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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04062010 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes April 6, 2010 Volume 6, Page 3 8 8 Call to Order lir.. The April 6, 2010 Regular Meeting of the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chair Roach'. Opening Ceremony Commissioner DeMarco led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll Call There were present: Sandie Roach' presiding, and Tena Morgan Cindy Ecklund Steven Heinrich Frank DeMarco comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Christy Terry, Community Development Director Dwayne Atwood, Community Development Assistant City Administration Report Community Development Directory Christy Terry updated the Commission of the following business items: • Robert's Rules of Order books were distributed to Commissioners. • Commissioners were asked to please help with the national census surveys being distributed in the community to encourage their prompt return. Commissioners were informed of v v. ww_.t " ennsus.( JON as a resource. • Commissioners were informed that Federal Emergency Management Administration FIRM maps had been received and the public would be informed of all flood zone designations outlined in the maps. • FEMA Region 10 was scheduled to come to the community for meetings on June 17 and June 18 to answer questions about base flood elevations and other questions regarding the new mapping. • The Kenai Peninsula Borough Economic Development District was conducting a business survey to identify barriers to economic development on the Kenai Peninsula. The survey was available online. • Commissioners were informed that Bob Hicks resigned his position with the City of Seward. Hicks had been preparing the Title 15 draft revision to the Seward City Code. The vacant position had been advertized. • Seward Street View was available on Google Earth, providing a 360 degree view of many city streets in Seward. The viewer was also available via the Kenai Peninsula Borough's web site. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes April 6, 2010 Volume 6, Page 3 8 9 • Community Development Director Christy Terry and Association Planner Donna Glenz attended a FEMA flood mapping training. Administrative Assistant Dwayne Atwood manned the Community Development Department during the week of March 22, 2010. • The Library / Museum Project was at 35 percent design completion. The design was slated to go before City Council on April 26 for approval. 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 Motion Passed Unanimous Consent The following items were approved on the Consent Agenda: February 2, 2010 Regular Meeting Minutes Special Items wr Election of Chair and Vice -Chair Roach opened the floor to Chair nominations Motion (Heinrich/Ecklund) Re- elect Roach' as Chair No further nominations were received, nominations closed. Request for Unanimous Consent Motion Passed Unanimous Consent Roach requested nomination for Vice - Chair. Motion (Morgan/Ecklund) Re- elect Heinrich as Vice -Chair No further nominations were received, nominations closed. Request for Unanimous Consent Motion Passed Unanimous Consent Unfinished Business Items requiring a Public Hearing — None City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes Volume 6, Page 3 9 0 April 6, 2010 New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing — Resolution 2010 -03, recommending City Council Approval of the Rezoning of Lots 2, 4 & 5, Block 2, Oceanview, from Single Family Residential (R1) to Auto Commercial (AC) in compliance with the Land Use Plan, located on the West side of Third Avenue between Van Buren and D Streets Terry reviewed Resolution 2010 -03. She noted the current zoning map had been provided to show the detail of the proposed rezone. Also, the proposed rezone would bring the lots into compliance with the City Land Use Plan. In response to commission questions Terry stated parking requirements for the Auto Commercial district were required by Code and were based on the particular use of the property. She noted that the applicant had been into the office and discussed uses and parking requirements. Terry explained the access for parking on the lots was from the alley. In response to Heinrich, Terry noted that no objections had been received. She also noted, in response to Morgan that single family homes were allowed within the Auto Commercial district. Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the rp public hearing was opened. Seward resident Blake Wooten, the primary applicant for the new zoning designation, said his ultimate goal was to relocate his hair cutting business to the property. Wooten said he was aware of the parking regulations and was confident the parcel had the required parking for the residence and the business. No one else requested to be heard and the public hearing was closed. Motion (Ecklund/Morgan) Approve Resolution 2010 -03 Heinrich said he believed the rezone was prudent in that it would bring the properties into compliance with the Land Use Plan. DeMarco said he had some concerns about the commercial operations that may occupy the rezoned lots in the future and the possible placement of parking along the Third Avenue frontage. Motion Passed Unanimous Unfinished Business — None New Business -- Resolution 2010 -04 Recommending City Council Adoption of the All- Hazard City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes April 6, 2010 Volume 6, Page 3 91 Mitigation Plan for the City Of Seward Terry explained that the Kenai Peninsula Borough gh was in the process of updating its All - Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan has already been adopted by City Council, and the current version included updates the City departments would like to adopt as part of the required update. Updates included the Japanese Creek Levee and road to the Seward Highway, as well as the most recent coastal storm surge. The Seward plan would be adopted as an annex to the Kenai Peninsula Borough plan. Seward Fire Chief David Squires provided further explanation, adding that the main reason for the updates was to help secure federal funding. The previous plan was adopted in 2004. Flooding is the greatest hazard in the Seward area, but the City has been making improvements to mitigate future damage, Squires said. Ecklund asked why installing the electrical transmission line underground in the area near Mile 22 of the Seward Highway did not rank higher on the priority list of upcoming projects. Squires said the list was ranked, in part, by how difficult it may be to gain funding. Placing the transmission line project within the mitigation portion of the plan may help with gaining a grant for the work. Roach' asked how the projects were ranked as either short term or long term goals. Projects with the otential to be p e completed within the City's budget or more easily funded were categorized as short term, Squires said. Long term projects and goals would be harder to fund. Motion (Heinrich/Morgan) Approve Resolution 2010 -04 Heinrich asked about the schedule for adoption of the plan. Terry explained the plan was to be forwarded to City Council for approval, then to the Kenai Peninsula Borough to be included in the Borough plan. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2010 -05 Recommending the Commission Priorities from April 2010 to April 2011 Terry thanked Commissioners for their hard work with the City Council to create the list of priorities. Terry also asked the Commission to change the review date to April 26 by amendment. She noted the priorities are set on an annual basis. Roach asked about the schedule for drafting wind energy conversion system code for Title 15 of City Code. She said it was her understanding that the wind energy code was to be drafted separate from the other Title 15 revisions. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes April 6, 2010 Volume 6, Page 3 9 2 Terry agreed the wind energy code was to be added separately to the priority list. Motion (Ecklund/Morgan) Approve Resolution 2010 -05 Motion (Heinrich/Ecldund) Amend Resolution 2010 -05 by adding a Number 6 item to the short and medium term goals, stating: Wind and Energy Ordinance. Motion Passed Unanimous Motion (Ecklund/Morgan) Amend the Resolution 2010-05 last whereas to change the date from April 12 to April 26, 2010 Motion Passed Unanimous Vote on Main Motion Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2010 -06 Requesting the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Division of Community and Regional Affairs Provide Onsite Planning Commission Training Terry explained that the state Department of Commerce had offered training to Planning & Zoning Commission members in cities around Alaska. The department requested a resolution, as well as a letter from staff, listing some optional dates and times for the training. The training was to take place after June, and the session was plan to be approximately three hours long. Motion (Ecklund/Heinrich) Approve Resolution 2010 -06 Ecklund said the training may provide a good opportunity to promote the work and efforts of the Commission and recruit interested community members. Roach' noted the department could begin publicizing land use and zoning issues that may generate more interest in the Commission and its duties. Terry noted that the department has publicized issues related to illegal camping last season and that some issues, including trash pickup, would be focused on during the coming months. Commissioners and staff suggested a meeting time of 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, October 19. Unanimous Motion Passed City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes April 6, 2010 Volume 6, Page 3 9 3 Scheduling a South Harbor Uplands Work Session with PACAB Terry said City Council members have requested that the Planning & Zoning Commission ..r hold a work session with PACAB to discuss development of the South Harbor Uplands. Ecklund asked if the meeting could be held in the very near future, given the number of meetings scheduled for the coming months. Commissioners and staff agreed on a tentative meeting date of May 11, 2010. Informational Items and Reports (No action required) Reminder — April 20 Appeal Hearing, 7 p.m. in City Council Chamber Terry noted that Commissioners were to receive their packets for the appeal hearing on the morning of April 19. Staff intended to deliver packets to expedite the distribution, Terry said. Roach asked why the meeting was not scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The attorney for the appellant requested the later time, Terry said. Commission Comments Morgan noted the meeting was productive and thanked staff for the support. ..r Ecklund said it was important for the Commission to move forward with its ambitious schedule, despite having two vacant seats. The Commission should keep all of its scheduled meeting dates and meet the goals set by the City Council. Citizens' Comments Commissions and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m. Dwayne Atwood, Sandie Roach' Community Development Assistant Chair *'.,� O' S p ��i (City Se .� ° N �`q�'�' 1 • OS • • A., • al . A