Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02032015 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes February 3, 2015 Volume 7,Page 114 Call to Order The February 3, 2015 Regular Meeting of the Seward Planning&Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Cindy Ecklund. Opening Ceremony Commissioner Seese led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll Call There were present: Cindy Ecklund presiding, and Martha Fleming Janet Coulter Gary Seese Tom Swann Margaret Anderson comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Donna Glenz, City Planner Dwayne Atwood,Planning Technician City Administration Report City Planner Donna Glenz updated the Commission on the following business items: • Glenz reported that an electronic map and search engine for local cemeteries was available online. Links to the mapping were available on the City of Seward web site main page and the Community Development Department web page. The same type of online mapping was being developed for the Harbor Department and Public Works Department, Glenz said. • Gleriz noted that the City GIS (geographic information system) mapping consultant was working on improving the quality of the City's mapping and information and the Kenai Peninsula Borough system. Glenz said mapping for the Seward Marine Industrial Center area had been recently corrected as part of the effort. • A local Legislative Information Office teleconference with area legislators was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on February 5. • The Seward Chamber of Commerce was scheduled to hold its annual community awards event on February 13. • The second annual Moose Pass Winter Rendezvous was scheduled for February 13-15. • Glenz noted the Planning and Zoning Commission had one vacancy and two seats were up for renewal. City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes February 3, 2015 Volume 7,Page 115 Ecklund asked Administration if as-built surveys would be digitized and available through City GIS mapping. Glenz said the information that would be available on the City mapping would be related to public infrastructure, such as water main locations. The Community Development Department had private as-built records,but only if the property owner provided them, Glenz said. Other Reports,Announcements & Presentations—None Citizens' Comments on any subject except those items scheduled for Public Hearing—None t ' Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion(Swann/Fleming) Approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed , . . Unanimous The following items were approved on the ConsentAgenda: , . ,-,: r ,•. January 6,2015 Regular Meeting Minutes . p; , .I . , 1. Unfinished Business Items requiring a Public Hearing—None New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing— Resolution 2015-02, of the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska, granting a Conditional Use Permit, to..the. Public Works Department of the City ofSeward'to construct and operate a 600,000 gallon water storage tank on 'City owned Lot C-6, Gateway.Subdivision, Addition 2, located at 2301 Hemlock Street; within the Single Family Zoning District !4 , ; . Glenz provided the history of the proposed project and the City Code requirements for public utility infrastructure. Glenz noted the':;location on wall maps for the Commission and explained how the community would be served by the water service. . Glenz described the surrounding development and pointed out the undeveloped property in area. The name for Hemmock Street, the planned access to the tank parcel, was,to be changed in the coming months. A nearby street was already named..Hemlock Avenue and conflicted with Kenai Peninsula Borough street naming standards, . A public hearing was held previously to answer questions about the project, Glenz said. tr .y,rT,o. o: ae.iy;t lie , City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes February 3, 2015 Volume 7,Page 116 Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Carol Griswold, inside City Limits, said she wanted the proposed water tank be a color other than white, possibly green. Griswold suggested that the color be added a condition to the Conditional Use Permit. Griswold also suggested that changing the name of Hemlock Street be added as an additional condition of the Conditional Use Permit. Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was closed. Motion`(Fleming/Swann) Approve Resolution 2015-02 Fleming asked if the proposed fencing surrounding the tank location would be safe and asked Administration if the fencing was discussed at the previous public hearing. Fleming also asked for description of the planned water treatment process. - City of Seward Public Works Director William Casey was'available to address'the questions on behalf of Administration and explained that the fencing was originally designed to be six feet high, but had been modified to include eight foot tall chain-link fencing. The water treatment would include a sodium hypochlorite(SH)process,he said. Anderson asked when the construction was scheduled to begin. • The project was slated to begin in May,`with'a completion deadline of December 31, Casey said. Casey said the access to the tank site did not utilize a 33 foot wide section line easement. Nearby property owners'preferred that the section line easement remain undeveloped in order to provide a vegetation buffer. Tree and vegetation disturbance at the site and access road was limited, Casey said. A locked gate was planned to limit access and lighting was to be shaded or directed away from nearby properties. The color of the tank structure had not been selected, Casey said. The color would not be metallic or white, he said. Casey said that slat screening would not be installed in the chain-link fencing, because the maintenance and upkeep would be problematic: The planned tank height was 24 feet, which was six feet shorter than originally planned, Casey said. Ecklund asked if area residents attended the previous project meeting. Glenz said that residents of nearby properties were in attendance, and additional property owners participated via teleconference. Swarm asked Administration to point out the proposed access. City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes February 3, 2015 Volume 7,Page 117 Glenz pointed out the platted rights of way on wall maps and explained the legal access.Glenz also pointed out the section line easement that was in the project area and explained the purpose of section line easements. Ecklund asked Commissioners to consider the two additional conditions that had been proposed -- the renaming of Hemlock Street and the water storage tank color. Fleming said it did not appear the Commission had control over the street renaming, or the amount of time it might take to change the name through the Kenai Peninsula Borough process. Swann and other Commissioners agreed to not add the street renaming as an additional condition of the Conditional Use Permit. Commissioners discussed how the water tank might be painted to blend in with the surroundings., Casey pointed out that the tank would be constructed of pre-painted panels. Motion(Fleming/Anderson) Amend the conditional use permit, adding ,, :.,.3 condition cumber 11.to read: he_x'ater • storage tank shall be a non-white color that blends with the environment Motion Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed, as Amended Unanimous Unfinished Business—None New Business Items— Discussion to cancel or reschedule the February 17,2015 work session Glenz noted she would not be available for the February 17 Planning and Zoning Commission work session, and added that Commissioner Seese would also not be available. Community Development Department Director Ron Long was also not available to attend the meeting, Glenz said. Commissioners discussed their schedules and canceled the February 17 work session. Reminder and quorum discussion of the March 3, 2015 joint work session with the Seward Bear Creek Area Flood Board City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes February 3, 2015 Volume 7,Page 118 Commissioners checked their schedules and determined a quorum would be available for the March 3 joint work session. Commissioners agreed that a light snack should be provided at the meeting. Informational Items and Reports (No action required) FEMA Region X Newsletter 2015 Planning and Zoning Meeting Schedule Commission Comments Anderson asked if Planning and Zoning could provide input on the Seward Marine Industrial Center development plan. Glenz said the Seward Marine Industrial Center development plan was reviewed by the Port and Commerce Advisory Commission and approved by City Council. Anderson.also asked about finding a'newdocation for the municipal animal shelter. Glenz pointed out that the animal shelter property issue would be on the February 9 City Council meeting agenda. Anderson also asked about the potential to relocate the Public Works Department shop building, possibly to the former U.S. Air Force Recreation Camp. Glenz said issues related to the former Recreation Camp would also be on the February 9 City Council meeting agenda. Commissioners discussed how development issues could be addressed by the Planning and Zoning Commission. City Council could sometimes refer certain land issues to the appropriate board or commission, Glenz said. Glenz said that Commissioners could also direct staff to address issues related to Planning and Zoning. Anderson said she was also concerned that some industries in Seward appeared to be under attack by the environmental community. Seese said he received a question regarding a property at 510 A Street, and then referred that question to Community Development. Atwood said the caller did contact the Community Development Department regarding the prior ownership of the structure at 510 A Street and the history of improvements. The remodel question was referred to the Building Department,Atwood said. City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes February 3, 2015 Volume 7,Page 119 Swann questioned whether Commissioners should provide their reasoning for their voting decisions at the time of the vote. Ecklund said the appropriate time to mention the reasoning for a decision was during the discussion that precedes a vote. -Ecklund also thanked staff for providing the cemetery mapping link on the City web page, which allowed the public to search records and history. Citizens' Comments-None Commission and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments—None Adjournment Meet'a g adjourn. at 8 p.m. • JP-Mr • Ale/ D (ayn-'Atw•od, Cind and arming Te s•cian Ch.• (City Seal)