HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD2025-010 Building HeightSponsored: Planning & Zoning
Introduction: June 23, 2025
Public Hearing: July 14, 2025
Amended and Enacted: July 14, 2025
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
ORDINANCE 2025-010
AN ORDINANCE OF THE SEWARD CITY COUNCIL, AMENDING
SEWARD CITY CODE §15.10.220 AND TABLE 15.10.222 DEVELOPMENT
REQUIREMENTS REGARDING THE LANGUAGE AND REGULATIONS
PERTAINING TO BUILDING HEIGHT
WHEREAS, according to Seward City Code 15.01.035, the Planning and Zoning
Commission by its own motion may recommend amendments to Title 15 to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the community to periodically review and update
the City zoning code to reflect community changes and needs; and
WHEREAS, Community Development and the Planning and Zoning Commission have
heard various concerns expressed by the public regarding the current building height regulations
restricting economically feasible construction within Seward; and
WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Commission held work sessions on September 17,
October 23, November 19, and December 17, 2024, and February 18 and March 18, 2025, to
discuss building height and recommend changes; and
WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Commission also had a joint work session with the
City Council on January 27, 2025, to discuss the proposed changes to building height within code;
and
WHEREAS, the Commission received feedback from developers that the current building
height of 34 feet does not provide enough height to construct a 3-story building without making
expensive adjustments in the plan to accommodate structural necessities such as a sprinkler
system; and
WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Plan highlights the value of the small-town feel as well
as the goals to encourage development and create incentives to provide more housing; and
WHEREAS, the topic of building height was first discussed by the Commission in the
context of how the City can be proactive about the housing issues within Seward; and
WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved Resolution 2025-021 on
June 3, 2025, recommending the City Council approve the proposed code changes.
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
ORDINANCE 2025-010
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF SEWARD ORDAINS that:
Section 1. Seward City Code Title 15.10.220 Development Requirements is hereby
amended to read as follows (new language is in bolded italics and underlined, and deleted
language is stricken):
A. Table 15.10.222, development requirements, is incorporated herein by reference and the
restrictions and annotations contained therein are mandatory unless otherwise modified by
this chapter. (See table at the end of this section; see also section 15.10.210.)
B. Building height. The purpose of building height standards is to prevent loss of life of
opei4y damage thfough the inability of the City fire depai4fnent to rvaeh u
*06 Q. A-F HaRa to help maintain the character of neighborhoods through balanced
development and historic preservation, and to protect access to views, light, and Privacy
1. Conditional Height Increase. Buildings may exceed the height permitted in Table
15.10.222 up to a maximum of 48 feet, subiect to a conditional use permit review as
set forth in SCC 15.10.320 and the following additional approval criteria:
a. The Property must be located.
i. North of Hemlock Avenue, south of Dieckgraeff Road, east of Spruce Street,
and west of the Seward Highway, or
ii. East of Nash Road, excluding Fourth of July Creek Subdivision No. 2, Tract
G and the Alaska State DNR land to the east.
b. The proposed development must be an allowed use within the underlying zoning
district.
c. The structure must be a multi -family dwelling, condominiums, or townhomes
with units/dwellings no smaller than two bedrooms, or a hotel, or a multi -use
building that incorporates commercial and residential uses.
C. Setbacks —Yards.
1. Setbacks are required to insure sufficient open area for snow accumulation, sunlight,
views, privacy, fire separation and visual relief between structures.
2. No yard or other open space provided about any building for the purpose of complying
with the provisions of this chapter shall be considered as providing a yard or open
space for any other building, and no yard or open space on one lot shall be considered
as providing a yard or open space on any other lot.
No yard or lot shall be reduced in size or area below the minimum requirements set
forth herein. Yards or lots created after December 5, 1978, shall meet at least the
minimum requirements established by this chapter.
4. In cases of corner lots with multiple frontages, the administrative official shall
designate the front yard, and all other frontages shall be designated as a side to a street.
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
ORDINANCE 2025-010
5. All structures shall be designed and constructed to prevent roofs from shedding snow
onto adjacent lots, structures, fences, or other property.
Section 2. Seward City Code Title 15.10.222 Development Requirements Table is hereby
amended to read as follows (new language is in bolded italics and underlined, and deleted
language is stricken):
TABLE
Zoning District Designations
The following zoning district abbreviations are provided for information and interpretation:
RR =
Rural, very low density single-family residential
R1 =
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
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
ORDINANCE 2025-010
Table 15.10.222. Development Requirements
Zoning Districts
Principally Residential
Principallv Commercial
Principally Public
RR
R1
R2
R3
UR
OR
AC
HC
CB
I
RM
INS
P
Maximum Building Height (ft.) (See
34 38
34 38
34 38
34 38
34 38
34 38
34 38
dies
34 38
34 38
34 38
34
34
Note 1, next page)
26*
38
38
9F
34 38
Minimum Buildable Lot Size (sq. ft.)
20,000
Varies
Varies
Varies
Varies
Varies
Varies
None
Varies
10,000
20,000
None
None
(See Notes 2 and 7, next page)
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
6,000
3,000
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
6,000*
6,000*
9,000*
9,000*
9,000*
9,000*
9,000*
Minimum Lot Width (ft.) (See Notes
100
Varies
Varies
Varies
Varies
Varies
60 or
30
Varies
100
100
None
None
3 and 7, next page)
30 to
30 to
30 to
30 to
30 to
90*
30 to
60*
60*
90*
90*
90*
90*
Minimum Front Yard Setback (ft.)
20
20
20
20
20
20
10
None
None
20
20
20
20
(See Note 7, next page) except Leirer
and Tract C-1 below
Minimum Front Yard Setback (ft.)
20
20
20
20
20
20
10
None
None
10
20
20
20
for Leirer Industrial Subdivision and
Alaska Skill Center Tract C-1 only.
(See Note 7, next page)
Minimum Side Yard Setback (ft.)
10
5 or 5
5 or 5
10
5
5
5
5
None
10
10
10
20
(See Notes 4 and 7, next page)
min.
min.
with
with
15
15
total*
total*
Minimum Side Yard Setback
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
None
None
20
10
10
20
Adjacent to Street (ft.) (See Note 7,
next page)
Minimum Rear Yard Setback (ft.)
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
None, 5
None
10
10
15
20
(See Notes 5 and 7, next page)
and l0*
Maximum Accessory Building Height
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
34
34
20
34
20
(ft.)
Maximum Lot Coverage (%) (See
30
35
35
40
40
50
50
100*
100
100*
30
50
10
Notes 2G and 6, next page)
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
ORDINANCE 2025-010
Table 15.10.222. Development Requirements —Table Notes
NOTE 1. Within the HG Distfiet, in ,
feet.of the South Haf-ber- Uplands Tmet H, Water-ftent Park Replat, the harbor- basin and i Fleat
Ramp, building height is lifnited te 26 If approved by a conditional use permit, buildings
up to 48 feet in height may be allowed if the criteria specified in 15.10.220(B)(1) have been
met.
NOTF. 2-
A. Buildable/useable area —Lot may have to be larger to have minimum buildable area
available.
B. In the R1, R2, R3, UR, OR, AC and CB Districts, from the Seward Highway/Phoenix
Road intersection South, to include the Bayview Subdivision, a minimum of 3,000 SF
lots and 30 foot minimum frontages and north of the Seward Highway/Phoenix Road
intersection, a minimum of 6,000 SF lots and 60 foot minimum frontages
C. Lots located on a cul-de-sac bulb shall have a minimum of 8,000 square feet and a 40-
foot minimum lot frontage.
D. Flag lots shall have a minimum of 15,000 square feet and a 30-foot minimum lot
frontage on the staff portion of the lot.
E. A single RR lot may be divided into two lots of less than 20,000 SF each if the
reduction below 20,000 SF is to accommodate required widening of an adjacent right-
of-way.
F. In the R1, R2, R3, UR, OR, AC and CB Districts, individual lots of at least 3,000 SF
in the Original Townsite, Federal Addition, Laubner Addition, Cliff Addition and
Bayview Addition may be developed for single-family residences provided all other
development requirements of this chapter are met.
G. Multiple -Family developments (except studio apartments) with three or more units
require a minimum of 9,000 SF in the R3, UR, OR, AC and CB Districts and 20,000
SF in the RM District. All said districts require an additional 1,200 SF per unit of five
or more units.
H. Two -Family or duplex developments require a minimum of 6,000 SF in the R2, R3,
UR, OR, AC and CB Districts and 20,000 SF in the RM District. Duplex developments
within the Federal Addition Subdivision require 5,000 SF. All other development
requirements of this chapter shall be met.
I. Multiple -Family, studio apartments in the OR, AC, CB, HC, I and RM districts require
a minimum of 9,000 SF. The total square footage required for lot setbacks shall be
reserved as open area. All other requirements set forth in this chapter shall be met.
NOTE 3. See Notes 2-F and 2-G above.
NOTE 4. From Seward Highway/Phoenix Road intersection —South, a five-foot setback, each
side; north, a minimum five-foot setback each side as part of a combined 15-foot setback total
between both sides.
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
ORDINANCE 2025-010
NOTE 5. In the HC District, parcels abutting mean high tide —No rear yard setback; parcels
abutting the waterfront boardwalk —Five feet; and parcels not abutting the waterfront boardwalk
or mean high water mark —Ten feet.
NOTE 6. Excludes setbacks in HC and I.
NOTE 7. In the Industrial District, no minimum lot size, width or setbacks are required for
unmanned electronic sites.
NOTE 8. Tract D of USS 1864 Jesse Lee Home Subdivision shall not be used for any uses other
than those allowed in an R 1 district, except for a long term care facility, aka skilled nursing care
facility.
Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect 10 days upon enactment.
ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, the
14th day of July 2025.
THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
Sue McClure, Mayor
AYES: Wells, Osenga, Crites, Warner, McClure
NOES: Finch, Barnwell
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
Kris Peck
City Clerk
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