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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05032011 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes May 3, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 3 8 Call to Order The May, 2011 Regular Meeting of the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chair Roach'. Opening Ceremony Commissioner Seabury led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll Call There were present: Sandie Roach' presiding, and Steven Heinrich Dale Butts Cindy Ecklund Scott Seabury comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Michelle Weston, Assistant City Manager Donna Glenz, City Planner Dwayne Atwood, Planning Assistant Excused was: Tena Morgan City Administration Report City Planner Donna Glenz updated the Commission on the following business items: • The National Park Service had begun working on plans to remodel the "Old Solly's" building at Washington Street and Fifth Avenue. The preliminary plans included adding office space. • City- sponsored bus service was scheduled to begin for the season starting May 20. • Harbor Opening Weekend festivities were planned for May 20 through May 22. • Federal flood maps were scheduled to complete and presented to the City by September 2, 2011, Glenz stated. The completion date had been revised previously by FEMA. • Seward Police Officer Doreen Valadez had been working with the local bear safety program coordinators to provide public information, via mailing or online. • Seward placed second in the Pacific Region as a contestant in the World Fishing Network.Com, Ultimate Fishing Town USA contest. Winners were to be determined by online voting. Voting was scheduled to begin again on May 10, 2011. City staff was assisting to inform the public. Other Reports, Announcements & Presentations City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes May 3, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 3 9 Assistant City Manager Michelle Weston reported to Commissioners a vacancy on the Seward / Bear Creek Flood Service Area board. A representative from within the city is needed. Weston also said the board would be posting some signs in locations outside of the city that indicate the base flood elevations, as determined by FEMA. Citizens' Comments on any subject except those items scheduled for Public Hearing - None Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion (Heinrich/Ecklund) Approve the Agenda and the Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous Consent The following items were approved on the Consent Agenda: April 5, 2011 Regular Meeting Minutes April 12, 2011 Special Meeting Minutes Unfinished Business Items requiring a Public Hearing -- None New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing Resolution 2011 -07 of the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska, granting the Seward Mariners Memorial Organization a floodplain variance from Seward City Code Chapter 15.25 Floodplain Management, to construct the Mariners Memorial site on the fill of the South Harbor Uplands within a mapped high hazard velocity zone, located on the south side of the South Harbor Uplands, within the Park Zoning District Glenz described the project area and Zoning District. The Mariners Memorial Organization has worked with the City for several years to advance the proposed project. City Council adopted conceptual plans for the proposed monument, which included the location, Glenz said. Glenz described how the applicant would receive a variance from the restriction that construction not be conducted on fill in a velocity zone. Glenz reported that the FEMA flood maps were scheduled to be replaced and adopted in early 2012. The new maps would remove the South Harbor Uplands from the velocity zone. Glenz outlined the conditions and findings for the floodplain variance. There were not comments during the public notice process, other than clarification regarding the proposed project location, Glenz said. Commissioner Butts asked about the proposed location has some kind of marker indicating where the monument would be built. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes May 3, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 4 0 Glenz said a public notice sign was posted near the location. Roach' asked how long ago the aerial photo of the proposed memorial site, provided in the agenda packet, was taken. Glenz said the aerial image was from 2008. Roach' asked if any erosion had occurred at the location since the aerial image was taken. Glenz said she was not aware of any erosion at the location. Ecklund asked about Neil A. Armstrong Avenue, the former name for Railway Avenue that is still listed on 1981 FEMA flood maps. Glenz explained the former name was accepted for a short time and is listed on out -of -date maps. Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Christy Terry, inside City Limits, represented the board for the Mariners Memorial h im organization, and told Commissioners that the group had been working on the proposed project since 2003. The group had received some amount of funding and a City of Seward building permit, Terry said. The site had been marked. Terry also provided the Commission with a conceptual design and explained the planned phases of the project. Terry thanked City staff for supporting the request for a variance. Terry further explained some of the structural details and National Flood Insurance Program requirements. Roach' suspended the rules and Commissioners asked Terry for more details about the proposed project. Heinrich asked Terry if any utilities, including electricity, would be utilized for the memorial. Terry said there was no plan for electricity. If electricity was desired in the future, the Mariners Memorial organization would go through the building permit process. Butts asked whether flags or masts would be positioned at the memorial site. No banners or flags were being considered, Terry said. Roach' asked if the Mariners Memorial organization would have liability insurance for the site. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes May 3, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 41 The City of Seward was taking over the project, Terry said. Heinrich asked if the funding and construction was being done entirely with donations. Terry said the project would be undertaken with private donations. Terry further explained that the Mariners Memorial organization would be responsible for the structure, but the land would remain under City ownership. The conditions would be outlined in a Parks and Recreations Department agreement, Terry said. There were no additional requests to be heard and the public hearing was closed. Motion (Ecklund/Heinrich) Approve Resolution 2011 -07 Ecklund noted that other memorials and public improvements had been donated to the City and in some cases had fallen into disrepair. Ecklund said she hoped the Mariners Memorial organization would continue to function and help maintain the memorial structure. Ecklund voiced her support for the project. Motion Passed Unanimous Unfinished Business – None New Business — Resolution 2011 -08 of the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission recommending the Planning and Zoning Commission priorities from April, 2011 to April 2012 Glenz explained that the priorities had been updated, with Commission and Council comments. Motion (Ecklund/Butts) Approve Resolution 2011 -08 Ecklund suggested that a listed funding priority for Commissioner training be revised. Glenz explained the intention of the funding priority and how funding would be sought. Weston addressed the Commission, further explaining the various training opportunities that would be available. Motion (Ecklund/Heinrich) Continuing Priority No. 5 should read, "Work with City Council to appropriate sufficient funding for Planning and Zoning Commissioner training." City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes May 3, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 4 2 Commission discussed options surrounding amending the resolution. Seabury asked Administration why more funding was not currently dedicated to Commissioner training. Glenz explained that budget shortfalls led to the training budget cuts. Planning and Zoning does have a line item in the annual budget for training and the Commission can work bring a budget figure forward to Council. Motion Passed Unanimous Heinrich said he was pleased that Council approved of his proposal to pursue a Resource Management Development Impact Study, as funding allowed. Heinrich said he planned to work with a photographer to produce images of the surrounding hillsides and could possibly provide a Resource Management Zoning District report. Commissioners suggested further planning could be done in a work session. Main Motion Passed Unanimous Informational Items and Reports (No action required) 2011 Planning and Zoning Meeting and Agenda Cut -Off Dates Commission Comments Seabury thanked Terry for making a presentation regarding the Mariners Memorial project. Ecklund asked Administration if any members of the public had made inquiries regarding the continued revisions the Commission has made to Title 15 of the City Code. Glenz said there had been no public comments, other than questions regarding changes to the Sign Code. Roach' thanked Commissioners and Administration for recent efforts. Roach' also thanked the participants in the Super Saturday Cleanup that took place on April 30, 2011. Roach' also mentioned a community member's suggestion that a right turn lane be added to Sea Lion Drive at the Seward Highway to ease morning commuter traffic congestion. Butts said a lot at that intersection was designated for a satellite fire station and would support the turn lane addition if it did not impact the potential station. l... Citizens' Comments — None City of Sewant Alaska Planning Commission Minutes May 3, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 4 3 sol Commission and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments Glenz explained the history of Sea Lion Drive and nearby school development and how the current traffic pattern emerged. Several years ago the public voiced opposition to routing traffic past Seward High School, Glenz stated. As a result, there is now added traffic congestion during morning work commutes when children are dropped off at school. Adjournment Me • 'ng adjourned at 8:331 . • i . -ayne • twood, Sandie Roach' C mmunity Development Assistant Chair (City Seal) oos II/18.. ■.•` O� S ' ••.. ■ •y•, • . a i, f* 1 Is • s E.AL • • It 0 j` �'jAr � �•• a Vim Y .Aa A '' •.,'F�OF�A4P.• '