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Home My WebLink About01072025 Planning & Zoning MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes January 7, 2025 Volume 8, Page 90 CALL TO ORDER The January 7, 2025, regular meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Carol Griswold. OPENING CEREMONY Commissioner Nathaniel Charbonneau led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Carol Griswold, presiding, and Brenan Hornseth Nathaniel Charbonneau Va„e Verh,ey Sean Ulman Rhonda Hubbard Clare Sullivan comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Daniel Meuninck, Community Development Director Courtney Bringhurst, City Planner Clara Brown, Executive Assistant Kris Peck, City Clerk Jodi Kurtz, Deputy City Clerk Excused — Verhey Absent — None Vacant — None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT - 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: Approve December 3, 2024, Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes City ofSeward, Alaska Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes January 7, 2025 Volume 8, Page 91 SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATION, AND REPORTS City Administration Report Community Development Director Daniel Meuninck encouraged the public to fill out the Comprehensive Plan surveys. He reminded everyone that business licenses are due for annual renewal for 2025. Meuninck said P&Z would have three commissioner seats expiring at the end of February. Lastly, he announced the upcoming Joint Work Session with the City Council on Monday, January 27, at 5:30 p.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolutions Requiring Public Hearing Resolution 2025-001, Recommending Seward City Council and Kenai Peninsula Borough Approval of the Preliminary Plat of Fourth of July Creek Subdivision, Seward Marine Industrial Center (SMIC), That Point of Block 10, Excluding Lots 1 & 2; Located at 3207 Sorrel Road; Creating Tract A & B, Block 10, Fourth of July Creek Subdivision, SMIC, Spring Creek Replat Motion (Charbonneau/Sullivan) Approval of Resolution 2025-001 City Planner Courtney Bringhurst stated that the commission revisited late 2023 discussions on the Municipal Lands Inventory Management Plan and the replating of a large parcel in the SMIC area. She explained how this replat would divide the land into two parcels. She also commented on a 50-foot easement in the campground area that was reviewed with the Public Works Director. The recommendation was to vacate the public access easement and collaborate with Parks and Recreation for better access options as development continues. Bringhurst noted that the public did not require a designated public access easement to access the property once it was rezoned as a park. She spoke of the primary purpose of the current 50-foot public access easement was to ensure public access to the beach. She also spoke of the support of the recommendation to vacate the easement for flexibility for future development or access planning. [Stacy Wessel, AK Land Surveyor, was on the phone if the commission had any questions.] 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 The commission discussed public access and land management near Spring Creek, emphasizing the public's right to beach access under the Alaska State Constitution, which included private property within beach grass or tideland areas. The commission highlighted challenges with unclear boundaries, survey costs, and easement agreements for formal access points. Proposals included rezoning areas like Spring Creek Campground as parkland to secure recreational use. Concerns about boundaries, private land access, and physical barriers like the creek were raised. Further research and negotiation were deemed necessary to establish practical and legal access routes while protecting public rights. 1 City of Seward, Alaska Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes January 7, 2025 Volume 8, Page 92 Further discussion included adjusting the 50-foot utility easement for a sewer line near Spring Creek to accommodate a separate 10-foot pedestrian easement. Overlapping easements were considered, but concerns arose about maintaining unencumbered access for utility repairs. Public Works suggested relabeling the utility easement as a "50-foot sewer easement" to prevent additional uses. A separate pedestrian easement parallel to Spring Creek was proposed as a compromise to balance utility access and public needs. The commission was open to this approach to address both priorities. Resolution 2025-001 was amended to change the name to Seward Marine Industrial Center (SMIC), Spring Creek Park Replat. Resolution 2025-001 was amended to add Section 2. 10'-20' public easement to plat for pedestrian public access easement. Main Motion as Amended Passed Unanimous Resolution 2025-002, Recommending Seward City Council and Kenai Peninsula Borough Approval of the Preliminary Plat of Tract B, Block 10, Fourth of July Creek Subdivision, SMIC, Spring Creek Replat; Lot 3, Block 8, Fourth of July Creek Subdivision, SMIC Seward Ship's Drydock Replat; and Lot 4A-4, Block 7, Fourth of July Creek Subdivision, SMIC, JAG Replat; Located at 3207, 3311, & 3314 Sorrel Road; Creating Tracts B-1 & B-2, Block 10 and Lots 4A-5 & 4A-6, Block 7, Fourth of July Creek Subdivision, SMIC, Park Replat Motion (Charbonneau/Sullivan) Approval of Resolution 2025-002 Bringhurst noted a corrected application was included for proper documentation. The proposed plat involved parking and trail access for Fourth of July Beach and the intention was to rezone as park. She also addressed a second parcel near Sorrel Road would include beach parking. The 50- foot cul-de-sac at Sorrel Road was confirmed to meet standards which removed the need for further verification. 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. Resolution 2025-002 was amended to strike Section ' "T`h r' n hereby rend" that fullr l ,l b latted at the end of Sorrel Road_ Resolution 2025-002 was amended to update the replat with the name Fourth of July Creek Subdivision, Seward Marine Industrial Center (SMIC), Fourth of July Beach Park Replat. Main Motion as Amended Passed NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Unanimous City ofSeward, Alaska Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes January 7, 2025 Volume 8, Page 93 Resolution 2025-003, Recommending Seward City Council and Kenai Peninsula Borough Approval of the Preliminary Plat of Lots 1, 2, & 3, Block 10, Original Townsite of Seward; Located at 237 & 235 Fourth Ave; Creating Lot 1A, Block 10, Seward Original Townsite, Kawabe Park Replat Motion (Sullivan/Charbonneau) Approval of Resolution 2025-003 Bringhurst clarified that the replat of Kawabe Park was a straightforward process that did not require a public hearing. This replat involved vacating the interior lot lines from the historic Seward Townsite Plat. The park zoning, use, and boundaries would remain unchanged. The replat would consolidate the area into a single 9,000-square-foot lot, with no alterations to its current designation or purpose. Motion Passed Other New Business Discussion of building height overlay Unanimous The commission considered proposals for building height overlays within the city to present to the City Council. The commission discussed maintaining the current 34-foot height limit across all zoning districts and explored overlay areas where buildings could be up to 38-feet (three stories) and 50-feet (four stories) could be permitted. Commissioners discussed potential areas along Seward Highway, SMIC, and specific sections of downtown for taller buildings. They considered factors like impacts, viewshed, zoning compatibility, and public safety. Their concerns included effects on the city's small-town atmosphere, infrastructure demands, and public feedback. Commissioners emphasized the need for a public work session before finalizing any recommendations. The goal was to approach the upcoming Joint Work Session with general proposals and rationale while leaving detailed decisions for subsequent discussions. Discuss work session topic for Tuesday, January 21, 2025 The commission set their work session topic for Tuesday, January 21, 2025 to include: Municipal Lands Inventory and Management Plan Provide recommendations for city -owned land that could be used for housing P&Z Priorities The commission also wanted to review documents in preparation for the upcoming Joint Work Session with City Council, which included building height, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and marijuana establishments. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Reminder of Meetings Work session on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. 1 City ofSeward, Alaska Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes January 7, 2025 Volume 8, Page 94 Joint work session with City Council on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. Regular meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. CITIZEN COMMENTS - None BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Sullivan thanked everyone for sharing their comments and thoughts. She valued differing opinions and viewpoints so the commission could effectively represent the community. Sullivan also thanked city administration and the clerk's office. Charbonneau thanked city administration for all their hard work. Hornseth thanked city administration and the surveyor Stacy Wessel for their expertise. Hubbard appreciated all the diverse ideas and she appreciated staff for helping make the community a better place. She wished everyone a Happy New Year! Chair Griswold asked Community Development staff about the final standings of the racquet ball tournament. Meuninck responded that the city staff had swept the podium at the racquetball tournament. Courtney Bringhurst had taken the gold, Meuninck got the silver, and Russ White took home the bronze. in the racquet ball tournament. He thanked the Commission for their hard work. He shared his remembrance of the time he started as Community Development Director and several P&Z meetings were cancelled due to lack of quorum. Now everyone was catching up with priorities and tackling some harder issues. Clara Brown wished everyone a Happy New Year and announced that she had now been working in the Community Development office for a full year. and mentioned that she handed out promo items at Safeway to encourage people to take the Comprehensive Plan surveys. Hubbard encouraged city staff to get information out to public on Facebook in hopes of more public engagement. She lamented the loss of the local newspaper. Griswold was pleased to see the commission accomplishing many important things and it was a good feeling. She thanked city administration and the clerk's office. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:401"".•,,, •`y OF SEii"• • • —•— • SEAL ' • ' C ,B-_ Jod` urtz v..y,, --.— 0 carol Griswol De ty City Clerk '• 15> 1. �- +VI Chair