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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12152020 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Seward Planning&Zoning Commission Minutes December IS, 2020 CALL TO ORDER Volume 7, Page 435 The December 15, 2020 special meeting of the Seward Planning& Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Cindy Ecklund. OPENING CEREMONY Commissioner Hatfield led the pledge of allegiance to the flag ROLL CALL There were present: Cindy Ecklund presiding, and Tom Swann Gary Seese Kelli Hatfield Comprising a quorum of the Board; and Also Present Jackie C. Wilde, Community Development Director Excused Nathanial Charbonneau Craig Ambrosiani All public testimony was delivered either in writing or telephonically at this meeting CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING- None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Swann/Hatfield) Approve the agenda and consent agenda Motion (Ecklund/Swann) Add New Business item to schedule a January 2021 Work session Motion Passed AYES: Hatfield,Seese, Swann,Ecklund NOES: none Main Motion Passed AYES: Seese,Swann, Hatfield, Ecklund NOES: none November 3,2020 Regular Meeting Minutes were approved on the consent agenda City of Seward,Alaska Seward Planning&Zoning Commission Minutes December 15, 2020 Volume 7, Page 436 SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Administration Report Jackie Wilde stated that Planner Eric Kozielski's last day was December 11. Wilde stated that the Community Development department was short staffed at this time. Wilde appreciated everyone willing to use Zoom meetings, and thanked MIS for their help. In response to Ecklund, Wilde stated that the Clerk has received no applicants for the vacant seat on the P&Z Commission. Other Reports, Announcements, and Presentations - None New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing Resolution 2020-13 of the Seward Planning And Zoning Commission, Granting A Conditional Use Permit To Blaine Bardarson For Storage In Place Of The Obi/Icicle Employee Campground Units Located At 1607 Northwestern Circle Leirer Industrial Subdivision Lot 2 Block 3, For The Purpose Of Maintenance And Renovation, In The Industrial(I) Zoning District Chair Ecklund opened public hearing on this item. Hearing no one wishing to speak, Chair Ecklund closed public hearing and asked for the staff report. Wilde stated that Blaine Bardarson has applied for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) from the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission to store in place the 36 temporary housing units currently located at 1607 Northwestern Circle. Mr. Bardarson is the owner of the units and leases them to Ocean Beauty/ Icicle (OBI) Seafood for their Employee Campground which requires annual Conditional Use approval and Temporary Structure Permits. The land is leased by Ocean Beauty/Icicle(OBI)Seafood from Leirer Enterprises.Mr.Bardarson requested an exemption from having to relocate the units off site this year. Staff was directed to have Mr. Bardarson apply for a Conditional Use.Permit so that he may, upon approval, store his units in place for the purposes of maintenance and upgrades. The Temporary Structure Permits and Employee Campground CUP has been renewed annually for 11 years.Of those years,exemptions were made 5 times for various purposes. Temporary Structure permits are for a period of 180 days. As"Temporary Structure"is explained in Section 3103 of the 2006 IBC, the amount of time erected not the time used is the basis for its definition. Wilde discussed the surrounding land use and zoning and stated that all requirements for public posting were complied with. Building department staff recommended the following condition "The owner of the units shall bring the units and required foundation anchoring up to current International Building Code and International Fire Code for permanent structures within 1 year of the approval date. Prior to issuance of a building permit, Structural and Architectural Stamped Engineered drawings shall be approved by the Building Official." Motion(Seese/Swann) Approve Resolution 2020-13 Of The Seward Planning And Zoning Commission, Granting A Conditional Use Permit To Blaine Bardarson For Storage In Place Of The Obi/Icicle Employee .,,rl City ofSeward,Alaska Seward Planning&Zoning Commission Minutes December 15, 2020 Volume 7, Page 437 Campground Units Located At 1607 Northwestern Circle Leirer Industrial Subdivision Lot 2 Block 3, For The Purpose Of Maintenance And Renovation, In The Industrial(I) Zoning District Ecklund asked for clarification on the amount of time these structures would be allowed to remain if Commission were to approve this resolution, to which Wilde replied that the applicant would have one year to bring the camp up to IBC code standards in order to keep the structures there permanently. Ecklund asked about some of the exemptions which allowed applicant to leave the structures in place in excess of 180 days over the years. Fire Chief Clinton Crites was in attendance to answer building code questions,and he provided background information on the IBC regulations pertaining to temporary structures. In response to Ecklund, Crites stated that the applicant had received written authorization in 2011 to leave the structures in place by building official Squires for "one time only" in order to perform maintenance. The following year, Chief Squires retired, and incoming Chief Athey allowed further exemptions for the purpose of maintenance in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2019. Crites stated that these structures are in effect permanent structures, and that the building code states that any structure remaining in place over 180 days,regardless of whether or not it is occupied,shall meet permanent structure requirements. Crites outlined requirements that would need to be met through the building department to make these structures permanent, and stated that the intention is to ensure consistent application of the IBC which has been adopted by the City. Ecklund asked if annual health and safety inspections would be conducted, to which Crites replied that these structures have been and will continue to be inspected annually for health and safety.Crites discussed liability issues that the City potentially faces with regard to these containers. Swann stated that these structures are meant to meet a permanent need for annual employee housing for fisheries workers, and that the requirement to move every 180 days encourages a more permanent type of employee housing development. Swann acknowledged that there would be cost in bringing these up to code,and discussed the ease in which a container could be bolted to a permanent foundation and connected to water and electric. Seese thought the parties involved should be given a year's grace due to COVID related factors: illness at the processing plant and a difficult fishing season. Swann stated that the party providing the housing was separate from the parties involved in fishing and seafood processing. Ecklund discussed possible alternatives, but that she agreed with the point that the original CUP should have been followed all along,or the structures should have been made permanent. Ecklund stated that if Commission votes yes on this resolution, the applicant has one year to bring these units up to code,and that a no vote would require the applicant to move the structures now. Main Motion Passed AYES: Hatfield, Seese, Ecklund NOES: Swann Resolution 2020-14 Of The Seward Planning And Zoning Commission,Granting A Variance From Seward City Code 15.10.220 Development Requirements To Philip Zimmerman, Permitting An Exception To The Zoning Code To Allow For A Total Sign Area Greater Than 32 Sqft For The Temporary Advertising Of The Gateway/Phoenix Heights Subdivision City of Seward,Alaska Seward Planning&Zoning Commission Minutes December 15, 2020 Volume 7, Page 438 Located At 2004 Dunham Drive, Gateway Subdivision Addition 1 Lot 1 Block 3, In The Multi-Family (R3) Zoning District Wilde stated that the applicant is requesting a Variance to the Sign Code from the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission to erect a temporary (up to 2 years) freestanding sign at 2004 Dunham Drive,formerly known as Rush Loop. The proposed sign face exceeds the 32 square foot maximum size allowed for freestanding signs in the R3 zoning district. The Commission is authorized to grant special variances from the provisions of Chapter 15.20 in accordance with the conditions described therein. Property owners within 300 feet of the subject property were notified of this variance request and all other public hearing requirements were met. Chair Ecklund opened public hearing on this item. Wilde stated that a written comment was received from an adjoining property owner asking how long the sign was intended to remain, to which Wile replied that the variance would last 2 years. The commenter was satisfied with this answer and had no further concerns. Chair Ecklund closed public hearing. Motion (Hatfield/Swann) Approve Resolution 2020-14 Of The Seward Planning And Zoning Commission, Granting A Variance From Seward City Code 15.10.220 Development111 Requirements To Philip Zimmerman, Permitting An Exception To The Zoning Code To Allow For A Total Sign Area Greater Than 32 Sqft For The Temporary Advertising Of The Gateway/ Phoenix Heights Subdivision Located At 2004 Dunham Drive, Gateway Subdivision Addition 1 Lot 1 Block 3, In The Multi- Family (R3) Zoning District Hatfield stated that she had no concerns with the application but wondered if the applicant intended to move the sign to a new location after two years, noting that it appeared to be a well made and permanent looking sign. Wilde replied that the applicant had stated the sign would be removed in two years,or when all properties in the subdivision were sold. Ecklund noted that the sign was only slightly larger than what would have been allowed under code, but appreciated that surrounding property owners were notified because of the public hearing requirement for this particular sign. Swann stated that he appreciated the applicant going through the variance process and also that he constructed a sign that was not an eyesore. Swann supported the granting of the variance. City of Seward Alaska Seward Planning&Zoning Commission Minutes December 15, 2020 Volume 7, Page 439 Motion Passed AYES: Hatfield, Swann, Seese, Ecklund NOES: Commission set the topic of the January 19, 2021 work session to discuss Title 15 Definitions for Dwellings, Lodging, and Housing Commission Comments: Seese- Stated that he was proud of what Commission did tonight to help these people. Ecklund- Stated that she hoped the Commission would not see another Conditional Use Permit application for the permanent storage of temporary buildings for employee housing because she recalled the Commission's discussion in 2009 on the original permit being strongly worded toward the requirement that they be moved every year. Ecklund stated that the applicant should either make the structures permanent or attempt to change the portion of code requiring annual removal. Citizens' Comments: none Commission and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments Wilde stated that she has initiated a review of all previously issued Conditional Use Permits for the purpose of determining any that need to be followed up on. ADJOURNMENT (Swann) The meeting was adjourned at 7:51 PM / E.4 Jacki . Wilde Cindy L. Ec lu d Community Development Director Chair (City Se ,(of ...S ecroTkpoicp. d` • ' SEAL e 1 .. • • „�� M "..tf:x "tlypi Ay,