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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2004-071 Sponsored by: Planning and Zoning Commission I CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA RESOLUTION 2004-71 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, RECOMENDING THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH PURCHASE OF THE ADDITIONAL EIGHT ACRES OF LAND TO THE WEST OF THE NEW SEWARD MIDDLE SCHOOL LOCATED ON U.S.S. 1864 KPB REPLAT, TRACT A WHEREAS, the Kenai Peninsula Borough has been granted a Conditional Use Permit from the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission and has received a building permit to construct and operate the new Seward Middle School which is located on twelve acres on the North boundary of the Seward High School, which is to be known as U.S.S. 1864 KPB Replat, Tract A; and WHEREAS, the new Middle School will contribute to addressing the educational and social needs ofthe community; and WHEREAS, the new Middle School will also be available as an Emergency Evacuation Shelter for the community; and I WHEREAS, the new Seward Middle School will attempt to accommodate an extensive trails network for cross country track and skiing programs; and WHEREAS, several school sports and activities have been impacted by the loss of the use of neighboring lands caused by the construction of the new Seward Middle School; and WHEREAS, due to the loss of the use of neighboring lands, a public safety issue has been created due to the need for students and the public to cross a service road during outdoor events; and WHEREAS, an additional eight (8) acres ofland to the West of the new Seward Middle School property is currently available for purchase; and WHEREAS, this land could also be used to support North-South emergency evacuation routes for the community; and WHEREAS, the public has testified before the Planning and Zoning Commission in support of the need to purchase the additional eight (8) acres ofland; and I WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Commission passed a Resolution supporting this purchase at their June 1 S\ 2004 public meeting; and CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA RESOLUTION NO. 2004-71 WHEREAS, there will be no direct costs to the City of Seward, other than the potential loss of property taxes; and WHEREAS, the purchase of the eight (8) acres would allow space for the development of current and future needs. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA that: Section 1. The City Council supports the need and recommends the purchase by the Kenai Peninsula Borough of the additional eight acres of land to the West of the new Seward Middle School. Section 2. This resolution shall take effect immediately following its adoption. PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward this 14th day of June, 2004. THE CITY OF SEWARD -I~~ Vanta Shafer, ayor AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: Dunham, Valdatta, Amberg, Clark, Anderson, Shafer None Branson None ATTEST: "I ~1 -.-1;)/)1' )../'1X":J J e<{j Lewis I City Clerk ",'"11"", .....\' OF SJ:I1t.",,, """,fIl,'" .~"'-l ".......... ~L\ ".... ~d::ilo ~Rf'o~... 'l'.... ~ ::\~~~ul) .."1~...v ~ .~ ..~ --- ~'" ': 'f : \ = , Ii) l SE' _^ T : 0 .. 'j t1...LI : : :. '.. ----- : = ll.~ ''v". ~... ~ -:. <Jl:<\...~"'.! 1 ...~~...-."'r ~ <}'" "..;r;;.....I.... ~~...:; ~~ <.;: OF p..\.: ~...;." ""'n""~ Council Agenda Statement Meeting Date: June 14, 2004 Through: Phil Shealy, City Manager From: Malcolm G. Brown, Planner Agenda Item: Resolution 2004-71, recommending that the Kenai Peninsula Borough purchase of the additional eight (8) acres of land to the West of the new Seward Middle School located on U.S.S. 1864 KPB Replat, Tract A BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION: The voters of the Kenai Peninsula Borough have chosen to fund the new Middle School for Seward. At their February 3rd, 2004 meeting the Planning and Zoning Commission granted the Kenai Peninsula Borough a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to construct and operate the new Seward Middle School, which will be located on twelve acres on the North boundary of the Seward High School. This land is to be known as U.S.S. 1864 KPB Replat, Tract A. The property is locatedin theSingle Family Residential (R1) Zoning District. An additional eight (8) acres of land to the West of the new Seward Middle School property is currently available for purchase. The new Middle School is located on twelve acres which was added to the forty acres parcel that the High School, football field, soccer field and track have occupied. The new school will enhance local recreational opportunities by designing and providing locates for cross-country trails and outdoor activities; however the current land occupied by the schools does not allow for development of these activities without crossing the access road in several places. The purchase of the eight (8) acres would allow space for safer development of the current and future needs of the community and the schools. This land also has the potential to be used to support North-South emergency evacuation routes. The surrounding area features residential properties, the Seward Elementary School, Seward High School, the military recreational campgrounds, City of Seward electric and water public utilities. At the time of publication of this report, staff has received no adverse public comment from neighboring property owners or the community. The Kenai Peninsula Borough has held numerous meetings with the many user groups within the community. They have gone to great efforts to incorporate their concerns into the design of the new school, to the extent possible with current finances available. They have even planned and designed features for which funding is not currently available, to facilitate upgrades if and when funding does become available. The trail they will be designing and surveying is an example of the extra effort they have expended to meet the needs of the community. Based on the above findings, the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission passed a st Resolution of support for the purchase of the eight acres at their June 1, 2004 meeting. Location: The additional eight (8) acres is located to the West of the new Seward Middle Schoolwhich is located on twelve acres on the North boundary of the Seward High School parcel, known as U.S.S. 1864 KPB Replat, Tract A Size: Approximately 8 acres Zoning: Single Family Residential (R1) Existing Use : Vacant Proposed Use: Public Middle School recreational area Flood Zone: Located in Flood Zone C, a Flood Plain Development Permit is not required CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST: Yes No 1. Comprehensive Plan (1990) X ____ The Comprehensive Plan has a goal of supporting efforts to continually improve the quality of educational facilities located in Seward and ensuring that these facilities continue to enhance the community. Public schools are specifically addressed “Support the Borough’s efforts to continue long-range planning for the future needs of Seward’s public school students.” (page 39).” 2. Strategic Plan (1999) X ____ The Strategic Plan emphasizes expanding and integrating educational programs, including the Seward public schools (page 18). The concerns for supporting the community’s economic base are addressed by the promotion of winter activities, specifically to “promote winter back-country activities such as the expansion of Nordic ski trails, alpine skiing and snowmachining (page 8)”. Additionally, the need for connectivity is expressed through “connecting schools and residential areas through the development of sidewalks and trails (page 17).” 3. Emergency Preparedness Plan (2000) X ____ The Emergency Preparedness Plan designates the Seward public schools as primary and secondary evacuation points for three of the six zones designated within the community (Section 4). FISCAL NOTE: This purchase will not cause any direct costs to the City of Seward, but this land is currently privately owned and property taxes will not be paid if it is purchased by the Borough. Approved by Finance Department:__________ RECOMMENDATION: Council approve Resolution 2004-71, recommending that the Kenai Peninsula Borough purchase the additional eight (8) acres to the West of the new Seward Middle School, located on twelve acres on the North boundary of the Seward High School, which is known as U.S.S. 1864 KPB Replat, Tract A.