HomeMy WebLinkAbout09052023 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes
September 5, 2023 Volume 8,Page 23
CALL TO ORDER
The September 5, 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 Charbonneau led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Clare Sullivan presiding, and
Vanessa Verhey Nathaniel Charbonneau
Brenan Hornseth Sean Ulman
Comprising a quorum of the Commission; and
Jason Bickling, Community Development Director
Courtney Bringhurst,City Planner
Kris Peck,City Clerk
Excused—None
Absent—None
Vacancies-Two
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING -None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Charbonneau/Verhev) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Approval of the August 1,2023 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes
SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations and Awards—None
City Administration Report.
Community Development Director Jason Bickling stated his report was provided as a
City of Sewarcl Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes
September 5,2023 Volume 8,Pare 24
laydown.
Other Reports and Announcements—None
Presentations—None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Resolutions Requiring Public Hearing
Resolution 2023-016: of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska,
Granting a Conditional Use Permit to Tom Tougas,to Construct a Bunkhouse at 1804 Leirer Road,
Leirer Industrial Subdivision,Tract B; Within an Industrial (I)Zoning District
Motion (Charbonneau/Verhey) Approve Resolution 2023-016
Community Planner Courtney Bringhurst said the proposed structure met the zoning
code requirements for an industrial zone which allowed for 100% lot coverage. The area was
surrounded by industrial properties. Water needed to be extended from an adjacent parcel.
Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the
public hearing was opened.
Carol Griswold,inside the city,was opposed to this resolution.She suggested moving the
residential bunkhouse to a different location. She provided suggestions for how to improve the
Conditional Use Permit, such as adding more parking stalls. Griswold noted some of the
documents in the packet were incomplete.
Tom Tougas, inside the city, said most of the people who would live in this facility
would be boat deck hand employees. He compared the proposed bunkhouse to the bunkhouse
on Resurrection Blvd. He expressed some concern over a propane tank at the edge of the
property. He had no problem with an additional parking stall. He felt the employers who had the
best housing also had the best employees.
No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed.
Charbonneau had three amendments in mind that he wanted to propose.
Motion to Amend (Charbonneau/Verhey) Include One ADA Parking Stall For A
Total Of Nine Parking Stalls
Amendment#1 Passed Unanimous
City of SewarcZ Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes
September 5,2023 Volume 8,Page 25
Motion to Amend (Charbonneau/Verhey) Add A Timeline That Landscaping Must
Be Completed Within One Year Of
Structure Completion
Amendment#2 Passed Unanimous
Motion to Amend (Charbonneau/Verhey) Add A 3-Wall Structure And A Roof
Around The Refuse Containers
Amendment#3 Passed Unanimous
Hornseth had concerns about allowing more people to live in an industrial zone.He felt the
industrial zone had these conditions for a reason and was not compatible with residential use.
Ulman noted there were other bunkhouses in the industrial zone.
Charbonneau also had concerns about a bunkhouse in an industrial zone. He wanted to shy
away from housing in industrial zones.
Sullivan wanted to look closer at the industrial zones and consider rezoning them
to auto-commercial.
Planning& Zoning Commission suspended the rules at 7:26 p.m.to allow applicant Tom Tougas
to speak.
Tougas said there were very few options for employee housing in Seward. He agreed there
should be more auto-commercial lots available to build these types of facilities. Right next to this
property were a lot of existing bunkhouses in the area. He wished there was a better solution, but
it was difficult to find property.
Planning& Zoning Commission went back on the rules at 7:28p.m.
Charbonneau empathized with the lack of auto-commercial zoning for employee housing.
Ulman felt this was the best spot that Tougas could find,but the zoning didn't match.
Sullivan wanted to re-look at the industrial zones and consider re-zoning to auto-
commercial.
Main Motion as Amended Passed Yes: Verhey,Charbonneau,Ulman,
Sullivan
No: Hornseth
City of Seward,Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes
September 5, 2023 Volume 8, Page 26
Resolution 2023-017: of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska,
Recommending City Council and Kenai Peninsula Borough Approval of the Preliminary Replat
of Waterfront Tracts mariculture Addition, Tracts lA and 1B & Waterfront Tracts, Tract 2A;
Located at 101,201,and 301 Railway Ave;Creating Waterfront Tracts Resubdivision,Tracts 1A-
1, 1B-1,and 2A-1
Motion (CharbonneauNerhey) Approve Resolution 2023-017
Community Planner Courtney Bringhurst noted a housekeeping change in the first
Whereas about the Alaska Sealife Center. She summarized the agenda statement and
recommended approval of the resolution.
Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the
public hearing was opened.
Jeff Hetrick,outside the city,was the applicant and spoke in support of the resolution.The
preliminary replat would help with a variety of projects and improvement opportunities.
No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed
Charbonneau said the replat looked pretty straight forward.
Sullivan noted it looked like a win-win situation.
Motion Passed Unanimous
UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None
NEW BUSINESS
Other New Business Items
Discuss topic for September 19 work session:
Planning&Zoning Commission discussed 2024 revisions of the Muni Land Plan and updated map
imagery.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
A. Reminder of Meetings
1)Work Session on September 19,2023 at 6:00 pm.
2)Regular Meeting on October 3,2023 at 7:00 p.m.
3)Commissioner Training Deadline: October 17,2023
Planning &Zoning selected the library location on October 3, 2023 due to the council chambers
being used for the Regular Municipal Election.
City of Seward Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes
September 5, 2023 Volume 8, Page 27
CITIZEN COMMENTS —None
COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS AND RESPONSES TO
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Bringhurst thanked everyone for their involvement.
Ulman thanked the citizens for coming out tonight and he enjoyed the crowd.
Sullivan thanked the citizens for their interest. She thanked administration and thanked the
city clerk for helping with the amendments.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:44 p.m.
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Kris Peck Clare Sullivan
City Clerk Chair
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