Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11032015 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes November 3, 2015 Volume 7, Page 161 Call to Order The November 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 Anderson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll Call There were present: Cindy Ecklund presiding, and Gary Seese Martha Fleming Janet Coulter Margaret Anderson comprising a quorum of the Commission; and Donna Glenz, Planner Dwayne Atwood, Planning Technician Excused was: Tom Swann City Administration Report Planner Donna Glenz updated the Commission on the following business items: • Glenz thanked Atwood for filling in and completing various duties during her extended absence. • Glenz stated she would not hold Planning and Zoning meetings or work sessions in the City Council Chambers. The City Hall Annex Building would be used instead. If a different location was needed,the Commission would be notified. • No new floodplain development permits had been issued since the last meeting. • The City of Seward had received a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inspection report for the Lowell Canyon diversion tunnel. The report noted necessary repairs, totaling approximately$2 million. The Corps was working on securing funding. • The City Building Department had issued 39 building permits for the year. • A Planning and Zoning Commission joint work session with the local flood board was scheduled for December 1, 2015. • City offices were to be closed November 11 for Veteran's Day and on November 26-27 for Thanksgiving. City of Seward, Alaska Planning Commission Minutes November 3, 2015 Volume 7, Page 162 Other Reports,Announcements & Presentations—None Citizens' Comments on any subject except those scheduled for Public Hearing—None Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion (Fleming/Anderson) Approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The following items were approved on the Consent Agenda: October 6,2015 Meeting Minutes Unfinished Business Items requiring a Public Hearing—None New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing—None Unfinished Business—None New Business Items— Resolution 2015-20 of the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission, granting a six (6) month extension to Conditional Use Permit 2015-02, issued to Randy and Jennifer Wells to construct and operate four (4) apartment units on Lot 28B, Block 12, Original Townsite of Seward, located at 210 Brownell Street within the Urban Residential Zoning District Glenz noted the history of the original land action and resolution that granted the conditional, use permit for the project. The developers had requested an extension of the CUP within the six month deadline and also indicated the project had not been significantly changed, Glenz said. Staff recommended granting the extension. Motion (Fleming/Coulter) Approve Resolution 2015-20 Anderson asked staff how many times a Conditional Use Permit could receive an extension. Glenz said there was no limit, and that on occasion as many as three extensions had been granted. The Commission could consider amending the City Code to allow permits to remain current for a one-year period, instead of six months, Glenz said. • City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes November 3, 2015 Volume 7,Page 163 Ecklund asked staff if Conditional Use Permits had ever expired before the allowed use or development was initiated. Glenz said permits had expired due to changes in plans, lack of financing and other reasons. There was no additional application fee associated with Conditional Use Permit extensions, Glenz said. Motional Passed Unanimous Approve the 2016 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting schedule and public hearing cut-off dates Glenz noted that the regularly scheduled July meeting had been canceled in recent years in observance of the Fourth of July. The Commission had also canceled the December work session,to accommodate the Christmas Holiday. Commissioners reviewed the schedule and discussed possible amendments. During discussion, Commissioner Anderson asked for clarity on the work session schedule and the annual priorities that would be addressed,including a work session on exploring the development of 30 foot by 100 foot lots. Glenz said the Commission had been making good progress on the annual priorities, including work sessions on the revision of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The work sessions during the next year and a half would focus on the Comprehensive Plan update, Glenz said. The work would also include public meetings or "town hall" meetings as part of the process, Glenz said. In response to Anderson, Atwood explained that the recent work session findings and suggestions regarding the development of 30 foot by 100 foot lots, and related platting issues, would be reported to City Council. The Commission's next course of action would the report,to Council. Following further discussion of the,2016 calendar, Commissioners agreed to reschedule the July 5 regular meeting to July 19 and also cancel the December 20 work session. Set work session topic for November 17,2015 Glenz noted that the Commission had not set a topic for the November 17 work session and suggested the session be dedicated to the Comprehensive Plan update. Commissioners had received a hard copy of the Comprehensive Plan at the August work session. Glenz said the preliminary work could focus on the desired design,layout and format of the updated plan. Commissioner Fleming noted she would not be available to attend the November 17 work session. City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes November 3, 2015 Volume 7, Page 164 The other Commissioners present said they would be available for the meeting. The topic was set as: "Review and Preparation Planning for the Comprehensive Plan." Informational Items and Reports (No action required) Flood Board Quarterly Joint Work Session Reminder FEMA Region X Newsletter 2015 Planning& Zoning Meeting Schedule Commission Comments- Anderson said she was pleased to see development and construction on several parcels in town. In response to Commission questions, Atwood noted that a multi-unit development was being constructed at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Madison Street. Ecklund said she was pleased by the return of Planner Donna Glenz. She also thanked Atwood for his work during the planner's recent absence. Citizens' Comments-None Commission and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments-None Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. • / / I 4_ it., Dw-yne twood me ' un• P1,4 g Techni ian Chair (City Seal) eb®�a ro 8ses6.0 aeo'b OF ;5;C-" 004 o S coa�4«QOmw,oeac��®� m p Ji 4p e° ,'•� `' a o 0 tPJ l 4- T a ® Gd n ® !d•'mil •�n c e, ��j as y,r�l.•,•,. •v.: .e° 49- oo u� �.:- b $o 4- OF ',7` 9" a��ss,•au a�'eu