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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04082025 Planning & Zoning MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Volume 8, Page 109 CALL TO ORDER The April 8, 2025, regular meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Chair Carol Griswold. OPENING CEREMONY Commissioner Rhonda Hubbard led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Carol Griswold, presiding, and Nathaniel Charbonneau Vanessa Verhey Rhonda Hubbard Clare Sullivan June Pemberton comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Daniel Meuninck, Community Development Director Courtney Bringhurst, City Planner Clara Brown, Executive Assistant Jodi Kurtz, Deputy City Clerk Excused — Verhey, Hornseth Absent — None Vacant — None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT —None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Charbonneau/Sullivan) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approve March 4, 2025, Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes City of Seward, Alaska Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Volume 8, Page 110 SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATION, AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards — None City Administration Report Community Development Director Daniel Meuninck reminded everyone of the upcoming Comprehensive Plan Town Hall Workshops. He said a third -party facilitator will guide the workshops, and the surveys will remain open until May 31 st. He also announced that the Kenai Peninsula Borough's Safe Streets and Roads for All Safety Action Plan is open for public comment until April 30th. The Bureau of Land Management is also seeking input on revising the Iditarod National Historic Trail Management Plan. He added that the city is promoting e-notifications for more efficient communication on local projects and updates. Lastly, Meuninck shared some insights from his experience at the National Planning Conference in Denver. Seward had a theme of resiliency with geographical challenges and history of growth. Other Reports and Announcements — None Presentations - None PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolutions Requiring Public Hearing Resolution 2025-013, of The Planning And Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska, Granting a Conditional Use Permit to Tirebrand LLC To Operate an Auto Repair Shop at 801 Third Avenue Within an Auto Commercial (AC) Zoning District This is a quasi-judicial hearing. Commissioners may not discuss any items pertaining to this Resolution with the applicant, other commissioners, or the public. City Planner Courtney Bringhurst explained that property at 801 Third Avenue has traditionally been an auto service business. It was purchased by Tirebrand LLC in 2023. The business initially offered tire and lube services which are allowed in the area. This year, Tirebrand added mechanical repairs to their services, which requires a CUP for auto repair business. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened Chad Higgins, inside city limits, stated that he owned Tirebrand and bought property in an auto - commercial zone, expecting to run the Tirebrand automotive business without extra restrictions. He felt this CUP was unnecessary and should be removed. This process added costs and complications to his business. His business operates at a loss part of the year to provide a needed service in Seward, and he disagreed with this permit requirement. 1 City of Seward, Alaska Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Volume 8, Page 111 Charbonneau wanted clarification on the lots north of the business which were used for parking cars. The business owner said the lots are owned by a business partner of Maverick LLC, but there was confusion about the exact ownership and usage. No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed Motion (Charbonneau/Hubbard) Approve Resolution 2025-013 P&Z discussed the conditional use permit (CUP) for the business operating as an auto repair shop. They also discussed the parking and the different property boundaries and where Tirebrand parks the cars. The commissioners suggest that a formal parking agreement could clarify the situation. Griswold proposed an amendment to add a condition for this CUP that would state: the two adjacent parcels to the north, Parcels 14714015 and 14714006, are required to comply with SCC §15.10.215 Parking E.2. This amendment was discussed and then failed. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2025-014, 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 204 Lowell Canyon Road and 206 Lowell Court, vacating the eastern portion of the Lowell Court right-of-way and vacating the southern 10' of the property located at 204 Lowell Canyon Road Motion (Charbonneau/Hubbard) Approve Resolution 2025-014 Bringhurst referenced the 2023 Municipal Lands Inventory and Management Plan, and how the commission recommended vacating the 50-foot right-of-way and the southern 10 feet of 204 Lowell Canyon Road. She explained how this would benefit residential development and the landowners. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed. The commission discussed building a home or structure, easements and setbacks, and what was considered enough space for good-sized property. The goal was to make the land more useful and easier to sell. They discussed the right-of-way and how it will be split between the landowners. Administration handed out a laydown from the AK Lands Surveying company for added clarification. Resolution 2025-014 was amended to incorporate the AK Lands April 8, 2025 letter to replace the AK Lands October 18, 2024 letter in the packet backup materials. Motion as Amended Passed Unanimous 1 City of Seward, Alaska Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Volume 8, Page 112 Resolution 2025-015, 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 1312 Vista Avenue, 1305 First Avenue, 1303 First Avenue, 104 Mill Street, 112 Mill Street, and 1303 Chamberlin Road, vacating a portion of First Avenue right-of-way and alleyway rights -of - way and combining the six lots and vacated rights -of -way into one tract of land Motion (Charbonneau/Sullivan) Approve Resolution 2025-015 Bringhurst explained how the six lots are located west of the lagoon and are owned by three related people. She shared that the Community Development staff and Public Works Director made recommendations to create this preliminary plat to remove the right-of-way, which would give the owners full access to their property. She explained how it would help plan for utilities and future development. Land Surveyor Stacey Wessel explained how vacating both rights -of -way was considered and how the city has already supported vacating the alley right-of-way. This would allow the property owners to develop the land for housing and utilities. She felt it was an important step in making the land usable. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed. The commission discussed removing the alleyway and part of First Avenue to make it easier for property owners to develop their land and that it would help both landowners and the overall area design. Approving the plat would help with housing development which was a main goal in the comprehensive plan. Motion Passed UNFINISHED BUSINESS Resolutions Unanimous Resolution 2025-009, of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska, Recommending City Council approval of the land use amendment to rezone the property located at 1604 Phoenix Road from a Two -Family (R2) zoning district to an Auto Commercial (AC) zoning district. [This is a quasi -legislative hearing. Commissioners may discuss items pertaining to this Resolution. This item was postponed until the March 4, 2025 meeting so the applicant and more commissioners could be present.] Bringhurst explained that Jacob Bridges owns 1604 Phoenix Road, a 0.27 acre property, and had requested a rezoning from two-family residential to auto -commercial. Since the property just west of 1604 Phoenix Road is already auto commercial, the rezoning would make the property 1 1 City of Seward, Alaska Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Volume 8, Page 113 contiguous with the existing zoning district. It was important to note that approving the rezoning would not approve the proposed uses; they are just examples for context and reasoning for the rezone. Jacob Bridges, outside city limits, explained that his main reason for requesting the rezoning was to create a multi -use property —renting out two duplexes while using the attached shop space for personal use. He also requested flexibility on the western property line as well, seeking a 15-foot setback instead of the 20-foot setback allowed for residential zoning (R2), which would be permitted under the auto -commercial zoning. Jennifer Carr, inside city limits, lives at 203 and 204 Resurrection Blvd, and has moved there as it was a residential area and believes the city needs to be protective of its residential areas and does not think that this is a good place for a business. No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed Motion (Charbonneau/Sullivan) Approve Resolution 2025-009 P&Z discussed the concerns about rezoning the property from residential (R2) to auto -commercial (AC). Some commissioners questioned whether the change would fit with the surrounding area. Rezoning could lead to a more commercial development nearby which would increase traffic and disrupt the neighborhood. Motion Failed NEW BUSINESS - None INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Reminder of upcoming P&Z Meetings Unanimous Canceled work session on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in lieu of Comprehensive Plan Town Hall meetings (see below). Regular meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers at City Hall. Other Items Comprehensive Town Hall workshops (for inside an outside city limits) - Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025, at 5:30pm at the K.M Rae Building and Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025, at 5:30pm at the Bear Creek Fire Station and Thursday, April 24th, 2025, at 5:30pm at the Seward High School library. City of Seward, Alaska Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Volume 8, Page 114 CITIZEN COMMENTS Robbie Williams and Travis Mau, outside city limits, own property at 2405 Seward Highway near the snow dump. Mau has 40 years of experience in construction and development and Williams works in real estate assessment. They discussed building heights and how building developments for housing would be more efficient for land use and utilities. With high building costs, increasing the height to four stories makes financial sense, as it's more cost-effective when construction expenses are already high. Robbie spoke from a builder's perspective, the difference between 35 feet and 48 feet would not be noticeable. They also appreciate the idea of their property being entrance to Seward and want to make the most of this prime spot. BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Meuninck stated how the city manager suggested the building height discussion and it would be best to have a recommendation for the council by early summer. He stated another work session on the building height topic could be arranged if needed. Brown spoke to how she emailed the person in charge of the Seward Folly newspaper and asked them to include the Comprehensive Plan workshop information in the next issue. Kurtz announced the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting that will be held at the library conference room next Tuesday. Everyone is welcome to attend, and the assembly will be acknowledging all the Seward Seahawks state champions. Charbonneau thanked the public for coming out and for all the city administration's hard work. Hubbard thanked everyone for a good meeting and a packed agenda. She thanked everyone that came to speak and appreciated staff. She thanked all the commissioners for their time and energy. Pemberton thanked everyone for attending and to everyone who came out. Sullivan thought the packets were amazing and made it easy to digest the information and make a sound decision. She appreciated Clara Brown for her hard work and responding quickly to emails. She also thanked the commissioners for continuing to learn and move forward for the best of Seward. Griswold thought tonight's agenda was a whopper and it covered a lot of different topics. She thanked the administration and appreciated the work session presentation on road safety and appreciated Stacy Wessel with AK Land Surveying. 1 City of Seward, Alaska April 8, 2025 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 p.m. Jodi rtz Dept' City Clerk 1 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes Volume 8, Page 115 Carol Griswol Chair Trei