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Home My WebLink About10162018 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Seward Planning&Zoning Commission Minutes October 16, 2018 Volume 7, Page 305 CALL TO ORDER The October 16, 2018 rescheduled special 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 Gary Seese Martha Fleming Nathanial Charbonneau Comprising a quorum of the Board; and Also Present Jackie C. Wilde, Planner Excused Craig Ambrosiani Kelli Hatfield Absent Tom Swann SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Administration Report Jackie Wilde updated the Commission on the following business items • Planning staff is continuing their work on the Lodging audit, and is also researching area housing trends • City Council passed a resolution supporting the location of the Seward Animal Shelter on lot 6A-2 Fort Raymond Subdivision • Will be attending a public forum sponsored by Seward Civic Engagement group on October 18`h to discuss and educate on the topic of doing business legally in Seward Other Reports,Announcements,and Presentations-None CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Carol Griswold, inside city, stated that she had sent correspondence to the Commission through the City Clerk and would appreciate confirmation that the correspondence is received. One item of correspondence related to the proposed location of the new animal shelter, and the proximity to a municipal water well, and the decibel levels emitted by the City generators. Griswold also stated that there were some important discussion items on the agenda for this evening and she hoped that the chair would suspend the rules to allow members of the public to offer input in the discussion. Sharyl Seese, inside city, stated that she had received Ms. Griswold's correspondence relating to the location of the animal shelter and hoped that the Commission would reconsider the location based on the City of Seware4 Alaska Seward Planning&Zoning Commission Minutes October 16, 2018 Volume 7, Page 306 noise levels from the generator plant. Seese suggested that the Commission look for lands outside the City limits and possibly coordinate with the Borough on operation of the shelter, since the Seward Animal shelter periodically receives animals from outside the City limits. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion(Fleming/Charbonneau) Approve agenda and consent agenda Chair Ecklund stated that this evening's agenda had been modified prior to the meeting, at the request of the Commission, in order to move two items scheduled for public hearing to New Business items for discussion so that the public would have another opportunity to hear discussion, and for the Commission to be able to do more work on these items. Motion Passed Unanimous The following item was approved on the Consent Agenda: Approval of September 4,2018 Regular Meeting Minutes New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing Resolution 2018-016 of The Planning And Zoning Commission Of The City Of Seward, Alaska, Recommending City Council Amend Portions Of Seward City Code §15.10.226 Land Uses Allowed Table,To Allow Animal Shelter In The Institutional Zoning District By Conditional Use Permit Wilde stated that the resolution before the commission this evening was only to modify the land uses allowed table to allow animal shelters in the Institutional zoning district by Conditional Use Permit. Wilde stated that when the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council approved the current proposed location for the animal shelter, it allowed the organization pursuing the construction of the new shelter to move forward with hiring an engineer to examine the proposed site and make recommendations on the suitability of the proposed location. Wilde addressed some concerns brought up by Ms. Griswold in her correspondence, stating that she had taken decibel readings from the generator. Wilde also stated that when planning staff was researching Lot 6A-2,they did note the locations of easements,underground electric lines, and the water well drainage ditch that is located near the proposed site. Wilde stated that approval of the resolution before the Commission tonight would mean that an animal shelter could be built on any site within the Institutional zoning district by Conditional Use Permit. Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Hearing no one wishing to speak,the public hearing was closed. Motion (Fleming/Charbonneau) Resolution 2018-016 of The Planning And Zoning Commission Of The City Of Seward, Alaska, Recommending City Council Amend Portions Of Seward City Code §15.10.226 Land Uses Allowed Table, To Allow Animal Shelter In The Institutional Zoning District By Conditional Use Permit City of Seward,Alaska Seward Planning&Zoning Commission Minutes October 16, 2018 Volume 7, Page 307 Fleming stated that government moves slow, and this is just one more step to building the new animal shelter. Fleming stated that in requiring the Conditional Use Permit,the public and the Commission could weigh in on more specific concerns relating to the selected site. Fleming also stated that she thinks working with the Borough sounded like a good idea, but she did not know if there would be funding. Ecklund stated that she had read the emailed correspondence sent to the Commission and trusted that administration would do their due diligence in evaluating the site. Ecklund thanked Wilde for taking decibel readings while the Electric Department was testing the generators. Motion Passed AYES: Seese, Fleming, Charbonneau, Ecklund NOES: none UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None NEW BUSINESS A. Discuss Resolution 2018-017, recommending City Council Amend Various Portions Of Title 15.20 Signs Of The Seward City Code Wilde stated that Planning staff was asked to review and bring forward recommendations for sign code updates,and that the updates before the Commission tonight were reviewed at a previous Planning and Zoning meeting. Wilde stated that one change that Commission is being asked to consider is to regulate temporary signs on a content-neutral basis so as to avoid limiting freedom of speech. Wilde asked the Commission to consider increasing the square footage of permissible commercial signage for properties with multiple street frontages or business occupancies by 20%,per previous discussions and a Commissioner recommendation. Seese asked for clarification on the use of geometric shapes to determine sign size. Wilde stated that irregularly shaped signs may currently be measured as rectangles, thereby counting the negative space surrounding the sign toward the maximum allowable. Commissioners discussed various types of signs, including freestanding signs and sandwich board signs. Chair Ecklund relaxed the rules to allow a member of the public to participate in the discussion. Carol Griswold gave an overview of changes she would like to make to the forthcoming draft ordinance. Sharyl Seese commented on the length of time temporary signs were allowed to remain posted. B. Discuss Memo regarding Maximum Density, Minimum Space, Use and Location Requirements Wilde stated that this topic is coming up for discussion because the question of density within a dwelling has come up at multiple work sessions and discussions surrounding development requirements and lodging. It is being presented as draft code language tonight, but only for the purpose of discussion, and Wilde emphasized that the language should be modified in any way the Commission or public sees fit. Wilde stated that there is no timeline for moving this forward. Chair Ecklund relaxed the rules to allow members of the public to participate in the discussion. Carol Griswold discussed safety issues surrounding sleeping within habitable living areas that do not meet adopted building code standards for safety, such as egress windows. General discussion followed relating to the intention of the proposed code change. Wilde stated that this proposal is designed to place limitations on the maximum number of occupants in a residential dwelling. City of Seward,Alaska Seward Planning& Zoning Commission Minutes October 16, 2018 Volume 7, Page 308 Commission Comments Charbonneau-thanked staff Seese-thanked staff,the chair, and the public for attending Fleming-stated that she is having issues accessing her city email account,would like a reset link Ecklund-stated that she is also having city email access issues, requests a reset link be sent out Citizens' Comments Linda Paquette, outside city, told everyone that this week's Civic Engagement training had to be moved due to a holiday, but that they will be meeting regularly at the Library. Paquette also asked about a recent compliance issue with local business signage. Commissions and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments Wilde stated that she had put in a request to reset the above mentioned email accounts and will follow up with that. In response to citizens' comments, Wilde stated that a local business was in the process of installing new signs without a permit that also happened to be larger than what is permitted by Code, and Community Development staff worked with the business and the sign contractor to permit code compliant signs. Wilde also stated that an identical scenario had occurred this past winter with another local business in the same industry, and staff worked with them to design code compliant signs as well. In both instances, sign size was the issue. ADJOURNMENT(Charbonneau) The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. V / ' • Jac ' C. Wilde Cindy L. Ec d Planner Chair .4 OF SE jp'•., (Cit '� ,..O R9Tos '. • I SEAL �to��gT�•...1:1Pg�Q'��