HomeMy WebLinkAbout04042023 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Sewar4 Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes
April 4, 2023 Volume 8,Page 5
CALL TO ORDER
The April 4, 2023 regular meeting of the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission was
called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Clare Sullivan.
OPENING CEREMONY
Commissioner Nathaniel Charbonneau led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Clare Sullivan presiding, and
Vanessa Verhey Nathaniel Charbonneau
Victoria Monaco Brenan Hornseth
Troy Staggs Sean Ulman
Comprising a quorum of the Commission; and
Jason Bickling, Community Development Director
Selena Soto, Planning Technician
Kris Peck,Acting City Clerk
Excused—None
Absent—None
Vacant—None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING—None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Charbonneau/Verhey) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Approval of the February 7,2023 Planning& Zoning Meeting Minutes.
SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations and Awards—None
City Administration Report
City of Sewar4 Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes
April 4, 2023 Volume 8, Page 6
Community Development Director Jason Bickling said it was good to see a full house
of Planning&Zoning Commissioners. Bickling noted that City Planner Courtney Bringhurst was
attending a planning conference in Philadelphia. Bickling wanted to address the process of short-
term rentals that were mainly open during the summer.There were two categories of compliance:
Level 1 compliance pertained to the necessary paperwork such as the city business license and bed
tax. Level 2 compliance pertained to actual misuse of the property. Bickling wanted to help P&Z
understand the administrative side of the compliance process. It was stated in city code for
Community Development to notify P&Z about any compliance issues.
Other Reports and Announcements—None
Presentations—None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Resolutions Requiring Public Hearing
Resolution 2023-006,Recommending City Council And Kenai Peninsula Borough Approval
Of The Preliminary Replat Of Fourth Of July Creek Subdivision,Seward Marine Industrial
Center (SMIC), Unsubdivided Remainder Of Block 6, Physical Location 110 Olga Street,
Creating Two Lots; Lots 4 & 5, Block 6, Fourth Of July Creek Subdivision SMIC, Duchess
Replat.
Motion (Charbonneau/Staggs) Approve Resolution 2023-006
Bickling recited the information in the agenda statement, reviewed the conditions being
proposed, and recommended approval.
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.
Charbonneau said the resolution felt pretty straight forward and the fire hydrant installation
issue had been addressed.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2023-007, Recommending The City Council Update The Municipal Lands
Inventory And Management Plan To Include Recommendations To Increase Day Use
Parking At The Spring Creek Campground, Request An Easement To Maintain Beach
Access To The North Of The Campground,And Plat The Area Into One Parcel And Rezone
To Park.
Motion (Hornseth/Staggs) Approve Resolution 2023-007
Bickling recited the information in the agenda statement, reviewed the conditions being
proposed, and recommended approval.
City of Seward,Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes
April 4, 2023 Volume 8,Page 7
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.
Charbonneau noted that Ms. Griswold's citizen comments and input were helpful in
drafting Resolution 2023-007.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2023-008, Recommending The City Council Update The Municipal Lands
Inventory And Management Plan To Include Recommendations To Improve And Designate
Parking And Access At The Fourth Of July Beach And Plat The Area Into One Parcel And
Rezone To Park.
Motion (Charbonneau/Staggs) Approve Resolution 2023-008
Bickling recited the information in the agenda statement, reviewed the conditions being
proposed, and recommended approval.
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
Charbonneau noted that Ms. Griswold's citizen comments and input were helpful in
drafting Resolution 2023-008.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2023-009, A Resolution Of The Planning And Zoning Commission Of The City
Of Seward, Alaska, Granting A Conditional Use Permit To John Wisel, To Construct A
Mixed-Use Commercial Building With More Than Two Apartments At 213 Fifth Ave,
Original Townsite Of Seward,South 10 Feet Of Lot 13&The North 25 Feet Of Lot 14,Block
9; Within A Central Business (CB)Zoning District.
Motion (Staggs/Monaco) Approve Resolution 2023-009
Bickling recited the information in the agenda statement, reviewed the conditions being
proposed, and recommended approval.
Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the
public hearing was opened
John Wisel, outside city limits, said that Covid-19 put a halt to his previous CUP back in
2020. Currently,Wisel was up and running and ready to take on more construction. Wisel already
had a few applicants interested in this mixed-use commercial building and he was looking forward
IIto starting this project.
City of Seward,Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes
April 4, 2023 Volume 8, Page 8
No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed. I
Charbonneau said the CUP lined out all the issues and the parking looked acceptable.
Charbonneau typically liked to see an enclosure covering the trash cans, but in this case, the trash
cans would be located in the alley and out of street view.
Sullivan asked if this CUP was identical to the one issued in 2020. Wisel confirmed it was
exactly the same.
Verhey was concerned that there was already a lot of empty office space around town.
Wisel said he had been approached by businesses like acupuncture, chiropractic, and retail. The
office space being new and modern would be a draw.
Sullivan noted that tearing down the existing building would be a huge improvement for
the area.
Resolution 2023-010, A Resolution Of The Planning And Zoning Commission Of The
City Of Seward,Alaska, Granting A Conditional Use Permit To Colaska Inc. Dba QAP
To Extract Gravel From Portions Of The Resurrection River Located On Seward Meridian
SW NE '/a SW%And Seward Meridian SW West 330 Feet Of NW'/4 Lying Within
Seward City Limits And Seward Meridian SW Portion NW'/4 SE %Lying Within
Seward City Limits Excluding West 330 Feet; Within A Resource Management(RM)
Zoning District.
Motion (Charbonneau/Monaco) Approve Resolution 2023-010
Bickling recited the information in the agenda statement, reviewed the conditions being
proposed, and recommended approval.
Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the
public hearing was opened.
Jerry Fogg, inside the city, noted that Resurrection River was designated as a salmon
bearing body of water. Fogg asked how P&Z could grant permission for QAP to drive machinery
in the river when locals were not even allowed to the drive an ATV in the river.Bickling responded
that both Fish & Game and the Kenai River Center had approved of a small window of time for
QAP to work in the river.
No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed
Charbonneau felt the resolution was pretty straight forward and ready for approval.
Sullivan noted that all the other required permitting looked to be in order and this resolution
looked to be in good shape.
Motion Passed Unanimous
City of Seward,Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes
April 4, 2023 Volume 8,Page 9
UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None
NEW BUSINESS
Resolutions—None
Other New Business Items
Nominate and elect a Chair.
Charbonneau nominated Clair Sullivan as chair. There were no other nominations.
Motion (Charbonneau/Verhey) Elect Clare Sullivan as Chair with a term
to expire February,2024.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Nominate and elect a Vice Chair.
Charbonneau nominated Vanessa Verhey as Vice Chair. There were no other nominations.
Motion (Charbonneau/Sullivan) Elect Vanessa Verhey as;Vice Chair with a
term to expire February,2024.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Discuss Topics For April 18, 2023 Work Session. Title 15 Updates, Long-Term Rental, Lot
Frontages,Bunkhouses/Dormitories And Awning Discussion Introduction.
Sullivan confirmed the topics were the same as provided in the agenda.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
Reminder: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 Planning and Zoning Work Session at 6:OOpm in the
Council Chambers, City Hall.
Reminder: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 regular meeting at 7:00 pm in the Council Chambers,
City Hall. *Rescheduled from May 2nd due to the elections being held on that day.
CITIZEN COMMENTS—None
COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS AND RESPONSES TO
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Verhey said it was great to have everyone at the meeting.
City of Seward,Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes
April 4, 2023 Volume 8, Page 10
Charbonneau thanked the public who came to the meetings.He also thanked Community
Development and P&Z for their work.
Hornseth thanked Sullivan for serving as Chair and Verhey for serving as Vice Chair.
Ulman thanked administration for all their hard work.
Sullivan thanked all the commissioners for attending the meeting and noted how their
actions helped the real world make progress.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:42 p.m.
Kris Peck Clare ullivan
Acting City Clerk Chair
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