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Home My WebLink About11032010 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes November 3, 2010 Volume 6, Page 413 Call to Order The November 3, 2010 Special Meeting of the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:55 p.m. by Chair Roach'. Opening Ceremony Commissioner Heinrich led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll Call There were present: Sandie Roach' presiding, and Tena Morgan Cindy Ecklund Steven Heinrich comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Christy Terry, Community Development Director Dwayne Atwood, Community Development Assistant Excused was: Frank DeMarco City Administration Report Community Development Directory Christy Terry updated the Commission on the following business items: • A town hall economic development forum was scheduled for 7 p.m. November 4 at the IMS Rae Building. • A Seward City Council work session on camera surveillance policy was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. November 8 in City Council Chambers. • PACAB was scheduled to hold a special meeting at Noon on November 10. • City of Seward offices were scheduled to be closed Thursday, November 11 for Veteran's Day. • A Planning & Zoning Commission work session was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 16. • A Seward City Council work session on the capital budget was scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, November 22. • A budget modification work session was held with City Council and the Planning & Zoning Commission, the Community Development Department budgets were unchanged for 2010 and 2011. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes Volume 6, Page 414 November 3, 2010 • The City Manager and Mayor were continuing to meet with representatives of the Coastal Villages Region Fund. Terry stated the group operates several vessels and was interested in oral locating to a coastal port in Alaska. • A city seat remained vacant on the Seward/Bear Creek Flood Service Board. • Terry also stated her last day as Community Development Director was November 26. She noted she had accepted employment with the Alaska Railroad Corporation. 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: September 7, 2010 Regular Meeting Minutes Items requiring a Public Hearing Business q g g — None New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing Resolution 2010 -14 of the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission, granting a variance from Seward City Code 15.10.245(e)(4)(a) Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS), to allow the placement of the WECS structure within the north and east 1.1 setback development requirement on Lot 2, Block 1, Leirer Industrial Subdivision, 1904 Alameda Street, within the Industrial Zoning District. Terry stated administration supported the variance request. She noted the Community Development Department worked with the applicant to asure the variance requirements were met. Terry outlined the variance requirements for the Commission and the department's findings. Terry clarified several questions from the Commission. Terry stated a building permit for the WECS foundation had been issued, noting applicant was made aware that the required variance could be denied. Previous applicants have taken the risk of starting a project without all of the required permits, because of the short construction season. posted and published as required of public hearing being p uired by law was noted p 9 and the public hearing was opened. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes November 3, 2010 Volume 6, Page 4 15 No members of the public signed in to speak. lbw Fred Esposito, director of the Alaska Vocational Technical Center, asked to speak to the application and the project. Esposito stated the WECS tower was placed in the best possible location. The demands of the short construction season required that the foundation work be completed. In response to a question from Heinrich, Esposito stated the proposed tower and turbine were to be installed by January 1, 2011. Roach thanked Esposito for answering project questions. No one else requested to be heard and the public hearing was closed. Motion (Ecklund/Morgan) Approve Resolution 2010 -14 Morgan stated the apparent risk of the tower failing was very low and asked that the variance request be approved without amendments. Roach' asked Esposito if the plans that had been submitted and acknowledged by neighboring property owners were the same version of the plans included in the variance application. low Terry noted the date on the submitted plans. Motion Passed Unanimous Unfinished Business — None New Business -- Approve the 2011 Planning and Zoning meeting schedule Terry reviewed the prepared 2011 meeting schedule noting the Commission adopts the next years schedule in November or December annually. Terry asked Commissioners to point out any schedule conflicts they might have. Ecklund stated the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission had a policy of holding only one meeting during the months of July and December. Morgan stated her agreement to cancel the July 5, 2011 regular meeting and the December 20, 2011 work session. .,. Roach' said she did not want to deny the public any opportunities to come before the Commission. She stated she would agree to cancel the December 20 work session. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes November 3, 2010 Volume 6, Page 416 Ecklund stated that summer residents should be able to work around the Commission schedule. The schedule had not created problems for the Borough, Ecklund said. Motion (Heinrich/Morgan) Approve the 2011 Planning and Zoning meeting schedule Motion (Ecklund/Morgan) Amend the 2011 Planning and Zoning meeting schedule to limit the meetings in July and December to a regular meeting on July 19, canceling the July 5 regular meeting, and canceling the December 20 work session. Motion Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed As Amended Unanimous Informational Items and Reports (No action required) Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Letter Regarding Seward Summit Proposed Training by the Alaska Department of Commerce National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating Nonconforming Use Certification, Lots 17 through 19, Original Townsite In response to a question, Terry stated the Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development had planned to provide training in October, but did not because of budget constraints. The training date may be set for January, but the Community Development Department would wait for word of availability. Roach stated she was pleased with the local increase in the National Flood Insurance Program rating system. Commission Comments Heinrich said the WECS foundation construction could have been included in the Community Development Department's findings for the project variance. Morgan stated she did not consider the foundation construction when making her decision about whether to grant the WECS project variance. Ecklund said she would like the November 16, 2010 work session to include a Community Development Department update, including the status of any job postings for department director. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes November 3, 2010 Volume 6, Page 417 Terry said she would list the department update as a work session topic. Roach' stated that all of the public safety issues with the WECS project were considered. The proposed training facility and source of alternative energy would be valuable assets for the community. Citizens' Comments — None Commissions and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments — None Adjournment Mee g adjourned at 9:5 , p.m. // / y D ayne Atwo • • , Sandie Roach' C I mmunity 1 evelopment Assistant Chair (City Seal) so 1 • s a "mow ° �I A • • �� ® •E 1, � • se— - ° °rrrrr A