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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08062024 Planning & Zoning Minutes70City of Seward, Alaska Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes August 6, 2024 Volume 8, Page 70 CALL TO ORDER The August 6, 2024 regular meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Carol Griswold. OPENING CEREMONY Chair Carol Griswold led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Carol Griswold, presiding, and Brenan Hornseth Nathaniel Charbonneau Vanessa Verhey Sean Ulman Rhonda Hubbard Clare Sulllivan comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Daniel Meuninck, Community Development Director Courtney Bringhurst, City Planner Clara Brown, Executive Assistant Kris Peck, 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 (Sullivan/Charbonneau) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the July 2, 2024 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATION, AND REPORTS 71 City of Seward, Alaska Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes August 6, 2024 Volume 8, Page 71 Proclamations and Awards -None City Administration Report Community Development Director Daniel Meuninck said he was excited to have a full commission with seven members. He said progress was being made on the Comprehensive Plan Update and public engagement surveys. He noted the Seward Community Library & Museum was selected as a host site for the Americans and Holocaust Exhibition. On another topic, the Kenai Peninsula Borough (KPB) was taking the lead on Hazard Mitigation Plan. Hubbard asked for an update on training for the commissioners. Meuninck said he was working on the P&Z Rules of Procedure. The consensus of the commission was to sprinkle training sessions here -and -there and also take advantage of any online training opportunities. Presentations -None PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolutions Requiring Public Hearing Resolution 2024-016, of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska, Recommending City Council Amend Seward City Code 15.10.226 — Land Uses Allowed to Standardize Language and Clarify Where Marijuana Establishments are Allowed in Each Zoning District Motion (Sullivan/Charbonneau) Approve Resolution 2024-016 City Planner Courtney Bringhurst said this ordinance would strike the written verbiage and instead put the information into the Land Uses Allowed Table. Bringhurst noted how the marijuana retail store was further itemized with variations of on -site consumption. 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 asked about the marijuana establishment testing facility and questioned the definition. Hubbard noted that there was nothing in code that said on -site consumption was allowed. She asked about the city regulations compared to the state regulations. Hubbard wasn't convinced that Seward should mirror the language of the state. Meuninck said on -site consumption was lumped into retail and service. This land use table would single it out as a separate item. This would allow for more flexibility to make changes in the future to each individual item. Nothing in code was being changed here, but rather a layout change to list more options in the land use table. Griswold noted that nothing was added and nothing was changed. This was the first step in addressing the current marijuana establishment code. This would be establishing the baseline for 72City of Seward, Alaska Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes August 6, 2024 Volume 8, Page 72 future discussion and changes. Ulman said this change would help facilitate that future discussion and make it easier to make changes. Motion Passed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None NEW BUSINESS Other New Business Discuss work session topic for August 20, 2024 Meuninck's list of topics included: sign code update, comprehensive plan survey format, and a new draft of the P&Z Rules of Procedure. Griswold summarized the work session topics. The commission thought that was a good lineup of topics. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Reminder of Meetings Work session on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Seward Community Library Charbonneau said he would not be able to attend the work session. Bringhurst noted the work session would actually be in the room upstairs due to the Holocaust exhibit in the Community Room. Regular meeting on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall Hubbard asked about collaborating with council on housing. Meuninck said that council was currently looking into wells and septic systems, which was a different subject area. CITIZEN COMMENTS -None COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Hubbard said she had been receiving feedback on the new walkable mural. She found some issues in the process that needed to be addressed. There were several other crosswalks that were eligible to be muralized and she thought it was worth re -visiting the criteria for logos and symbolism 73City of Seward, Alaska Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes August 6, 2024 Volume 8, Page 73 allowed. On another topic, Hubbard thanked staff for clarifying the marijuana establishments in the land use table. Verhey welcomed Clare Sullivan back to P&Z and thanked staff for all their work. She said it was great to have a full commission. Hornseth thanked everyone for attending the meeting and thanked the sole member of the public for attending. He noted the work sessions always started at 6:00 p.m. and the regular meetings started at 7:00 p.m. He was interested in standardizing the start times so they were both the same. City Clerk Kris Peck clarified that the work sessions could start at any time, but the regular meetings were codified to start at 7:00 p.m. This issue had come up before and the consensus was that having both types of meetings start at 7:00 p.m. was not considered a win. In order to change the regular meeting time to 6:00 p.m. would require an ordinance. Charbonneau spoke to the requirements of the walkable murals in regard to symbols and traffic signage. Ulman welcomed back Clare Sullivan to P&Z. He thanked administration for always setting the commission up for success. He spoke in favor of the work sessions starting earlier since they tended to run a few hours and could go late into the evening. Sullivan thanked everyone for welcoming her back. She said she would do her best to be productive. She thanked administration for their help, and thanked the clerk's office for keeping everyone on track. She wanted to look more into a balance for the walkable murals. Sullivan said it was good to be back and felt the band was back together. Griswold said the Hazard Mitigation Plan was timely due to the current heavy rain and flooding. The waterfall was raging as the heavy equipment battled against the power of nature. She appreciated everyone attending the meeting, including the city staff and city clerk. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Kris Peck City Clerk Celne 2,1.Lou/b-eci Carol Griswol Chair 1 1