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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09062016 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes September 6, 2016 Volume 7, Page 202 Call to Order The September 6, 2016 Regular Meeting of the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Cindy Ecklund. Opening Ceremony Commissioner Carlton led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll Call There were present: Cindy Ecklund presiding, and Martha Fleming Margaret Anderson Tom Swann Craig Ambrosiani David Carlton comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Donna Glenz, Planner Dwayne Atwood, Planning Technician Excused was Gary Seese City Administration Report Planner Donna Glenz updated the Commission on the following business items: • The City of Seward had hired Doug Schoessler as the new Public Works Department Director and administrative assistant Jennifer Cotter. • City Council was scheduled to adopt new coastal zone floodplain mapping at the September 12,2016 meeting. • No new floodplain development permits had been issued since the last Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. • FEMA had performed a Community Assistance Visit on August 24-25 to review the Community Development Department's floodplain regulation records. A report was forthcoming. • The Orlander Building plywood façade had been moved further from the Fourth Avenue right of way. A restoration of the building was planned for the 2017 construction season. • Harmon Construction had completed the demolition of structures on two City-owned parcels,ahead of schedule. City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes September 6, 2016 Volume 7, Page 203 • A Comprehensive Plan open house was scheduled for the evening of September 14 in the Community Room of the Seward Community Library and Museum. • The City of Seward had received a $1.47 million grant for a Snow River drainage revetment plan to prevent damage to the electric transmission line. • The Seward Marine Industrial Center breakwater project was progressing with an April 30, 2017 deadline for completion. In response to Fleming, Glenz said the new Public Works Department employees would be working from the offices in the Public Works building. Anderson asked if staff could provide additional information about proposed paving and the related$3 million general obligation bond issue that would be on the October 4 ballot. Glenz said she would work with administration on getting information out to the public. Ecklund asked if the Comprehensive Plan Open House would be advertised in both local newspapers. Glenz said she believed the open house was to be advertised in both publications and Seward City News. Other Reports,Announcements& Presentations—None Citizens' Comments on any subject except those scheduled for Public Hearing Carol Griswold, inside City, said she believed City Council had allocated funds to educate the public on the street paving bonds. Griswold also said the City structure demolition was done quickly and was well organized. Kerry Martin, inside City, said the Chamber of Commerce weekly newsletter included the Comprehensive Plan Open House information. Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion (Fleming/Anderson) Approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The following item was approved on the Consent Agenda: July 19,2016 Meeting Minutes Unfinished Business Items requiring a Public Hearing—None City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes September 6, 2016 Volume 7, Page 204 New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing— Resolution 2016-11 of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska, recommending City Council correct the misspelled road name from Chamberlain to Chamberlin Glenz noted the history of the street name, which was formerly Government Road. The street was named for E.E. Chamberlin, but a misspelling at the time of adoption was never corrected. Glenz said there was no public comment or questions related to the proposed correction. Chamberlin lived on the road and in addition to being a city mayor he also served as a member of the Alaska territorial legislature. Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Carol Griswold, inside City, said she appreciated the history provided with the proposed correction. Griswold questioned if there needed to be specific direction regarding street sign replacement and Kenai Peninsula Borough notification of the name change. Glenz noted that it was the Public Works Department responsibility to replace the street sign also noting the cost of signage was included in that department's budget. Glenz went on to state that it is the responsibility of Community Development to inform the Borough addressing department of the correction once the correction was adopted by Council. Kerry Martin, inside City, said the street name spelling error occurred when former resident Pat Williams provided information on Chamberlin. Martin served as planner for the City at the time and did not detect the error at that time,he said. Hearing no one else wishing to speak,the public hearing was closed. Motion (Fleming/Swann) Approve Resolution 2016-11 Ambrosiani asked what the costs were associated with the proposed name change. Glenz said she did not have a cost estimate to replace a street sign, but noted that Public Works had a standing contract with a signage provider for any replacements necessary. Fleming asked about historical references (within the 1959 City Council Resolution 130)to other proposed street name changes and why they had not been implemented. Glenz pointed out that the name changes listed in the historic document were referring to the A— D streets within the Bayview Subdivision noting they had been changed. II Motion Passed Unanimous City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes September 6, 2016 Volume 7, Page 205 Resolution 2016-12 of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward,Alaska, recommending City Council amend portions of Seward City Code 15.10.220 Development Requirements — Notes, to allow the minimum lot size platting of 3,000 square feet and clarification of lot size for duplex development Glenz described the proposed amendments to the City Code and the direction City Council had provided regarding small lot development. The small lot development and platting changes would be implemented for properties south of Van Buren Street. Glenz stated that the proposed amendments would also provide needed Code guidance for duplex development. Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Carol Griswold, inside City, noted she had submitted a letter and that it was included in the meeting packet. Griswold said the effort to facilitate development of small lots would have an impact on quality of life, including landscaping. She said the town was very busy in the summer and very quiet in the winter. Nonresident owners were purchasing properties and were not fully participating in the community, she said. Further subdivision in the Original Townsite would impact vegetation and trees and promote increased density,which she opposed. Kerry Martin, inside City, said he believed that facilitating the development of 3,000 square foot lots would not result in the construction of more affordable housing. The cost per square foot of land would be driven upward, he said. The cost of the construction was the same, regardless of the size of the lot. Martin said there was a great number of lodging businesses and the new construction and sales of existing structures seemed to be largely related to seasonal lodging. The City Administration needed to work with the public to extend utilities to subdivisions that were not served, Martin said. He also said that small lots were not sufficient to serve modem families and the vehicles and other items that would be stored.He said he opposed the creation of more 3,000 square foot lots. Hearing no one else wishing to speak,the public hearing was closed. Motion (Anderson/Swann) Approve Resolution 2016-12 Ambrosiani questioned the long term effects of allowing the platting of 3,000 square foot lots. Glenz pointed out that Code allowed for residential development of an originally platted 30 foot by 100 foot lot. Glenz explained there were some lots that included 3,000 square feet, but were no longer in the original configuration. Code prevented development of those lots. City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes September 6, 2016 Volume 7,Page 206 Ambrosiani asked staff to explain the primary goal of the proposed Code changes. Glenz stated the goal was to allow the platting of 3,000 square foot lots. She noted that a resident had vacated an interior lot line to allow planned development, but changed the development plan and was now only using a portion of that land. The owner wanted to create a smaller lot from the unused land, noting that current Code did not allow the platting of less than 6,000 square feet. Glenz suggested that if the Commission was not prepared to approve the resolution, the Commission could postpone action and the proposed amendment could be reviewed in an additional work sessions. Motion (Carlton/Ambrosiani) Postpone action until Resolution 2016-12 was brought back before the Commission Motion Passed Yes: Fleming,Ambrosiani,Carlton,Ecklund No: Swann,Anderson Unfinished Business—None New Business Items— Planning and Zoning September 20 Work Session Topic Glenz noted a memo in the meeting packet and suggested Commissioners attend a Comprehensive Plan Open House scheduled for September 14. Commissioners also needed to determine if they would hold a September 20 work session, and set the topic for that session. Glenz also said the Historic Preservation Commission had requested a joint work session on October 4. Ecklund asked what the Historic Preservation Commission work session topic would be. Glenz said there would be no specific topic, but an agenda would be provided prior to the work session. Commissioners discussed their schedules and set the September 20 work session topic as further review of the development and platting of 3,000 square foot lots. Commissioners also planned to attend the Comprehensive Plan Open House on September 14. Informational Items and Reports (No action required) FEMA Region X Newsletter 2016 Planning& Zoning Meeting Schedule and Calendar City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes September 6, 2016 Volume 7, Page 207 Comprehensive Plan Open House on September 14 Glenz said that informational flyers for the September 14 Comprehensive Plan Open House were available, if Commissioners or the public wished to post or distribute them. Commission Comments— Anderson said she appreciated the public comment and input on the issues related to the development and platting of 3,000 square foot lots. Anderson said the City can't control who buys and develops any available property or whether they are year-round residents. Swann stated he agreed with points made by Commissioner Anderson. Citizens' Comments— Kerry Martin, inside City, reminded Commissioners to vote on October 4. Martin said he believed that City Council did not fully understand the issues related to the original platting of 30 foot by 100 foot lots and the tax parcels that had been created by warranty deed. Martin also said that Seward was a gateway community that attracted many visitors and, hence, many properties were purchased by non-residents. He did not want to see larger lots subdivided into smaller lots to accommodate development,he said. Carol Griswold, inside City, said she objected to any effort to allow more small lot development. Griswold said she believed small lot development could lead to more lodging operations and more non-resident ownership of properties. Commission and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments— Ecklund said the City Council was informed of the current regulations related to the development of 30 foot by 100 foot lots. Ecklund also reiterated that the platting and development 3,000 square foot parcels was set as an annual priority.by City Council. 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