HomeMy WebLinkAbout06182024 Planning & Zoning Work Session NotesWORK SESSION NOTES PLANNING & ZONING
Called by: Carol Griswold Time: 6:00pm Date: 6/18/2024
Purpose: KPB Comprehensive Safety Action Plan Presentation, Priority List for Session, Seward City
Code: Marijuana Establishment,
Present: Jodi Kurtz, Daniel Meuninck,
Courtney Bringhurst
Commission Members Present:
Sean Ulman, Rhonda Hubbard,
Brenan Hornseth, Vanessa
Verhey and Carol Griswold
Call to session was called to order at 6pm
Griswold handed it over to Beth McKibben.
Topic 1 – Safe Street for All (SS4A)
McKibben – announced herself for presentation, and introduced Van Le that is attending as well.
KPB – Safe Street for All (SS4A)
See PowerPoint Laydown presentation.
SS4A – Grant Program – BIL through USDOT
Wants to hear what we (Seward) would like to let them know.
Questions by Commissioners
Hubbard - Winter Maintenance and Child Safety in residential areas (speed bumps)
Hornseth - 30% of population doesn’t drive – suggestion not to write off this %
Griswold – working with PW Dept and DOT, underpass and signs
Hubbard – publishing - more walkways
McKibbens – general recommendations that are site specific, for specific locations it will
be data driven. Van Le mentioned pulling from community development and data.
Hubbard – commented to be proactive not reactive
Griswold – commented about novice RV drivers and how they do not realize the size and road
with and just safety of bigger vehicles.
McKibben – McKibben spoke on RVs and how they will be included in the focus group.
Ulman – commented on 2 different cities here (summer w/tourist and then our winter locals)
Community Member commented about having more signage.
Jennifer Wells – asked about more handicap parking in pullout areas and so they can participate in
community events.
McKibben continued with her presentation. And talked about the upcoming Forum on meetings and
workshops.
Griswold – also commented on cruise ships and increase number of use of buses.
WORK SESSION NOTES PLANNING & ZONING
Hubbard questioned if there is any local representative for this? McKibben said yes to many different
occupations in the areas.
Topic 2 – Prioritizing list for WS Topics
Meuninck - referred to packet and the brainstormed list – spoke on ideas they have come up with.
Hubbard questioned Title 14 – Bringhurst replied that is not P&Z and that she would have to go to
council as it pertains to PW.
Discussion on topics and that the two-list are similar. (exception of Title 16) Griswold question parking
and how that is in with Title 15?
Griswold spoke on some topics that are on the list. Such as parking and the Muni Land Plan(fall). And
that leaving the timing to the CD Dept.
Meuninck – stated he would be happy to do that and have a open door policy if they want them to add
something or work on something specific.
Griswold – requested training for the commission to work on training even if it is sections at a time.
Others talked about training ideas.
Griswold asked the community members if they had any comments. Maya Moriarty commented on
parking(lots).
Topic 3 – Seward City Code – Marijuana Establishment
Meuninck introduced the topic and the laydown – Origin – Seward Marijuana Store (The Tufted Puffin)
and its onsite consumption – define marijuana in code. (see laydown for more clarification)
Meuninck explained that if the codification was done on this section the current establishment would be
grandfathered in.
Griswold requested a zoning map.
Discussion on the retail store and endorsement and will qualify this current store to allow them to have
the onsite consumption.
Griswold requested Danny to summarize how the city can be stricter than the state’s code.
Discussion on what they would like to see separated out in our code.
Griswold asked Randy Wells to come and speak. Wells spoke first on the air ventilation system is not
for the public but for the employees. He talked about the different limits of purchase of take home and
consumption onsite. He went on and discussed the process and packaging of his establishment. He then
spoke about the different types of plants, THC amounts, how they can be ordered, etc.
WORK SESSION NOTES PLANNING & ZONING
Discussion and questions were asked to Randy, and he answered.
Ell Zernia spoke about what she would like to see are guidelines that are to protect people from odors.
Enforcement
AMCO put it on the COS to make the decision
Her business doesn’t allow vaping, smoking by regulations as it is an eating area facility but then
she now must have the odor and smell of marijuana in her eating area.
Hope to create some rules and guidelines on having things the way they should be.
Nate Smith stated that we are behind
AMCO license that was done – recorded zoom mtg
Concerns with guidelines
Property – 21 yrs. or older
Food Trucks
Signage
Drive Up window – hard to detect
Anchorage – Volatile with onsite smoking
Protect employees and visitors
Alcohol vs Marijuana
Overconsumption and getting into a vehicle
Edible/Smoking in same establishment
Future onsite smoke should require a Public WS with Application
Main reason Anchorage voted down Onsite smoking
Anchorage Codes are broken down to neighborhood sections of where the establishment wanted
to go, how they established the meeting and steps
He also commented on Eagle River’s code.
Maya Moriarty – Spoke on Healthcare Prevention
Machine that sucks air/odor – could that be something that could be required
Provide training to SPD
Secondhand smoke is worse than tobacco
Part of many groups that are anti-tobacco and work hard at it because of secondhand smoke
Control Codes – buffering (Chugach an Eagle River)
Density – Code Topic - #of onsite consumptions – Public Notice
Operational Characteristics – Hours, Drive thru hours, minor in cars, 21 yr. or older, Odor, Store
front lighting
Signage
More on Health Prevention and Healthy Community
Mueninck – requested directions to make their current code easier to understand. Asked for feedback.
Possibly another WS.
Hubbard requested to separate out retail (package store) and onsite consumption. And not allow a pot
shop on every corner. And doesn’t agree with the drive thru.
WORK SESSION NOTES PLANNING & ZONING
Jennifer Wells – stated that they do not allow tobacco and AMCO board is made up of security
enforcement and public health official. Parks are included in regulatory distance and odor requirements.
Alcohol and cannabis can’t be sold together in same product or at same location.
Griswold stated that our code doesn’t include parks, recommending updating it.
Discussion with community members and commission about land usage allowed, and odor and a
nuisance order.
Suggested to speak to the City Manager or PD about Title 9 and Odor Nuisance.
Community Member questioned about son’s drug test and how much pot smoke does it takes to detect
on his drug test?
Next WS - have this section of code more readily more understandable. Included the land usage
material.
Look at other municipalities
Meuninck thank the 6 that came and feedback that was given.
Smith thanked the commission for listening and to try put things in writing.
Next Meeting is July 2nd.
Adjourned Meeting - 8:50pm