HomeMy WebLinkAbout07172018 Planning & Zoning MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska Seward Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes
July 17, 2018 Volume 7, Page 288
CALL TO ORDER
The July 17, 2018 regular meeting of the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission was
called to order at 7:04 p.m. by Chair Cindy Ecklund.
OPENING CEREMONY
Commissioner Seese led the pledge of allegiance to the flag
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Cindy Ecklund presiding, and
Gary Seese Craig Ambrosiani
Tom Swann Kelli Hatfield
Excused: Nathanial Charbonneau Martha Fleming
Comprising a quorum of the Board; and
Also Present
Jackie C. Wilde, Planner
Andy Bacon, Planning Assistant
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Administration Report
Jackie Wilde updated the Commission on the following business items
• Thanked everyone for their input on the lodging work session that was held just prior
to this meeting, and assured everyone that Community Development will continue
working on this.
• Notified everyone that Assistant City Manager and Community Development
Director Ron Long had announced his retirement and his last day will be August 1,
2018.
• Community Development is working on the rezoning of city owned property to come
into conformance with the land use plan, designating land for a new animal shelter,
and bringing forward a resolution relating to naming of parks and public places
within the city.
Ecklund requested that historical information relating to the naming of parks and public places
are included in the resolution if that information is discovered during research.
Other Reports, Announcements, and Presentations- None
CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING — None
City of Seward, Alaska Seward Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes
July 17, 2018 volume 7, Page 289
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Swann/Ambrosiani)
Motion Passed Unanimous
The following item was approved on the Consent Agenda:
Approval of June 5, 2018 Regular Meeting Minutes
New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing
Resolution 2018-010 Granting a Conditional Use Permit to CATC Alaska Tourism Corp.
dba Kenai Fjords Tours to construct a 12-unit bunkhouse on Lot 22 Clearview Subdivision
Number 6 and Tract A Clearview Subdivision Number 3 Located West of Alice Street
Between Resurrection Boulevard and Phoenix Road Within the Auto Commercial Zoning
District
Planning Assistant Andy Bacon stated that this Conditional Use Permit application was for the
construction of a 12 unit bunkhouse for employee housing with commercial facilities located on
the first floor of the building. The Land Uses Allowed table requires a Conditional Use Permit
for bunkhouses in the Auto Commercial Zoning District. The facilities located on the first floor
will include a storage warehouse as well as a commercial laundry facility that is for the sole and
exclusive use of CATC Alaska Tourism Corp. to support their business operations. The applicant
has submitted a preliminary plat to vacate the interior lot line between Lot 22 and Tract A per
City Code requirement that no structure other than a single family home may be constructed over
an interior lot line. Wilde stated that Commissioners have been provided with two laydown
items showing a revised site plan for the building location and a map of the flood hazard area in
the vicinity of the project from the 2016 Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the
public hearing was opened.
Hearing no one else wishing to speak, the public hearing was closed.
Motion (Swann/Ambrosiani) Approve Resolution 2018-010 Granting a
Conditional Use Permit to CATC Alaska
Tourism Corp. dba Kenai Fjords Tours
to construct a 12-unit bunkhouse on Lot
22 Clearview Subdivision Number 6 and
Tract A Clearview Subdivision Number 3
Located West of Alice Street Between
Resurrection Boulevard and Phoenix
Road Within the Auto Commercial
Zoning District
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City of Seward, Alaska Seward Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes
July 17, 2018 Volume 7, Page 290
Swann and Ambrosiani both stated that they support the project as submitted by the applicant.
Ecklund stated that she had reviewed the information provided in the packet and supported the
project. Ecklund also stated that given the flood risks in the vicinity of the project, she was
pleased to see that there were no residential units located on the ground floor, and that the
existence of a loading dock meant that the structure would be somewhat elevated to
accommodate that feature.
Motion Passed
UNFINISHED BUSINESS — None
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AYES: Hatfield, Swann, Seese,
Ambrosiani, Ecklund
NOES: none
Resolution 2018-009 Of The Planning And Zoning Commission Of The City Of
Seward, Alaska, Recommending The Kenai Peninsula Borough Approval Of The
Interior Lot Line Vacation Of Lot 22 Clearview Subdivision Number 6 And Tract A
Clearview Subdivision Number 3 To Be Known As, Lot 22A Clearview 2018 Replat
Within The Auto Commercial Zoning District
Wilde stated that this replat is to vacate an interior lot line per Code requirements. Wilde stated
that City staff has reviewed this preliminary plat and the Electric Department requested
additional utility easements on Tract A that mirror the utility easements on Lot 22, bringing the
easements on the combined lots into conformance. The applicant has accepted and modified the
preliminary plat to include these requested utility easements.
Motion (Swann/Seese) Approve Resolution 2018-009 Of The
Planning And Zoning Commission Of
The City Of Seward, Alaska,
Recommending The Kenai Peninsula
Motion Passed
Borough Approval Of The Interior Lot
Line Vacation Of Lot 22 Clearview
Subdivision Number 6 And Tract A
Clearview Subdivision Number 3 To Be
Known As, Lot 22A Clearview 2018
Replat Within The Auto Commercial
Zoning District
AYES: Swann,
Hatfield, Ecklund
NOES: none
Ambrosiani, Seese,
City of Seward, Alaska Seward Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes
July 17, 2018 Volume 7, Page 291
C. Set Work Session Topic for August 21 Work Session
Ecklund polled the commissioners for their availability for the August 7 regular meeting and the
August 21 work session and concluded that there will be a quorum at both meetings. Discussion
followed on work session topics that are listed as 2018 Planning and Zoning priorities. Ecklund
asked if more than one topic can be noticed for a work session and requested that Commission
discuss subdivisions & assessment districts and lodging as topics for the August 21 work session.
Swann asked if the Fire Department and the Electric Department could come up with criteria
they would like to see as requirements for lodging in a residential single family home, and have
this presented at the work session. Ecklund requested that members of the Finance Department
be in attendance at the work session for the discussion on assessment districts.
D. Discuss Sign Code Changes
Bacon told everyone that the information included in the packet contained proposed sign code
changes that relate to a 2015 Supreme Court decision regarding the unconstitutionality of
regulating signs based on their content, as it violates the first amendment. Therefore it is
recommended that temporary signs be regulated in more general terms based on their size, time,
and placement. Changes to provisions of the code regarding the display of temporary signs have
been included in this draft. Bacon stated that a section on sign measurement standards is also
proposed. Bacon stated that there is also a proposed change to the sign code allowing for an
increase in permissible signage beyond the maximum cap of two hundred square feet for
properties with multiple street frontages or multiple business tenants on the property.
Discussion followed regarding the sign application process, and specific provisions of the code
relating to allowable signage. Discussion also took place regarding the sign code requirements
and whether or not they were too onerous. Commissioners agreed that they would look over the
sign code and proposed changes and prepare to give input at a work session at a later date.
Wilde told everyone that review of the sign code is a listed Planning and Zoning Priority for
2018 and also stated that the fifteen dollar sign permit fee should be raised in order to reflect the
level of staff time involved in reviewing and issuing sign permits.
Commission Comments
Hatfield- No comment
Seese- Thanked Bacon for providing clarification to his questions during the discussion of sign
code
Ambrosiani- Thanked staff for their work, and commented that he would like to see the sign
code simplified.
Swann- Told everyone that the City of Portland has enacted legislation that is in favor of
accessory dwelling units and higher residential density in general.
Ecklund- Thanked staff for their work.
Citizens' Comments - None
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City of Seward, Alaska
July 17, 2018
Seward Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes
Volume 7, Page 292
Commissions and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments - None
ADJOURNMENT (Swann)
The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Jac C. Wilde
Planner
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