adjoining property owner and other members of the public regarding the unsafe conditions. The City had no beneficial reason to retain the property, Glenz said. Fleming asked if the City should clean up the property, or if the property could be given to the adjoining property owner to clean up. Glenz said Administration was working with the City Attorney to determine how the property might be transferred to the adjoining property owner, who was willing to take the responsibility of clean up. Glenz noted the high cost of the City cleaning up the parcel with little option of recouping the dollars spent. There were no other development options for the land, because it did not meet the minimum size to build on, per Code. Ecklund asked if the proposed transfer of the property was to be a sole source negotiation. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes July 16, 2013 Volume 7, Page 39 Glenz said that appeared to be the best course of action since the size of the lot made it undevelopable as a standalone lot. Ecklund said she would consider placing a time limit on the cleanup of the property, because of the health and safety issues. Glenz said the adjoining property owner was very eager to clean up the property and had been concerned about fire danger and other issues for several years. She noted that the adjoining property owner had made the effort to keep the grass, bushes and weeds mowed to reduce the fire danger. Butts asked how the lot had been configured to the dimension of 50 feet wide by 60 feet deep. Glenz approached the drawing board directly behind the Commissioner dais and illustrated the warranty deed transfer that resulted in bisecting two 30 by 100 foot lots, creating the described parcel, which was too small to be developed under current City code. Motion (Fleming/Butts) Approve Resolution 2013 -13 Butts questioned if the Commission needed to indicate whether money or trade value him should be noted as part of the resolution. Ecklund reasoned that there was no benefit to setting a timeline for the cleanup, and the market value was hard to establish given the needed demolition and cleanup. It was best to get the property cleaned up and back on the tax rolls as quickly as possible, eliminating the life safety issues, she said. Butts asked if there had been some safety assessment or an audit of potentially hazardous materials. Glenz responded by noting an abatement assessment had not been conducted but there were derelict vehicles and large amounts of debris on the lot as well as the old structures. She noted the Building and Fire Department had done a minimal inspection and had expressed life safety concerns. Roach' asked if the City Attorney would be working on the various issues related to the disposal and cleanup of the property while negotiations continue with the adjoining property owner. Glenz and the City Attorney were both dedicating a considerable time and energy to finding the best solutions and methods for the proposed property transfer and subsequent cleanup, Glenz said. Motion Passed Unanimous City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes July 16, 2013 Volume 7, Page 40 j Discussion and direction for the regularly scheduled August 6, 2013 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting Glenz noted that she would be out of state during the scheduled August 6 meeting date and that no public hearing items were scheduled for that meeting. Glenz said she could seek a member of Administration to participate in the meeting in her absence, but that it might be easier to cancel the meeting. The meeting could be rescheduled to August 20, if there was a business item that needed to come before the Commission, Glenz said. Motion (Ecklund/Butts) Cancel the August 6, 2013 Planning and Zoning Commission regular meeting, and hold a special meeting on August 20, if necessary Motion Passed Unanimous Informational Items and Reports (No action required) 2013 Planning & Zoning Meeting Schedule FEMA Region X Newsletters for June and July Commission Comments Butts said he was pleased to see cleanup efforts taking place around Seward, including the recent demolition of two older structures on Second Avenue. Ecklund noted the Kenai Peninsula Borough's recent approval of area Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Ecklund also said two local properties would soon be disposed of through the tax foreclosure process and the public would be able to bid on the properties. The information was available through the borough and the Community Development office. Roach' thanked staff for the meeting preparations and also mentioned that the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District would be working with the City of Seward to improve any crosswalks in the area of the Seward Elementary School. Roach said she had also noticed several cleanup efforts around the community. Citizens' Comments — None Commission and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments — None City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes July 16, 2013 Volume 7, Page 41 i ro• Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 7:33 p. r.. , D .yne t twoo s , Sandie Roach' Planning Technician Chair (City Seal) , ,l� gti � ttlMtrr °i ��,, , pF SE !y ,,��,, �4 er 'Z' js Poil q •' • • , Y O ��i 4. V.f . Te • E • SEAL =. 1 —+— r S