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Home My WebLink About02182025 Planning & Zoning Work Session PacketPlanning & Zoning Commission Work Session Packet Work Session Tuesday, February 18, 2025 Council Chambers, City Hall 5:30p.m. The City of Seward, Alaska SEWARD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WORK SESSION AGENDA February 18, 2025 Carol Griswold Chair Term February, 2027 Brenan Hornseth Vice Chair Term February, 2025 Nathaniel Charbonneau Commissioner Term February, 2027 Vanessa Verhey Commissioner Term February, 2026 Sean Ulman Commissioner Term February, 2025 Rhonda Hubbard Commissioner Term February, 2025 Clare Sullivan Commissioner Term February, 2026 Daniel Meuninck Community Development Director Courtney Bringhurst City Planner Clara Brown Executive Planning Assistant Kris Peck City Clerk 5:30 p.m. 1) CALL TO ORDER 2) STAFF COMMENTS 3) DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Review proposed code changes to efficiency apartments (AD Us) 4 b. Discuss locations for building height overlay districts .12 Council Chambers 4) ADJOURNMENT 2 OUTCOME GOALS FOR WORK SESSION 1) Finalize a draft Ordinance for proposed code changes to efficiency apartments. 2) Select possible locations within Seward where building height overlays allowing 38' and 48' tall buildings could be allowed. Background: After the initial housing work session on September 17, 2024, the Commission held two specific work sessions regarding amending the code language for efficiency apartments to redefine them as accessory dwelling units. Other changes included allowing detached accessory dwelling units in various zoning districts and allowing more than one habitable space within an accessory dwelling unit. On January 27th, the Planning and Zoning Commission presented a draft Ordinance to City Council to get their feedback. The Council requested that the Commission review the parking requirements and address any concerns with utility hookups. Building height was also initially brought up at the September 17th work session, and then discussed more in depth at three additional work sessions as well as one regular meeting. During these meetings, the Commission came to the conclusion that a potential solution to the current building height concerns could be overlay districts. City Council was supportive of this idea at the January 27th joint work session, and encouraged the Commission to hold further work sessions to establish the best locations within Seward for these overlay districts. 3 Code Changes to Efficiency Apartments Sponsored: Planning and Zoning Introduction: March XX, 2025 Public Hearing: April XX, 2025 Enactment: April XX, 2025 CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2025-XXX AN ORDINANCE OF THE SEWARD CITY COUNCIL, AMENDING SEWARD CITY CODE 15.10.140 DEFINITION OF EFFICIENCY APARTMENT AND 15.10.226 — LAND USES ALLOWED TABLE, ADDING ATTACHED AND DETACHED ADDITIONAL DWELLING UNITS WHEREAS,; and WHEREAS,; and WHEREAS,; and WHEREAS,; and WHEREAS,; and WHEREAS,; and WHEREAS,; and NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF SEWARD ORDAINS that: Section 1. Seward City Code Title 15.10.140 Definitions is hereby amended to read as follows (new language is in bolded italics and underlined, and deleted language is stricken): B. Specific definitions. (Parenthetical references are for cross-reference only.) In this chapter, unless otherwise provided or the context otherwise requires: 1. Accessory building. A detached structure that: a. Is clearly incidental to and customarily found in connection with a principal building or use; b. Is subordinate to and serves a principal building or use; c. Is subordinate in area, extent or purpose to the principal building or use served; d. Contributes to the comfort, convenience or necessity of occupants, business or industry in the principal building or use served; and e. Is located on the same or adjacent lot under the same ownership as the principal building or use served. 5 CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2025-XXX An accessory building shall be considered to be a part of the main building when joined by a common wall or connected by a breezeway to the main building. Accessory building means any structure regardless of type of foundation or base support, including skid -mounted or other moveable structures. (Accessory or mother-in-law apartment. See Dwelling, Additional dwelling unit Efficiency apartment) 31. Dwelling. A building designed or used exclusively as living quarters for one or more families. a. Accessory dwelling unit. A single separate dwelling unit, built on a permanent foundation, located on the same lot as a detached single-family dwelling, which is subordinate in size to the primary single-family dwelling There may only be one accessory dwelling unit per single-family dwelling. i. Attached accessory dwelling unit. A dwelling unit that shares a common wall or is built within the existing primary single-family dwelling. The use of a breezeway is not considered a form of connection to the primary dwelling ii. Detached accessory dwelling unit. A new stand-alone structure or converted portion of an existing stand-alone accessory structure into a dwelling unit with its own water, sewer, and electric lines separate from the primary dwelling. a. Apartment. Any portion of a building which is designed, built, rented, leased, let or hired out to be occupied or which is occupied as the home or residence of an individual for daily living and doing his own cooking independently of any other individual or family in the same building. b. Apartment, commercial building. An apartment located within a building designed to accommodate a mix of residential and commercial uses. c. Apartment, efficiency (also called accessory apartment). A single separate dwelling unit consisting of not more than one habitable room which includes combined kitchen, dining and sleeping areas with accompanying sanitary facilities, and which is located within or shares a common wall with a single family dwelling. d. Apartment, owner or manager. An apartment within a building that is designed to be used exclusively as the living quarters for the owner or manager family of that building or a commercial business located in the building. e. Apartment, studio. A small apartment less than 500 square feet with a fully functional kitchen and bathroom. f. Condominium. A form of housing ownership by which a person may purchase and own one dwelling unit in a multiunit building or development. Each owner 6 J. CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2025-XXX owns a common interest in such things as the underlying land, common walls, stairwells, elevators, lobbies, laundry rooms and recreation rooms. g. Guest house. An accessory building occupied on a temporary basis solely by nonpaying guests. h. Mobile home. A factory -built home designed to be used as a year-round residential dwelling and originally designed and mounted on wheels and/or axle supports for transportation by another vehicle. i. Modular home. A factory -built residential structure that is transportable in one or more sections, is built on a permanent chassis, and is used as a place of human habitation, but which is not constructed with a permanent hitch or other device allowing transport of the unit other than for the purpose of delivery to a permanent site, and which does not have wheels or axles permanently attached to its body or frame. Includes factory -built and manufactured home. Multiple -family. A building designed as a residence for three or more families, with the number of families in residence not exceeding the number of dwelling units provided and each living independently of the other under one roof. k. Single-family, attached. A building containing two or more dwelling units, each of which has primary ground floor access to the outside and which are attached to each other by party walls without openings. Also commonly called townhouse, row house and zero -lot line. 1. Single-family, detached. A building designed and/or used exclusively for occupancy of one family and entirely surrounded by open space on the same lot. m. Two-family or duplex. A building containing two single-family dwelling units totally separated from each other by an unpierced wall extending from ground to roof or unpierced ceiling and floor extending from exterior wall to exterior wall, except for a common stairwell exterior to both dwelling units. n. Unit, dwelling unit. A building or separate portion thereof containing kitchen, living, sleeping accommodations and at least one bathroom and designed to be occupied exclusively as a residence by one family. o. Watchman or caretaker dwelling. An accessory dwelling associated with a commercial or industrial building or structure for the purpose of housing a watchman or caretaker and immediate family. Section 2. Seward City Code Title 15.10.226 Land Uses Allowed Table is hereby amended to read as follows (new language is in bolded italics and underlined, and deleted language is stricken): CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2025-XXX TABLE Zoning District Designations The following zoning district abbreviations are provided for information and interpretation: RR = Rural, very low density single-family residential RI = Single-family, low density residential R2 = Single and two-family, medium density residential R3 = Single, two and multi -family, high density residential UR = Urban residential, a mix of residential uses and low impact home professional offices OR = Office residential AC = Auto and neighborhood oriented, light commercial HC = Harbor commercial CB = Central business district - dense downtown commercial I = Industrial RM = Resource management - partially developable lands subject to floodplains and steep slopes INS = Institutional, public, quasi -public uses P = Parks Table 15.10.226. Land Uses Allowed Key: O — Use Permitted Outright H — Home Occupation C — Use Requires Conditional Use Permit P — Use Requires Administrative Permit Blank — Use Prohibited Zoning Districts Principally Residential Principally Commercial Principally Public Uses RR RI R2 R3 UR OR AC HC CB I RM INS P Dwelling, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C accessory dwelling unit, attached 8 CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2025-XXX Zoning Districts Principally Residential Principally Commercial Principally Public Uses RR RI R2 R3 UR OR AC HC CB I RM INS P Dwelling, 0 O 0 0 0 C accessory dwelling unit, detached Dwelling, apartment in a commercial O O O O O C building (limited to one unit) Dwelling, apartment in a commercial building (two or more units) 0 0 C C Dwelling, apartment, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 efficiency or accessory Dwelling, apartment, studio CCCCC C Dwelling, attached single-family, i.e., townhouse, row CCCCCC C Dwelling, condominium CCCCCC C Dwelling, detached single-family 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C C Dwelling, group home O O O O O O C Dwelling, guest house 0 0 C Dwelling, multi- family (3 or more units) CCCCCC C Dwelling, two- family or duplex O O O O O C C Dwelling, watchman or 0 C caretaker 9 CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2025-XXX Section 3. Seward City Code Title 15.10.215 Parking is hereby amended to read as follows (new language is in bolded italics and underlined, and deleted language is stricken): 15.10.215 Parking. A. Except in the CB and the HC districts, there shall be provided permanently maintained off- street parking for each principal business. It shall be the responsibility of the business owner to provide and maintain said off-street parking in accordance with this chapter continuously during the life of the business. B. For each principal building or use within a principal building, there shall be no less than the number of off-street vehicle parking spaces specified under this section: Land Use Minimum Number of Parking Spaces Dwellings and Lodges Single-family and 2-family dwellings and parish houses 2 parking spaces per dwelling unit Multiple -family dwellings and other places containing multiple dwelling units 2 parking spaces per dwelling unit plus 1/2 space for every unit larger than 2-bedrooms or greater than 1,000 square feet in size Hotels and motels 1 space per guest unit Lodging, rooming and boardinghouses 1 space per guest room plus spaces for the principal dwelling unit Dwelling, apartment efficiency accessory 1 off-street parking space in addition to those required of the principal dwelling dwelling unit Dwelling, studio apartment 1 space per dwelling unit Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption. ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA the XX day of April, 2025. AYES: NOES: AB SENT: ABSTAIN: VACANT: THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA Sue McClure, Mayor 10 CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2025-XXX ATTEST: Kris Peck City Clerk (City Seal) 11 Building Height Overlay Discussion Official Seward Zoning Map This is to certify that this is the official Seward Zoning Map referred to in Sec_ 15.01.030 of Tide 15 of the Seward City Code This zoning map replaces all previous official zoning maps and is intended to incorporate and contain all revisions as enacted by ordinances as of this date. Attest. Kris Peck, City Clerk City of Seward Zoning Map Map produced by Quinn Tracy - City of Seward August 2003 Updated by Alaska Map Company 2003. 2620 Updated by Soto GIS Consulting Inc.2024 The graphics on this map were produced from the best available sources_ The City of Seward assumes no responsibility for any omissions, inaccuracies. or other errors that may exist. Adopted by the Kenai Peninsula Borough as part of the Borough Comprehensive Plan on Nov. 5, 1985, (Ord. 85.77), amended May 3, 1988 (Ord. 88-ID). Adopted by the City of Seward (Ord. 626) on Nov 6, 1989, Effective fan_ 2, 1990 REVISIONS N4 43e6 1990636 Dete 1151991 Alert No. 11 er1 1992008 DRS 2110'199T Alum No. 21 01d Dab Meat 5242002 2012403 Ne. Orel_ tiDa5r 402012003 5242612 z 1991SGe 495241S 11250991 6263992 1� 16 1997-014 1991415 4121994 691992 22 200.004 2005403 023408 6'130005 al alLsmr 2ose401 515 015 459016 1 5 s a 9 19gYAr 1991227 1694029 1991d05 3996.015 1996019 t>r m o29 11 1995501 1g1991504 161992505 2/262993 6251994 1651991 7121994 491996 1211595 10291096 115121.990 2a161992 2r10n99T 17 16 19 20 21 22 03 9• 25 1991411 1996(191 1999a11 2000-002 2606001 2000L06 2600910 2010-019 2001601 2501-005 641197 eno9999 12/1311599 2/142006 2R6•000 5104300 564300 902001 9149001 1062001 20 31 37 64 31 36 36 39 39 39 2000-010 2006011 201T003 2961.664 2001-0W 2006-003 2006m9 9254106 101102006 ismer T73¢w7 11262507 3953006 5122006 2009001 19269009 2010001 I 5122110 2011501 1 5112011 i14 19i Dab A6fe1 No. Ord De1e Most No. Ord Deis Meet 63 5i 55 30 57 sa 01 62 6T 01 es 2022.015 2022-016 2023404 217.10111 2024601 2024006 2621-062 1426 22 192023 Y122023 2RR202i 2122°21 2122024 4292024 5712021 6202024 6 62 e6 09 Tu T1 72 73 T4 79 26 n 70 79 60 81 E2 6i 84 85 00 62 a6 a9 90 91 0L 0.5 I 2 Miles I 7 ( 1 1 r 1 1 1 9.75 L5 3 Kilometers 41 2016.051 452016035 45 83+6m9 42 2019-010 46.22200m dF➢802 402700.011 51 2020515 66=014 621F2016_ 492018 910&L16 19gp0t8 7/N1019 2242950 47112020 6265100 1n1RC2r 2262022 Legend ❑ Cet Limits Aural Residential aing1e Family Read ernsl Ti s Fa miN Resident ai 9Iu10 Family Resirtentiai IN Urban Residential Office Residential • Harbor Commercial Auto Commercial Central Business Cannel 1.16649001 A institutional ✓ Park ▪ Re6urce Management ❑ Hiat971 Diana — Undeveloped Right -Of -Way 3.2.6324602 13 Downtown 14 North of Dairy Hill Lane ■■ Nip irp-di - ik.. i. ,,,,.. ,......1 = • 6-Atra laj to.1.0 4:- :Ali m .44.4 I Ale° a al:fie ..." E. -• g = - - -- 1111 g hi il 5 i• Miry r MIl1 Lir IL= salatiritif • MOW IMMI .40 too ipp �\G MK ILO 16 IIC :0111111112i =l -H 1 E•e,n 3 57 93 53 s,. 44 15 Nash Road No. b3 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 4 55 Ord. 2022` 2022 202 202: 2024 2024 2024 2024 2024 16 SMIC Seward Marine Industrial Center (SMIC) Picture taken from the Branson Pavilion looking east towards SMIC Zoomed in picure of SMIC 18 Glacier View Apartments and Emergency Room Entrance Picture taken from the corner of First Ave and Lowell Canyon Road looking west up Lowell Canyon Road Vacant Land Owned by Seward Community Health Center on First Ave Picture taken from the corner of First Ave and Lowell Canyon Road looking north up First Ave 1 9 Vacant Land Owned by Seward Community Health Center on First Ave Picture taken from Madison Street looking west at the vacant lots at the base of Mt Marathon 20 City Owned Property on Sea Lion Ave Picture taken from corner of Dimond Blvd and Sea Lion Ave looking south City Owned Property on Sea Lion Ave Picture taken from Middle School Parking lot looking east 21 City Owned Property on Sea Lion Ave Picture taken from Elementary School Parking lot looking south City Owned Property on Sea Lion Ave Picture taken from Elementary School Parking lot capturing Electric Building for comparison (looking south) 22 Vacant Land North of Hemlock Ave Picture taken from Seward Hwy on the corner of Hemlock Ave looking north Vacant Land North of Hemlock Ave Picture taken from Dieckgraeff Road across from the snow dump, looking southwest 23 Vacant Land North of Hemlock Ave Picture taken from Dieckgraeff Road across from the snow dump, looking southeast 24 City Property on Bette Cato (Lagoon Compost Site) Picture taken on Nash Road near Bette Cato Ave intersection looking east onto the city property City Property on Bette Cato (Lagoon Compost Site) Picture taken on corner of Nash Road and Bette Cato Ave intersection looking northeast onto the city property 25 City Property on Bette Cato (Lagoon Compost Site) Picture taken at the end of Bette Cato Ave at the prison entrance looking northwest onto the city property 26 Vacant Land South of Bette Cato and East of Nash Road Picture taken at the end of Bette Cato Ave at the prison entrance looking southwest Vacant Land South of Bette Cato and East of Nash Road Picture taken at the corner of Nash Road and Bette Cato Ave looking southeast 27 Vacant Land South of Bette Cato and East of Nash Road Picture taken at the entrance of Spring Creek Campground looking northeast 28 Vacant Land North of Spring Creek Campground and West of Nash Road Picture taken at the corner of Nash Road and Bette Cato Ave looking southwest Vacant Land North of Spring Creek Campground and West of Nash Road Picture taken on Nash Road just north of Bette Cato Ave looking south Vacant Land North of Spring Creek Campground and West of Nash Road Picture taken in Spring Creek Campground looking north Two Tallest Structures in Seward Conex building - 46 feet Vessel maintenance and repair structure - 110 feet