HomeMy WebLinkAbout03052019 Planning & Zoning Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Seward Planning&Zoning Commission Minutes
March 5, 2019 Volume 7,Page 318
CALL TO ORDER
The March 5,2019 regular meeting of the Seward Planning& Zoning Commission was
called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Cindy Ecklund.
OPENING CEREMONY
Commissioner Charbonneau led the pledge of allegiance to the flag
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Cindy Ecklund presiding,and
Martha Fleming Gary Seese Kelli Hatfield
Tom Swami Craig Ambrosiani Nathanial Charbonneau
Comprising a quorum of the Board; and
Also Present
Jeff Bridges, Interim City Manager
Brennan Hickok,Assistant City Manager
Jackie Wilde, Planner
SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Administration Report
Jackie Wilde updated the Commission on the following business items
• The April 2,2019 Planning and Zoning meeting will have a full agenda
• Community Development department has been continuing the audit of nightly
lodging businesses and is processing applications for 2019. The City has received one
complaint about the safety inspection fee,otherwise feedback has been neutral
• Commissioners were reminded to turn in their APOC forms if still outstanding
Other Reports, Announcements, and Presentations- None
CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING—
John Weisel, inside city, introduced himself to the commission and told everyone about
commercial and residential construction projects he is working on inside the City.
Brad Snowden, inside city, stated that he has been working on the business license process to
operate a nightly rental out of his 4-plex on Fourth avenue and is having a difficult time. He
asked for the Commission's help when his permit application comes up for public hearing.
Snowden also discussed solutions to seasonal housing and told everyone that he is working on a
cruise ship dock.
City of Seward,Alaska Seward Planning&Zoning Commission Minutes
March 5,2019 Volume 7,Page 319
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Fleming/Swann) Approve the agenda and consent agenda
Motion (Fleming/Ambrosiani) Amend the agenda to add Item 9B
"Discuss March 19, 2019 Work Session
Topic"
Motion Passed Unanimous
Motion(Swann/Fleming) Amend the title of item 7B1 to strike the
words "Issued to James Pruitt"
Motion Passed Unanimous
Main Motion Passed Unanimous
The following item was approved on the Consent Agenda:
Approval of January 8,2019 Regular Meeting Minutes
New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing
Resolution 2019-001 Of The Seward Planning And Zoning Commission Of The City Of
Seward, Alaska, Granting A Conditional Use Permit (CUP)Amendment, Reducing The Number
Of Parking Spaces Required By CUP 2002-01, To Construct And Operate A 79-Unit Hotel And
Retail Development In The Harbor Commercial Zoning District, At 1412 Fourth Avenue, Lot 1,
Block 6, Seward Small Boat Harbor Subdivision
Planner Jackie Wilde stated that this was brought forward by Applicant Tom Tougas to request
a reduction in the number of off-street parking spaces required from one space per guest unit to
.65 spaces per guest unit. Wilde stated that Mr. Tougas has supplied some usage data along with
the CUP application. Wilde stated that staff had received multiple phone calls from surrounding
businesses who expressed concerns about the scarce availability of parking in the Harbor area
during the summer months. Wilde provided these citizens with the information submitted by the
applicant to Community Development,and business owners stated that while they still had
concerns over parking,none wished to come forward in objection. Wilde discussed the
development and permitting history of the hotel, citing the original parking conditions and
summarizing subsequent renovations.
Notice of public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the
public hearing was opened.
Tom Tougas, inside city, stated that Harbor 360 hotel user data indicate that an average of 48
parties per night travel to Seward by means other than car. Tougas stated that his tour boat
City of Seward Alaska Seward Planning&Zoning Commission Minutes
March 5,2019 Volume 7,Page 320
business and hotel business are mutually beneficial, and often provide package accommodations
with guests arriving by bus. Tougas discussed the current parking requirement for the Harbor
360 hotel, and stated that the parking his business was required to provide was currently
underutilized.
Chair Ecklund asked if Commissioners had any questions for the applicant,Mr. Tougas
Fleming asked what would happen if additional rooms were to be built in the Hotel. Tougas
stated that there was no more room in the building for additional guest rooms
Swann asked where employees of the hotel parked. Tougas stated that the business purchases
City parking passes for its employees.
Hatfield asked if all staff and guests parked in the City parking lot across from the Hotel.
Tougas stated that tour boat staff and tour boat guests park in his private parking lot on the west
side of fourth avenue near Van Buren, since it is closer to the check-in location.
Commissioners Hatfield and Charbonneau commented that they work around the boat harbor
and parking lots are often full during the summer months.
Brad Snowden, inside city, suggested that high demand for parking indicated healthy business
activity. Snowden stated that if a business owner had a need for additional parking, they should
be charged a fee and funds could go toward construction of parking garages.
Hearing no one wishing to speak, the public hearing was closed.
Motion (Swann/Seese) Approve Resolution 2019-001 of The
Seward Planning And Zoning
Commission Of The City Of Seward,
Alaska, Granting A Conditional Use
Permit (CUP) Amendment, Reducing The
Number Of Parking Spaces Required By
Cup 2002-01, To Construct And Operate
A 79-Unit Hotel And Retail Development
In The Harbor Commercial Zoning
District, At 1412 Fourth Avenue, Lot 1,
Block 6, Seward Small Boat Harbor
Subdivision
Swann stated that this resolution may have implications for other businesses in the City. Swann
thought that hotel users were more apt to need parking in the evening. Ambrosiani asked
administration how accurate estimates are that City parking lots are full in the summer. Hickok
stated that it is difficult to determine occupancy rates due to high vehicle turnover in the parking
lots. Hickok pointed to the data provided by SPRD Director Sturdy in the packet on increased
revenues as evidence of increasing demand on harbor parking lots. Ecklund asked if a parking
requirement had ever been lowered in the past, or if any other hotels operating under a CUP had
a lower parking requirement than 1 space per guest room. Charbonneau stated that he is
concerned about the scarcity of parking in the harbor area. He stated that he works in the harbor
City of Seward,Alaska Seward Planning&Zoning Commission Minutes
March 5, 2019 Volume 7,Page 321
every day in the summer and observes that parking lots are full during peak months.
Charbonneau is concerned about parking spaces being available for all the businesses located in
the harbor area, and concerned about how relaxing parking requirements would affect future
growth in the City. Charbonneau pointed out that the argument for reducing the parking
requirement rests on the business model of offering package tours, and asked if this resolution
could revert back to the original requirement if the hotel were to change hands. Ecklund stated
that this could be done by resolution or by amending the resolution on the floor. Hatfield stated
that she pays for parking in the summer and sometimes cannot find parking to get to work, and
stated that she is not the only one in this situation.
Motion (Charbonneau/Hatfield) Add condition that states "at the point of
sale of the Harbor 360 Hotel, Resolution
2019-01 is voided and reverts back to
original CUP"
Fleming did not agree with adding an encumbrance to the business
Motion Failed AYES: Charbonneau
NOES: Fleming, Seese, Swann,
Ambrosiani,Hatfield,Ecklund
Main Motion Passed AYES: Ambrosiani, Fleming, Hatfield,
Seese, Swann, Ecklund
NOES: Charbonneau
Item 8B. Set topic for January 15,2019 Work Session
Wilde asked the Commission to approve a work session topic to discuss 2019 Planning and
Zoning Priorities in preparation for a March 26, 2019 joint work session with Council to review
said priorities.
Motion(Swann/Fleming) Set topic of March 19, 2019 work session
to "Discuss 2019 Planning and Zoning
Priorities"
Motion Passed Unanimous
Commission Comments
Swann-briefed the Commission on a commitment with potential to affect meeting attendance
Fleming-Welcomed John Weisel to the community
Seese-Agreed with Commissioner Fleming
Ecklund- Thanked Mr. Weisel for coming to Planning and Zoning and introducing himself, and
thanked him for working on affordable housing
City of Seward Alaska Seward Planning&Zoning Commission Minutes
March 5, 2019 Volume 7,Page 322
Citizens' Comments
Brad Snowden, inside city, welcomed Mr. Weisel, and stated that he loves to see our
community grow. Snowden also discussed the challenges that he has been facing in opening a
hotel business at his 4 plex on Fourth Avenue.
Commissions and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments—None
ADJOURNMENT(Ambrosiani)
The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m.
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