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Home My WebLink About10062011 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes October 6, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 5 2 irm Call to Order The October 6, 2011 Regular Meeting of the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chair Roach'. Opening Ceremony Commissioner Heinrich led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll Call There were present: Sandie Roach' presiding, and Steven Heinrich Cindy Ecklund Tena Morgan comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Donna Glenz, City Planner r.. Dwayne Atwood, Planning Technician Excused was: Dale Butts City Administration Report City Planner Donna Glenz updated the Commission on the following business items: • Mayor David Seaward was elected by 295 votes in the October municipal election. Incumbent Willard Dunham received 285 votes. In the City Council race for three available seats Christy Terry received 458 votes; Vanta Shafer received 325 votes; Bob Valdatta received 313 and Tom Smith 299. • The municipal ballot question of whether to repeal Proposition 1, which would have implemented an alcohol and tobacco tax, passed 427 to 186. • City Council was still in negotiations with Jim Hunt of Idaho, who had been offered the City Manager position. • Michelle Weston had recently resigned her position as Assistant City Manager / Community Development Director. She was to continue working on City projects for the next two months. • Mack Funk was recently hired as the new Harbormaster. Funk had previously worked at Oak Harbor, Washington. • The U.S. Coast Guard building relocation in the Seward Boat Harbor was delayed until May of 2012. • Construction of a 190 -foot AT &T cellular tower had begun. Developers planned to install the tower at the Seward Marine Industrial Center before the end of 2011. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes October 6, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 5 3 • The Kenai Peninsula Borough Platting Commission held a meeting in Seward on September 19 and voted to change the name of several area roads. One proposal included renaming Salmon Creek Road to Locomotive Lane. Following public testimony, the decision was made to retain and dedicate the name of Salmon Creek Road. • Community Development and local flood board staff attended a recent FEMA floodplain management training. • Glenz thanked Commissioner Steven Heinrich for his service on the Planning & Zoning Commission, which began in 2008. • An October 24 work session with City Council was canceled and was to be rescheduled for a later date. • Glenz also reported that a Connex container at 227 Brownell Street had been moved, at the request of the Community Development Department, to another location. Other Reports, Announcements & Presentations -None Citizens' Comments on any subject except those items scheduled for Public Hearing - None Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion (Heinrich/Morgan) Approve the Agenda and the Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The following items were approved on the Consent Agenda: August 2, 2011 Regular Meeting Minutes Unfinished Business Items requiring a Public Hearing — None New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing Resolution 2011 -11 of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska, Granting a Conditional Use Permit to Colaska, dba Quality Asphalt & Paving (QAP) to extract gravel from portions of three parcels located within the city limits and the Resurrection River, with Kenai Peninsula Borough tax parcel ID numbers of 144 -03 -041, 044 & 045, within the Resource Management Zoning District Glenz described and noted the proposed Conditional Use Permit to Colaska. The applicant was applying to extract gravel from three parcels within the Resurrection River drainage. A Conditional Use Permit was required for gravel extraction in the Resource Management District. Access to the parcels was through Herman Leirer Road (Exit Glacier Road) to the north, Glenz said. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes October 6, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 5 4 la Glenz listed the eight conditions of the permit and noted the gravel extraction would be taking place on dewatered gravel bars. All City departments had reviewed the application and no public comments had been received regarding the proposed gravel extraction. Commissioner Heinrich asked if the gravel extraction would take place just on the north side of the river, given the access to the riverbed would be from the north. Glenz explained that extraction would be done at dewatered gravel bars within the river. The properties do extend into the water, but the extraction and transportation would be outside of the river flow, Glenz said. Commissioner Morgan asked if state permits were required for the proposed gravel extraction. Permits had been acquired by all of the involved agencies, including the State of Alaska, Glenz said. Chair Roach' asked if there was any indication of how much experience Colaska had in the field of gravel extraction. Glenz said she was not sure how much experience Colaska had, but stated Bill Williamson, h�.. chairman of the Seward/Bear Creek Flood Service Area board, was in the audience and had some knowledge of the company's experience. The Commission agreed to suspend the rules in order to hear Williamson's comments. Williamson said Colaska had and maintained gravel pits north of Anchorage and in Anchorage. The company had received gravel extraction permits for other portions of the Kenai Peninsula, Williamson said. The company, as QAP, had about 20 years of experience, he said. Roach' asked Administration if public access to any portions of the drainage would be affected by the proposed gravel extraction. The navigability of the river would not change, Glenz said. She also pointed out that the land where the project would take place was private. Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. There were no requests to be beard and the public hearing was closed. Motion (Heinrich/Ecklund) Approve Resolution 2011 -11 Heinrich commented that the proposed gravel extraction project would be good for the community and he would support it. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes October 6, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 5 5 Department commented that the Community artment had done considerable p p work preparing the Conditional Use Permit. Motion Passed Unanimous Unfinished Business — None New Business — None Informational Items and Reports (No action required) Notice of Work Session with Council on October 24, 2011 National Flood Insurance Program Newsletter, August /September North Pacific Rim Housing Authority Letter Regarding Connex Commissioner Heinrich Resignation Letter November, 2011 Meeting Schedule Commission Comments Commissioner Ecklund thanked Commissioner Heinrich for his service. Commissioner Morgan also thanked Heinrich for his work and wished him luck with his new employment opportunity. Heinrich said he enjoyed his time as a commissioner and was confident the Commission would succeed in its future efforts. He also mentioned that he made some progress working with the GIS consultant to catalog the Resources Management Zoning District land surrounding Seward. Heinrich said he would provide the information he had compiled, although it was incomplete. Roach' noted that Heinrich had added a valuable perspective for the Commission and she appreciated working with him. Glenz said the Commission would need to consider meeting dates for November. She suggested changing the regular meeting date to November 8, 2011. The regular meeting was scheduled for November 1. Commissioners agreed that the Planning & Zoning Commission monthly meeting would be held on November 15, 2011. Citizens' Comments — None City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes October 6, 2011 Volume 6, Page 4 5 6 Commission and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments — None Adjournment Meeti 'g adjourned : t 8:0 • .m. 4 .., L . ! r `- . A 4. -s2OC i. J 'a--e-A D ayne ' twoo • , Sandie Roach' Community Development Assistant Chair (City Seal) �t,I*" •D:• IS Of SFlof X0 - 4,-4, • •� ,�' . a .' * c 4 p • 0 . C ; a Hwy s • le �vb I \°° '.° u r r � ; :� 14 No iii 0 i C cp i t 0 Li ¢ • • 1 ......4100.••• +► • * W L ISP