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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04072015 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commiss(on Minutes April 7, 2015 Volume 7,Page 125 Call to Order The April 7, 2015 Regular Meeting of the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Cindy Ecklund. Opening Ceremony Commissioner Seese led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll Call There were present: Cindy Ecklund presiding, and Martha Fleming Janet Coulter Gary Seese Margaret Anderson comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Donna Glenz, City Planner Dwayne Atwood, Planning Technician Excused was: Tom Swann City Administration Report City Planner Donna Glenz updated the Commission on the following business items: • Glenz noted that stored materials on tables at the meeting belonged to auditors who were using Council chambers to review City records. • Glenz said a new events calendar was provided online at: http://events.seward.com/ • The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly was scheduled to meet in Seward on April 21. The Assembly agenda included a proposed $50,000 grant to update the City's comprehensive plan, Glenz said. • A Planning and Zoning Commission work session was scheduled for 6 p.m. on April 21, in the upstairs meeting room at the Community Library & Museum. The topic was the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. • The annual Seward Permitting Day was scheduled for April 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the K.M. Rae Building. • The Seward/Bear Creek Flood Service Area board and the City of Seward planned to mail an informational letter to the public regarding floodplain development. City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes April 7, 2015 Volume 7, Page 126 Other Reports,Announcements & Presentations—None Citizens' Comments on any subject except those items scheduled for Public Hearing— John French, inside City limits, said Seward is a certified local government and has an Historic Preservation Commission. The Historic Preservation Commission should review and advise the City on actions of potential historic interest. French pointed out that the Historic Preservation Commission and its input had been overlooked, and requested the support of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion(Fleming/Anderson) Approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The following items were approved on the Consent Agenda: March 3,2015 Regular Meeting Minutes Special Items— Election of Chair and Vice-Chair Glenz stated the rules for the nomination and election process. Anderson asked Staff if both the Chair and Vice-Chair could be nominated at the same time. Separate nominations were required, Glenz said. °R Ecklund opened the floor to accept nominations for Chair. , ; ; • , Motion (Fleming/Anderson) Close the nominations for Chair and elect Commissioner Ecklund as Chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Motion Passed Unanimous Consent Ecklund opened the floor to accept nominations for Vice Chair. Motion (Anderson/Fleming) Close the nominations for Vice Chair and elect Gary Seese as Vice Chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Motion Passed Unanimous Consent City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes April 7, 2015 Volume 7, Page 127 Unfinished Business Items requiring a Public Hearing—None New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing— Resolution 2015-06 of the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska recommending City Council approve the attached Ordinance amending the Zoning and Land Use Plan designation of City owned Lot 4, Fort Raymond Subdivision, located at 2001 Seward Highway, from Institutional(INS)To Auto Commercial (AC) Glenz provided the history of the City lease to the Chamber of Commerce. She noted the location on wall maps and explained how the parcel could be utilized for more commercial activity if it were zoned Auto Commercial, which was appropriate for Seward Highway frontage. Glenz noted that nearby property owners were notified through the public hearing process. Staff supported the proposed rezone, Glenz said. Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one requested to be heard and the public hearing was closed. Motion(Fleming/Coulter) Approve Resolution 2015-06 Fleming noted that a work session was held and the proposed Auto Commercial zoning designation was more appropriate for the existing use. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2015-07 of the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska recommending City Council approve the renaming of the north/south right of way currently known as Hemlock Street to Crabapple Street, located within the southwest corner of the Forest Acres Subdivision Glenz pointed out the right of way location on wall maps. The right of way was established in 1978, but had not been completely developed, Glenz said. Several street names were considered, and duplicate street names within the Kenai Peninsula Borough had been eliminated. An adjacent property owner had proposed the name Crabapple and canvased nearby property owners, Glenz said.No comments from the public had been received. Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Sandie Roach', inside City limits, said she only recently learned of the proposed street name change. Roach' said she did not think the Crabapple Street name was in keeping with the street City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes April 7, 2015 Volume 7,Page 128 theme of the Forest Acres neighborhood. She suggested that Tamarack was more suitable, and possibly Larch. No one else requested to be heard and the public hearing was closed. Motion (Anderson/Fleming) Approve Resolution 2015-07 Anderson said she did,not see any problem with the name Crabapple Street. Coulter noted that a work session was held to discuss the proposed name change and several names were considered. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2015-08 of the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska recommending City Council approve Council Resolution 2015-020, donating a portion of Pat Williams Park for development of a senior housing facility with conditions, as amended March 23, 2015 (as attached) Glenz said the resolution was intended to provide a recommendation to City Council regarding the proposed donation of park land for a senior housing facility. The proposal had been amended by Council, reducing the land for the proposed project to .7 acres, Glenz said. Council requested that the Planning and Zoning Commission hold a public hearing to provide additional public comment time and provide a recommendation to the Council on Resolution 2015-020, as amended. Glenz pointed out the location of the parcel and explained the history of the land, including a geotechnical report that indicated the property included fractured ground and was in a high risk classification. The property was acquired by the City through the Alaska Housing Financing Corp. urban renewal program after the 1964 earthquake. No deed restrictions were placed on the property. Pat Williams Park was named and identified by City Council resolution in 2003. The area was never owned by the late Pat Williams, a longtime Seward resident. Glenz noted staff had received numerous comments and all had been included in the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting packet. Additional comments received prior to the meeting were provided to the Commission as a laydown. Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Kelly Hartz, inside City limits, said her home was near Pat Williams Park. Hartz was not opposed to senior housing, but opposed the use of Pat Williams Park. Hartz pointed out the Municipal Lands Management Plan indicated Waterfront Park should remain park land. Signatures supporting the park had been collected and more would be gathered, Hartz said. The park area was at risk for tsunami inundation and not suitable for senior housing, she said. Hartz also pointed out • •r City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes • April 7, 2015 Volume 7,Page 129 the park generated camping fee revenue. The City owns many parcels and another location could be considered, Hartz said. Andy Wilder, inside City, said he opposed the use of Pat Williams Park for housing. Park land benefits the entire community, while senior housing would benefit only a few, Wilder said. A loss of green space and new traffic patterns would reduce nearby property values, Wilder said. City long term plans do not support the use of park areas for housing developments. The development proposal seemed rushed and funding appeared questionable,he said. Kathleen Barkley, inside City, said she was asked to sign petitions related to the land issue. Barkley said some of the information she received was not accurate. Barkley said the campground area generates revenue during a few months of the year, while seniors are in town throughout the year. She pointed out that much of town is in a tsunami inundation zone. Barkley said citizens needed to give the senior housing issue more thought and find a solution. Candy Norman, outside City, said she was part of the group working to provide non income based senior housing in Seward so that older residents did not have to move to other Kenai Peninsula communities. Norman said the board of directors at the Seward Senior Center was in favor of the proposed development. Many were in need of senior housing, she said. Norman said many seniors who rebuilt their homes after the 1964 earthquake had to live elsewhere. Diane McRae, inside City, said she was a senior, as well as her husband, and they wanted senior housing. Groups had previously tried to establish senior housing, but had not been successful. The Pat Williams Park location was suggested as a potential location, and the current group began to work through the public process to obtain property. McRae asked to read from a prepared statement and the Commission suspended the rules to allow more time for testimony. McRae said the proposal would use a small portion of Pat Williams Park, and the project would include a single-story structure and would not impact the view shed. She said that much of the town was in an area that would be impacted by tsunami. The housing was intended to be affordable,but not income based, she said. Commissioner Anderson requested a copy of the written statement for the record. Andrew Bacon, inside City, said Seward needed housing across all demographic groups. He said the proposed location for senior housing at Pat Williams Park would result in conflicts between residents and campers due to noise,traffic and other issues. Bacon suggested that a larger parcel be used to include more senior housing units. John French, inside City, said he believed the proposed non income based housing would have no rental subsidy, but also no rental rate cap. He said the proposed development might not be affordable for the majority of Seward seniors. French said he opposed the City donation of any portion of Pat Williams Park. The park land became available because of natural disaster, he said. The Seward shoreline could be impacted by storm surges in the future,further reducing the amount of land that could be enjoyed as park, French said. City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes April 7, 2015 Volume 7,Page 130 Mike Brittain, inside City, said the proposed donation of City land was a giveaway that he opposed. Brittain said he was in favor of senior housing, but against using a portion of Pat Williams Park. Mark Kansteiner, inside City, thanked Commissioners for their work. Kansteiner said the City's Municipal Lands Management Plan called for retaining Waterfront Park. The park generated revenue that would surpass the dollars raised from the limited tax on paid rent by senior residents, he said. Kansteiner read a passage written by Pat Williams, describing the attributes of the park. Regardless of who the park was named for, public park land should remain park, Kansteiner said. City-owned parcels on First Avenue should be considered for development, he said. Other private and public land owners, including the Kenai Peninsula Borough, could be approached for land donations. Kansteiner said that if a portion of park land was given away, additional portions of park could be used for development. Pat Williams Park is a high risk zone not suitable for development, he said. Kansteiner said the Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiative made reference to a geotechnical analysis for the proposed development site, but he was not aware of the analysis being made available. It was not in the public interest to house seniors in a tsunami zone,he said. Patty Linville, inside City, said that public projects do not go quickly. She was involved in the Community Library Project, and said a, pre-development process was required. The process included making sure a project meets a documented need, is consistent with community plans and that opportunities for collaboration were considered. Linville said a project should include realistic budgets and other financial considerations; as well.' Linville referred to the Municipal Lands Management Plan, pointing out that the proposed park donation challenged the recommendations of the plan. Linville said she enjoyed the park and valued it and asked the Commission to fail the resolution of support. Bob Linville, inside City, said he supported senior housing and appreciated the work that volunteers had done on the proposed development. He said putting the housing within the park would generate too much opposition - the community could'expend that energy looking for a better location. Linville said he would be willing to volunteer to help with the effort. Tim Pichotta, inside City, said finding a location that would accommodate more than five residential units would be a better idea: He was opposed to more traffic that could be generated. Pichotta said nearby campers may be too noisy for senior residents. , Sue Maurice, outside City, supported senior housing and said the community needed to find a solution. There were numerous vacant lots in town that might be suitable for a senior housing development, she said. Nan Thompson, inside City, said there was no dispute that senior housing is needed in the community. The portion of the park that would be dedicated to the project was underutilized. Alternatives should be downtown and within walking distance, she said. e r.. • City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes April 7, 2015 Volume 7,Page 131 Wadeen Hepworth, inside City, said the proposal to give away a portion of Pat Williams Park was dividing the town's residents. There was no need to rush the project, she said. Hepworth questioned a development strategy of having to make a quick decision in order to gain access to potential funding. She suggested looking for additional locations for senior housing. Matthew Hall, outside City, said the community needs housing for the working poor as well as the elderly. He thanked the volunteers who had worked on the senior housing issue and said it was important for community residents to provide their comments and ideas. Linda Lasota, outside City, said senior housing was needed and the working poor need housing as well. She objected to giving away City property for five housing units, she said. Lasota suggested the residents of the community unite to find a better location. Ron Wille, outside City, said he had served on local boards and proposals had been presented with urgency, often due to funding. The land selection process for the envisioned senior housing should be more transparent, he said. He suggested that the land selection process begin again with more community participation. Carol Griswold, inside City, questioned the process for land selection and said she had not seen any geotechnical analysis for the site that Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiative might have, despite her request. Griswold encouraged the use of deed restrictions to protect park land. She asked that the Commission fail the resolution of support. Helen Lindemuth, inside City, said the late Pat Williams would not want the park to be developed. Lindemuth said studies indicate outdoor recreation promotes good health. There are also environmental benefits to keeping trees and green space, she said. Lindemuth requested that Pat Williams Park not be used for development. Wadeen Hepworth said it was important to learn more about the developer. John French said the Historic Preservation Commission was scheduled to meet on April 8 to discuss the proposed park land donation and welcomed residents to participate and provide comments. Candy Norman said the senior housing group approached various land owners before dealing with the City, and Pat Williams Park was suggested.Norman said she wanted to reiterate that other land owners were approached,but they were unwilling to donate property. Andy Wilder said he wanted to note that the City suggested Pat Williams Park land as an option for development. He wanted to know where the suggestion originated. Diane McRae said the property site at Pat Williams Park was suggested, and the senior housing group moved quickly. McRae said the location was not necessarily the best choice, but discussions with other land owners had not progressed. Senior housing development efforts failed in the past, which prompted quick action, she said. City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes April 7, 2015 Volume 7,Page 132 Mel Woodard, inside City, said he wanted the Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiative to be more forthcoming with details about the proposed senior housing project. The process should be transparent,he said. Katelyn Rullman, inside City, said the community conversation needed to be broadened to solve the apparent problems. There was no need to rush with the current proposal,Rullman said. Diane McRae said the apparent rush was due to questions about securing funding for the project. She also said that previous failures to develop senior housing created a sense of urgency. No one else requested to be heard and the public hearing was closed. Motion(Anderson/Fleming) Approve Resolution 2015-08 • Fleming thanked the public for providing comment at the meeting. Senior housing is an issue the community needs to work on, she said. The work on updating the Municipal Lands Management Plan did include the recommendation that the park land remain, she said. Seese said he appreciated the ideas presented by the public. Seese said he believed that nearby campers might make too much noise for seniors. The park should remain park,he said. Anderson noted her family history and said she would like to remain in Seward, where she was born. Anderson said she remembered working on senior housing in the 1990s. She said it appeared there was considerable opposition to all types of projects. The small portion of the park that would be dedicated to the development would not severely impact the rest of the park, Anderson said. She also pointed out that various developments in town would be impacted by tsunami, but they were built with community support. Coulter said she agreed with the need for senior housing, but the park would provide the greater good for a greater number of people. Ecklund thanked the meeting participants for providing comment. She also reiterated that the Historic Preservation Commission would be taking public comment on the issue. Ecklund said the Commission was tasked with overseeing public health and safety. She questioned placing a housing development within a tsunami zone. • Anderson noted that normally the park land donation issue would not have come before the Planning and Zoning Commission,but additional public comment was requested by City Council. Motion Failed Yes: Anderson No: Seese,Coulter,Fleming,Ecklund Unfinished Business—None New Business Items—None City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes April 7, 2015 Volume 7,Page 133 Informational Items and Reports (No action required) FEMA Region X Newsletter 2015 Planning and Zoning Meeting Schedule April Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Meeting Reminder April 21 Work Session Reminder Commission Comments Coulter thanked the public for attending and providing ideas. Seese thanked the public for the research and information. Fleming said many good questions were presented. The ideas needed to be brought forward to City Council, she said. Ecklund thanked the group of volunteers that brought the senior housing issue to the greater public. She was encouraged that a solution would be found, she said. Citizens' Comments- Diane McRae said she wanted to point out that Steven Rouse, of the Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiative,was not present at the meeting because of a family medical issue in Oregon. Commission and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments—None Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 9:14 p.m. OA' D ayn;'Atwo1' Cindy Eli d P anning Technician ••e�eeaecaepB Chair � (City Seal) o�'� on.4 0` 4 �/ 2� `8 •�� 69 a a a p 0 e SEAL o m �` �. �4�i .e PPS Cef°., .4.:•i 1 "•°vex, t � yea g4- OF i Q � QarL�rl�3icgi`'iK