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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05032016 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Sewar4 Alaska Planning Commission Minutes May 3,2016 Volume 7,Page 185 Call to Order The May 5, 2016 Regular Meeting of the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Cindy Ecklund. Opening Ceremony Commissioner Fleming led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll Call There were present: Cindy Ecklund presiding,and Martha Fleming Gary Seese 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: • One new floodplain development permit had been issued since the last Planning and Zoning Commission regular meeting. The permit was issued to the City of Seward and the Seward / Bear Creek Flood Advisory Board for a Lagoon culvert cleanout near Second Avenue and Van Buren Street. A culvert at the northern end of the Lagoon still needed to be maintained. • The Community Development Department had reviewed 28 building permits for the year. • City Public Works Director W.C. Casey retired at the end of April. • The Seward Marine Industrial Center breakwater project was on schedule. The City Harbormaster had requested that the public stay away from the North Dock area. • The Seward Small Boat Harbor slip upgrades were completed. • The northeast fish cleaning station in the Seward Small Boat Harbor was also completed. • Glenz noted that staff had been working with the Comprehensive Plan Update contractor, and a web site was to be introduced soon. The contractor was making plans to interview City department heads. City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes May 3, 2016 Volume 7,Page 186 In response to Anderson, Glenz said the culvert work at the south end of the Lagoon was completed with grant funds in the amount of approximately$4,800. Ecklund asked if the recruitment of a new Public Works Director was being handled by the City Human Resources Department or a contractor. Glenz said she believed the hiring was being handled in house. In response to Fleming, Glenz noted that Nancy Perea was the acting Public Works Director. In response to Seese, Glenz said the Public Works Director salary and other details could be found at the City of Seward web page. 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 item was approved on the Consent Agenda: April 5,2016 Regular Meeting Minutes Unfmished Business Items requiring a Public Hearing—None New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing— Resolution 2016-05, of the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska, granting a Conditional Use Permit to Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiatives, Inc. to construct and operate a five (5) unit senior housing apartment complex on Lot 11A-2, Fort Raymond Subdivision No. 4 (replat pending), located at 2200 Dimond Boulevard, within the Multi- Family(R3) Zoning District(rezone pending) Glenz noted the parcel was to be developed by Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiatives (KPHI) to create a five-unit senior housing complex. A zoning action amending the zoning designation to Multi-Family(R3) was to go before City Council on May 9, Glenz said. A required replat was to go before the Kenai Peninsula Borough. The site plan submitted by KPHI met Code requirements. Staff had received no comments from the public regarding the Conditional Use Permit application and staff supported the CUP application. City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes May 3, 2016 Volume 7,Page 187 Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Carol Griswold, inside City, said she would like to see a contractual clause requiring the City land dedicated to the senior housing project revert back to the Park Zone designation if the project was not completed. Hearing no one else wishing to speak,the public hearing was closed. Motion(Anderson/Fleming) Approve Resolution 2016-05 Fleming asked staff how often proposed projects were not completed. Glenz said projects rarely failed to be completed. If the project did not get completed in five years, the property could be rezoned back to the original zoning designation. A future zoning change would require action on the part of the Community Development Department, Glenz said. Anderson said she was opposed to any requirement that the land be rezoned back to Park if the housing project was not completed. The property had been underutilized as park land and should be put to better use,Anderson said. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2016-06, of the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Seward, Alaska, recommending City Council approval of the rezoning of Lots 11 and 12, Block 7, Federal Addition, from Single Family Residential (R1) to Two Family Residential (R2), located at 700 Second Avenue Glenz described the property for Commissioners, noting the location and surrounding neighborhood development. The property owner had expressed interest in converting an existing single family home to a duplex, and a rezone was required. A replat would also be required as part of a duplex development. Glenz noted the rezone was supported by staff because the Two Family Residential designation was supported by the City Land Use Map. She noted the current two lots could be utilized as two single family homes and the development of a duplex would not increase the density of this property beyond what is currently allowed by two single family homes. Glenz stated a nearby property owner had expressed opposition to the proposed rezone action, noting they did not support the use of the property as a duplex. Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. City of Seward,Alaska Planning Commission Minutes May 3, 2016 Volume 7,Page 188 Kirk Hoessle, inside City, said he purchased the property at 700 Second Avenue to develop a duplex. Hoessle said he felt the rezone request was consistent with the neighborhood development. Hoessle said he would answer any Commission questions. Hearing no one else wishing to speak,the public hearing was closed. Motion (Anderson/Fleming) Approve Resolution 2016-06 Fleming asked if the action would result in spot zoning. Glenz pointed out that the recommended zoning for the 700 Block of Second Avenue was Two- Family Residential. The suggested zoning was supported by the City Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Map. Ecklund'said she supported affordable housing and was hopeful a duplex would be a benefit to the community. Motion Passed Unanimous Unfinished Business—None New Business Items— Planning and Zoning May 17 Work Session Topic Glenz noted the topic had not been set for the regularly scheduled May 17 work session. Glenz noted that the Seward High School graduation was occurring that week, so Commissioners needed to check their calendars to make sure they would be available. Commissioners discussed their schedules and determined a quorum would not be available for the regular Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on June 7, and the meeting was canceled. The Commission also set the May 17 work session topic as"Continued Review of the Parks and Recreation Department Master Plan." Informational Items and Reports (No action required) Flood Board Quarterly Joint Work Session Reminder FEMA Region X Newsletter(NOT AVAILABLE) 2016 Planning& Zoning Meeting Schedule and Calendar Commission Comments— City of Sewarc4 Alaska Planning Commission Minutes May 3, 2016 Volume 7,Page 189 Anderson said she eager for the Commission to meet with the contractor that was working to update the City Comprehensive Plan. Anderson also thanked Commissioner Fleming for recently providing the Planning and Zoning Commission quarterly report to City Council. Also, there were trees obscuring the view at intersections near A Street and B Street along Second Avenue. Seese noted for the record he would not be available for the June 7 regular meeting. Fleming said she would also be unavailable for the June 7 meeting. She noted that deposited gravel in the beach campground / bicycle path area was creating drainage issues. Fleming also asked staff if vessels needed to stay away from the Seward Marine Industrial Center breakwater project area. Glenz said she believed the upland areas were of concern, but suggested checking with the Seward Harbormaster for vessel information. Ecklund said the greenbelt/bike path area did have issues with excess gavO,,and,water pooling. She also noted that Planning Technician Dwayne Atwood's son, Preston Atwood, would be graduating from Seward High School on Monday, May 16. Citizens' Comments— Carol Griswold, inside City, said she recalled a zoning change that was approved in her neighborhood, but the related project was not undertaken. That amended zoning designation remained for many years, she said. Griswold said she felt that the senior housing parcel at the corner of Sea Lion Avenue and Dimond Boulevard appeared to be spot zoning. She reiterated that a reversionary clause could help to make sure zoning designations would be reestablished if projects failed. Griswold also said she believed a bunkhouse was in operation at the corner of Second Avenue and Jefferson Street. She added that while the City of Seward had corresponded with the property owner,the prohibited use had continued. Commission and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments— Anderson said the Park zoned area that was being changed to accommodate the proposed senior housing project, was underutilized. If the housing project was not completed, the Multi-Family zoning should remain, she said. Seese said the seasonal housing demand was considerable and more land should be developed to that end. Some property owners camped or moved out of their homes in order to cater to seasonal visitors and provide nightly lodging,he said. Ecklund asked staff if the parcel (area)dedicated to the senior housing project was recommended for a rezone from Park to some other designation. City of Sewarc4 Alaska Planning Commission Minutes May 3, 2016 Volume 7, Page 190 The Municipal Land Use Plan recommended that the property be sold with a sound development plan, Glenz said. She also noted the parcel was not spot zoned. The City Code allowed parcels exceeding one acre to be rezoned. The parcel at the corner of Dimond and Sea Lion was approximately 1.5 acres in size,Glenz said. Fleming noted some of the issues that occurred each summer season were not addressed adequately because the City of Seward did not have dedicated Code enforcement. 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