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Home My WebLink About11072023 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward,Alaska /Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes November 7,2023 Volume 8, Page 33 CALL TO ORDER The November 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 Commissioner Nathanial 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 Courtney Bringhurst,Acting Community Development Director 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/Verhey) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the October 3,2023 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards—None City Administration Report. Acting Community Development Director Courtney Bringhurst noted her written report in the packet.Bringhurst added that the Kenai Peninsula Borough was moving forward with City of Seward,Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes November 7, 2023 Volume 8, Page 34 a"Safe Streets and Roads for All"grant and all communities within the KPB would be taking part. One such project would be extending the sidewalk from the Seward Elementary School to connect with Safeway.Another project would be to redirect larger vehicles to use Alameda and Leier Road. Other Reports and Announcements—None Presentations—None PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolutions Requiring Public Hearing Resolution 2023-018: of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska, Recommending City Council and Kenai Peninsula Borough Approval of the Preliminary Plat of Fort Raymond Subdivision, Replat Number 5, Lot 6A-4; Located at 605 Sea Lion Ave; Creating Fort Raymond Subdivision, Replat Number 6,Lots 6A-5 and 6A-6 Motion (Charbonneau/Verhey) Approve Resolution 2023-018 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 this resolution was a fairly straightforward clean up. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2023-019: of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska, Recommending City Council and Kenai Peninsula Borough Approval of the Preliminary Plat of Fort Raymond Subdivision, Replat Number 1, Lot 10A; Located at 905 Sea Lion Ave; Creating Fort Raymond Subdivision, Replat Number 7,Lots 10A-1 and 10A-2 Motion (Charbonneau/Verhey) Approve Resolution 2023-019 Bringhurst summarized the agenda statement and recommended approval of the resolution. She noted this replat was related to Seward City Tours Land sale with the city. Sullivan asked about the sidewalk. Bringhurst said the sidewalk would be rerouted across the northern portion of Sealion Avenue and then along the Seward Highway. Hornseth asked what the issue was with the Dimond Boulevard right-of-way. Bringhurst said it was more appropriate to create pedestrian access going around the parcel. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened Jonah Swiderski,outside city limits, said he was the owner of Seward City Tours and heII was available for questions. Swiderski provided an overall summary of his business plan. City of Sewarc4 Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes November 7, 2023 Volume 8,Page 35 No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed Charbonneau said he was overall opposed to selling city land for any purpose other than housing.He felt leasing was the best option for this land.Eventually the city would have to replace the income of losing leased land. Ulman wanted more background on the city administration involvement with this resolution. Bringhurst explained that City Council had approved a resolution in September for Seward City Tours to buy this property.The resolution tonight was simply a replat of the property. Sullivan said owning the land was an advantage for getting loans. Given the fact that council directed this sale to happen,the task tonight was to look only at the replat. Motion Passed Yes: Hornseth,Verhey,Ulman, Sullivan No: Charbonneau UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2023-020: of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska, Recommending City Council Adoption of the Municipal Lands Inventory and Management Plan —2023 Update Motion (Charbonneau/Verhey) Approve Resolution 2023-020 Bringhurst summarized the updates and edits to the Municipal Lands Inventory and Management Plan. Sullivan appreciated all the work that had been done on this document. Charbonneau directed the commission to page 122 of the PDF packet.He felt that the parcel was not appropriate for additional parking for Two Lakes Trail. The area was disconnected from the park and led to a steep gravel hill that was not intended to be an access. There was already a proper parking lot in place that was right next to the trailhead. Charbonneau felt the best use of the parcel would be to rezone to R1 and sell the land so a house could be built there. Motion to Amend#1 (Charbonneau/Hornseth) Rezone Parcel 14718027 to Single-Family Residential(R1)and Sell Ulman questioned if the city should sell this land rather than retain it. Charbonneau responded the lot was too small to lease for any purpose. Amendment#1 Passed Yes: Verhey, Charbonneau, Hornseth, Sullivan Abstain: Ulman City of Seward,Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes November 7,2023 Volume 8, Page 36 Charbonneau directed the commission to page 185 of the PDF packet. The recommendation says to sell or lease with a sound development plan. Charbonneau thought it would make more sense to sell directly to University of Alaska Fairbanks.UAF already developed buildings on the land, so it would only make sense for UAF to purchase the property. Motion to Amend#2(Charbonneau/Verhey) Strike The Words Sell Or Lease With A Sound Development Plan And Replace With "Sell To The University Of Alaska Fairbanks" Verhey pointed out that UAF currently had a 99-year lease. Amendment#2 Failed Yes: Verhey No: Ulman,Charbonneau, Sullivan Abstain: Hornseth Motion to Amend #3 (Sullivan/Charbonneau) Strike The Words Sell Or Lease With A Sound Development Plan And Replace With "The Recommendation Is To Sell" Sullivan felt this wording would help leave some options open. Amendment#3 Passed Unanimous Main Motion As Amended Passed Unanimous Other New Business Items Discuss Work Session Topic For November 21, 2023 Bringhurst said the topics would include the cemetery use permits and the mobile vending program. The Parks and Recreation Director and City Clerk would be in attendance. Charbonneau asked if these two topics would fill the entire session. He asked if Parks & Recreation would be open to talk about waterfront restoration plans. Bringhurst said she would look into it. Bringhurst said she had a request for a development proposal to share with the commission for the December 19, 2023 work session. Bringhurst also noted the two January 2024 meetings were on the 2nd and 16th respectively. She proposed the regular meeting be moved to January 9, 2024 and the work session be shifted to January 23,2024. Motion (Ulman/Hornseth) Reschedule the Planning & Zoning Meeting to January 9,2024 and the Work Session to January 23,2024 City of Seward,Alaska Planning&Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes November 7, 2023 Volume 8, Page 37 :16 Motion Passed Unanimous INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS 1) Work Session on November 21, 2023 at 6:00 pm. 2) Regular Meeting on December 5, 2023 at 7:00 pm. CITIZEN COMMENTS—None COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS AND RESPONSES TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Bringhurst thanked the commission for the good discussion. She felt progress had been made despite several shifts in the city departments. She noted a potential upcoming staff shortage in Community Development unless new staff was hired soon. Ulman said he appreciated the discussion tonight. Charbonneau thanked everyone for the discussion. Hornseth thanked Commissioner Ulman for asking tough questions. Verhey noted the two P&Z vacancies and thanked the commission. Sullivan noted it was difficult to exactly follow Robert's Rules in the midst of a tough discussion. Sometimes all the complex rules made commissioners hesitant to speak up and inhibited the exchange of information. However, at the end of the night Sullivan felt like the commission was still in pretty good shape. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. /( Kris Peck Cl a Sun' an City Clerk Chair (City Seal) ,,syoN...r`,Q .,#- V•f GQR FO•••O ii SEAL