HomeMy WebLinkAbout02072023 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes
February 7, 2023 Volume 8,Page 1
CALL TO ORDER
The February 7,2023 regular meeting of the Seward Planning&Zoning Commission was
called to order at 7:00 p.m.by Chair Clare Sullivan.
OPENING CEREMONY
Everyone led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Clare Sullivan presiding, and
Vanessa•Azer-het Nathaniel Charbonneau
Victoria Monaco Brenan Hornseth
Troy Staggs Sean Ulman
Comprising a quorum of the Commission; and
Jason Bickling, Community Development Director
Courtney Bringhurst,City Planner
Selena Soto,Planning Technician
Brenda Ballou, City Clerk
Excused—Verhey
Absent—None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING—None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Charbonneau/Staggs) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Approval of the January 9,2023 Joint Special Meeting with City Council Minutes.
Approval of the January 10,2023 Regular Meeting Minutes.
SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations and Awards—None
City of Seward,Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting
February 7, 2023 Minutes Volume 8, Page 2
City Administration Report.Community Development Director Jason Bickling stated
he didn't have a report tonight.
Other Reports and Announcements—None
Presentations—None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Resolutions Requiring Public Hearing
Resolution 2023-004, To Review The Comprehensive Plan In A Public Hearing And Begin
Gathering Public Input For Future Updates.
Motion (Charbonneau/Staggs) Approve Resolution 2023-004
Bickling said the current Comprehensive Plan was updated for 2030. City Code indicated
that at least one public hearing needed to be held each year, and he wished to comply with that.
He was bringing this forward tonight as a public hearing to satisfy code. He was hoping to create
a plan with the commission to keep the plan continually updated.
Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the
public hearing was opened No one appeared and the public hearing was closed
Sullivan thought it would be beneficial to create a timeline and work session schedule.
Charbonneau thought it would be good to look at the plan annually in a work session, and
then have a big update at five and ten years.
Hornseth wondered if the maps could be removed from the plan and provided digitally so
that they were always up to date. Bickling thought that could be a possibility.
Bickling suggested that he could provide known updates to the commission, and then the
commission could review the edited draft.
In response to Sullivan, Bickling said annual updates to the plan could include things like
new fire hydrants; five year updates could be larger issues like building facilities; and ten year
updates could include things like mission updates.
Motion Passed Unanimous
UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None
NEW BUSINESS
Resolutions
City of Seward,Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting
February 7, 2023 Minutes Volume 8,Page 3
Resolution 2023-005, Recommending City Council Approval Of The Planning And Zoning
Commission Priorities For January 2023 To January 2024.
Motion (Hornseth/Charbonneau) Approve Resolution 2023-005
Bickling said he drafted these priorities based on last year's priorities, plus feedback
from council; current issues and concerns included housing issues, commissioner
attendance at meetings, and updating the Comprehensive Plan.
Charbonneau liked the differentiation between short term and ongoing priorities.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Other New Business Items
Set topic for February 21,2023 work session.
Bickling suggested working on housing. He brought the commission's attention to
a request from the mayor to look at awnings downtown, related to snow removal and
inclement weather. He said the mayor had spoken with the public works director who indicated
he would be supportive of having more awnings for the comfort of visitors. Bickling said
another topic could be bunkhouses and dormitories. As well, Bickling said Title 15 and the
Comprehensive Plan.
City Planner Courtney Bringhurst said the lot frontage code language could also be
worked on.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
Reminder: February 21, 2023 regular Planning and Zoning Work Session at 6:00 p.m. in
the Council Chambers, City Hall.
Reminder:March 7, 2023 regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. Officer elections for Chair and Vice Chair
will take place at this meeting.
Bickling said he would be bringing back the Municipal Land Plan recommendations for
the commission's approval.
CITIZEN COMMENTS—None
COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS AND RESPONSES TO
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Bringhurst thanked the commission for their work.
City of Seward,Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting
February 7, 2023 Minutes Volume 8,Page 4
Bickling concurred and was looking forward to getting the Comprehensive Plan worked
on.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:27 p.m.
ends Ballow are Sullivan
City Clerk Chair
(City Seal)
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