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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11012011 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes November 15, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 5 8 Call to Order The November 15, 2011 Special Meeting of the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order at 6:35 p.m. by Chair Roach'. Opening Ceremony Commissioner Ecklund led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll Call There were present: Sandie Roach' presiding, and Dale Butts Cindy Ecklund Tena Morgan comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Donna Glenz, City Planner Dwayne Atwood, Planning Technician City Administration Report City Planner Donna Glenz updated the Commission on the following business items: • Ron Long had been recently hired as Assistant City Manager and Community Development Department Director. • Former Planning & Zoning Commissioner Steven Heinrich was presented a plaque at the November 14, 2011 City Council meeting to recognize his years of service on the commission. • A culvert replacement project at Salmon Creek Road had been completed to provide sufficient flow for future high water events. • AVTEC was continuing complete the wiring connectivity for its wind turbine project. The estimated date for completion and turbine operation was not known. • The AT &T communications tower was still under construction at the Seward Marine Industrial Center. The project was due to be completed before the end of 2011. • In an attempt to reduce landfill refuse, the City Clerk's Office was providing a water pitcher and glasses instead of bottled water for City meetings. • The next Planning & Zoning Commission meeting was scheduled for December 6, 2011, with a Seward / Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board work session beginning at 6:30 p.m. • City offices were scheduled to be closed November 24 -25, 2011 for the Thanksgiving. Other Reports, Announcements & Presentations -None City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes November 15, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 5 9 ear Citizens' Comments on any subject except those items scheduled for Public Hearing — None Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion (Ecklund/Butts) Approve the Agenda and the Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The following items were approved on the Consent Agenda: October 6, 2011 Regular Meeting Minutes Special Items — Election of Vice Chair Roach' opened the floor for Vice Chair nominations Motion (Butts/Morgan) Elect Commissioner Ecklund as Vice Chair .. Seeing no further nominations, nominations were closed Motion Passed Unanimous Consent Unfinished Business Items requiring a Public Hearing — None New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing Resolution 2011 -14 of the Planning & Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska recommending Kenai Peninsula Borough approval of the preliminary replat of Lots 15 -19, Block 8, Original Townsite of Seward, Johnson Replat, creating two lots to be known as Lots 15A & 17A, located at the northwest intersection of Railway Avenue and Sixth Avenue, 211 Sixth Avenue and 510 Railway Avenue Glenz described and noted the proposed replat location and existing structures. Glenz reviewed the current zoning for the parcels, including the availability utilities. The Community Development Department had received no public comments on the proposed replat. She noted the applicant was in the audience and available for questions. Roach' asked if the proposed replat was consistent with the City Land Use Plan for future zoning and development. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes November 15, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 60 L. Glenz explained the Land Use Plan and noted the zoning designations for the parcels remained the same with the platting action. Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Aaron Johnson, owner of the parcels, said he would like to have a business, but would need to explore available resources and consider the economic potential of any future business he might undertake. There were no further requests to be heard and the public hearing was closed. Motion (Ecklund/Morgan) Approve Resolution 2011 -14 Ecklund said she was pleased that the property was slated for possible development and continued use. Roach' also said she was grateful that an entrepreneur was planning to come into the community and develop. Motion Passed Unanimous Unfinished Business — None New Business Resolution 2011 -12 of the Planning and Zoning Commission recommending City Council approve the official naming of the newly constructed North Forest Acres Levee Road, as Levee Road; located within the public access easement on Tract B, Dieckgraeff - Gillespie replat; located at 2501 Seward Highway Glenz explained the history of the levee construction and its design. The ribbon cutting ceremony for the levee drive surface was held on August 8, 2011. The route connects the Seward Highway to Dimond Boulevard, rerouting industrial traffic away from residential streets in the Forest Acres neighborhood. Glenz noted the naming of the levee road, as Levee Road, met all of the criteria outlined by the City and Kenai Peninsula Borough. In response to Butts, Glenz stated that no other name suggestions had been received. She continued to explain that Levee Road had been the informal name for the road during several years of planning and development. There was no City guideline requiring public input or suggestions for street names. A street sign identifying Levee Road had been put in place. Butts asked what process was required for suggesting a different name for the road. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes November 15, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 61 Glenz said a public process would require advertising; noting staff would support the effort j to solicit name suggestions from the community if that were the wishes of the Commission, or the Commission could simply amend the Resolution before them. She noted the road was to have no individual addresses assigned because there was to be no access to or from any parcel along the route. Roach' asked how much community input there had been regarding the naming of the road. Any input would have occurred at the various public meetings related to the project that had been held over the years, Glenz noted. In response to Ecklund, Glenz stated the agenda had been posted and advertised to the public and no members of the public had offered comments. Butts stated he had received a suggestion that the route be named Dieckgraeff Road, in honor of Frank Dieckgraeff. Commissioners and staff further discussed the location of the road, the access easement and future platting possibilities. Motion (Ecklund/Morgan) Approve Resolution 2011 -12 Motion (Butts/Morgan) Amend Resolution 2011 -12 to replace the suggested name of Levee Road with Dieckgraeff Road Butts said the late Frank Dieckgraeff and the Dieckgraeff Family had been instrumental in developing the North Forest Acres Levee and assisting with flood prevention measures. Morgan asked for clarification if the intention was to name the road Dieckgraeff Road or Dieckgraeff Levee Road. Butts said the intention was to name the road Dieckgraeff Road. Motion Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed as Amended Unanimous Resolution 2011 -13 rescinding Resolutions 2011 -09 & 2011 -10, recommending City Council amend portions of Seward City Code 15.10.140 Definitions; 15.10.220 Development Requirements Table; 15.10.225 Land Uses Allowed; and 15.10.225 Land Uses Allowed Table City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes November 15, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 62 ire.. Glenz explained the history of Resolutions 2011 -09 and 2011 -10 and how rescinding both resolutions was to provide the opportunity to make changes requested by the public and hold a work session with City Council on the proposed Code changes. Ecklund said the Commission had spent considerable time making the proposed changes to the City Code. While the City Council did express some concerns with the proposed changes, new Council members had been seated since those concerns were expressed. Roach' asked staff what portions of the proposed Code changes the City Council was concerned about. Glenz said the concerns expressed came largely from child care providers who feared the proposed Code changes would impact their businesses. She noted a Planning and Zoning work session had been held to address those issues. Council did have some concerns with definitions, as listed in Title 15 of the Code. Ecklund said she would prefer that the public comment process take place during the summer or autumn, not in winter when many seasonal residents are gone. Roach' said the Commission would explain the intent of the changes to City Council during the requested work session and that may provide the assurance to gain Council support. Motion (Morgan/Ecklund) Approve Resolution 2011 -13 Roach' asked staff if there was a work session scheduled with City Council. Glenz stated the work session date had not been set and with the current budget process and Christmas Holiday the work session will not be scheduled until January, 2012. Motion Passed Unanimous Approve 2012 Planning and Zoning meeting / work session schedule and public hearing cut -off dates Glenz explained that each year the meeting calendar was adopted by the Commission. She noted the City Code requires a regular meeting on the first Tuesday of each month. That schedule can be modified by a public vote of the Commission or changed as needed by public notice in the City Calendar. Motion (Ecklund/Morgan) Approve 2012 meeting calendar fir.. Motion (Morgan/Ecklund) Amend 2012 meeting calendar and cut -off dates by canceling the July City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes November 15, 2011 Volume 6, Page 463 3, 2012 regular meeting and scheduling the July 17, 2012 work session as a special meeting; and canceling the December 18, 2012 work session. Motion Passed Unanimous The Commission and staff discussed the meeting schedule and cut -off dates and requested no further changes. Main Motion Passed as Amended Unanimous Discussion of meeting time change from 7:30pm to 7:OOpm Glenz explained the Council had amended the City Code changing their meeting time by 30 minutes several years ago. She noted the Commission had not amended their 7:30 p.m. start time during that process in order to accommodate a Commissioner with later work hours. She noted that due to the resignation of that Commissioner it had been suggested the Commission again discuss the earlier start and adjournment time. Commissioners agreed to hold regular meetings at 7 p.m. and work sessions at 6 p.m. The Commission reached a consensus and agreed to a meeting sunset time of 10:30 p.m. Staff agreed to bring forward a resolution and ordinance for the Commission to forward to Council requesting the Code changes. Informational Items and Reports (No action required) Reminder of December 6, 2011 P &Z work session with Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board NFIP /CRS Special Bulletin October 2011 Commission Comments Commissioner Morgan thanked staff for the meeting preparation. Ecklund thanked the City Clerk's office for the use of a water pitcher and glasses, which replaced bottled water. Ecklund reported that the Seward Waterfront Plat was approved by the Kenai Peninsula Borough plat committee and had been moved forward to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission. ,,, City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes November 15, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 6 4 Roach' asked Commissioners to participate in the signing of a card that would be sent to former Commissioner Steve Heinrich to thank him for his service. Citizens' Comments — None Commission and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments — None Adjournment Meeti g adjourned . 7:' p.m. • Wayne Atwood, �� Sandie Roach' Pl. ing Technician Chair (City Seal) L es O • e • % ° i lye ♦ ♦ ♦ CF ♦♦ ♦81.111 .22o -