HomeMy WebLinkAbout04272020 City Council Laydown 2 200427 LAYDOWN#2
City Council Meeting
Brenda Ballou
From: Andy Bacon
Sent: Friday,April 24, 2020 9:06 AM
To: Brenda Ballou
Cc: Eric Kozielski;Jackie Wilde
Subject: P&Z minutes laydown for 4.27 Council meeting
Attachments: 2.4.2020 Regular Meeting Minutes.pdf
Hi Brenda,
Can the attached excerpt from the February 4, 2020 P&Z minutes be distributed to Council as a laydown?These minutes
go with ordinance 20-002,the rezoning of lots in Forest Acres.
Thank you,
Andy Bacon
City of Seward,Alaska Seward Planning&Zoning Commission Minutes
February 4, 2020 Volume 7, Page 385
Martha Fleming for her eight years of service to the City of Seward on the Planning and Zoning
Commission
New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing- none
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Resolution 2020-02 Recommending City Council Approval Of The Rezoning Of Forest
Acres Lots 00, PP, And XX, From Single Family Residential (Rl) To Multi Family
Residential(R3)
This resolution was brought forward on January 7, 2020 for a public hearing and was
postponed; it is coming back tonight for a second public hearing in order to include a proposed
amendment that would expand the lots being rezoned to include NN and BJ
Bacon stated that this item is being brought back for public hearing and discussion after the
Commission postponed it at their January 7 meeting, and a substitute resolution has been
included on page 5 of the meeting packet that includes the addition of Lots NN and BJ to the
original resolution. Bacon stated that public notice was provided that reflected the additional
properties in accordance with City Code. Bacon discussed the surrounding land use and zoning
designations of properties in the area. Bacon stated that staff recommends the Commission adopt
substitute resolution 2020-02.
Chair Ecklund opened public hearing on this item
Kevin Christian, inside city, stated that he owns Lot NN, in the proposed area to be amended,
and supports the rezoning.
Vickie Detert, inside city, stated that she owns Lot BJ, in the proposed area to be amended, and
plans to construct a single-family house on the property. Detert stated that she is not opposed to
the zoning change but does not see a reason to include her property, given her development
plans.
Carol Griswold, inside city, discussed the importance of Commissioners making non arbitrary
decisions based on findings of fact. Griswold outlined four criteria in which land use decisions
should be weighed, relating to benefit to the public, consistency with a land use plan, the size of
the area to be rezoned and compliance with City Code. Griswold then discussed her own
personal findings relating to these criteria, including that there was not R3 zoning contiguous to
the subject area, and concluding that this proposed rezoning constituted illegal spot zoning.
Griswold discussed potential seismic and flood hazards in this area and spoke against promoting
increased housing density in this area.
Jim McCracken, outside city, stated that this proposal had been discussed at the January 7
meeting. McCracken stated that flood hazards would be mitigated through adhering to the flood
ordinance regulations. McCracken stated that other safety concerns mentioned could be
mitigated through working with engineered plans and the building department.
City of Seward,Alaska Seward Planning&Zoning Commission Minutes
February 4, 2020 Volume 7, Page 386
Ecklund relaxed the rules to allow additional public comment
Kevin Christian, inside city, stated that there was multiple family senior housing being
developed in the area of this proposed rezone.
Carol Griswold, inside city, stated that Code allows rezoning if a property is contiguous to one
of a different zoning designation. Griswold recalled that the long term care facility was proposed
to be located on city property across the street from the proposed area to be rezoned, and that a
geotechnical study determined the substrate to be of such a nature as to require extensive
engineering for large buildings.
Motion (Fleming/Swann) Approve substitute Resolution 2020-02
Recommending City Council Approval Of
The Rezoning Of Forest Acres Lots 00,
PP, NN, BJ And XX, From Single Family
Residential (Rl) To Multi Family
Residential(R3)
Fleming stated that this proposal was discussed in depth at the last meeting, and that including
the two neighboring properties in this proposal makes sense. Fleming does not think this
recommendation is arbitrary or constitutes spot zoning. Fleming stated that omitting Lot BJ from
the proposal would potentially create more of a spot zoning situation. Swann concurred with
Fleming, stating that the Commission had discussed moving forward with recommending the
two additional properties. Charbonneau concurred with Swann and Fleming. Ambrosiani
recalled from previous discussion that the Commission discussed this area as being desirable for
multiple family housing and stated that he did not think it was in the purview of the Commission
to make determinations on whether the ground is stable enough for multiple family development.
Ecklund stated that she supports this resolution based on the staff report and that the application
follows City Code. Ecklund stated that she was reassured to hear the applicant state that they
would work with engineers prior to building. Ecklund also stated that the R3 zoning designation
would not preclude a property owner from building a single-family house. Ecklund stated that
she has been on the Commission for quite some time, and it is a constant comment that Seward
needs more housing, and she feels that this is a way to meet that need. Ambrosiani also noted
that the increased density would have a minimal impact on traffic congestion through residential
neighborhoods given the proximity to the highway. Ecklund stated that she would like to
summarize the Commissions findings for the record, including Commissioner Ambrosiani's
comment about access, the size of the proposed area exceeding minimum requirements set by
code, and that it helps meet the need for more residential housing in Seward.
Motion passed AYES: Swann, Charbonneau,
Ambrosiani, Fleming, Ecklund
NOES: none