Memorandum 15-121 General Commercial 1 Land Availability

Memorandum   15-121
 

TO:                  MAYOR WYTHE AND HOMER CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH         KATIE KOESTER, CITY MANAGER
FROM:             RICK ABBOUD, CITY PLANNER

DATE:                  JULY 22, 2015

SUBJECT:     GENERAL COMMERCIAL 1 LAND AVAILABILITY

The Planning Commission discussed the General Commercial 1 District (GC1). Staff has broken down exactly how many lots are available for activities and their current status. Staff has also had discussions with realtors about the demand for GC1 land. Many of the activities allowed in GC1 may be allowed in other commercial districts. East End Mixed Use District provides a place to accommodate uses that require a larger area and the General Commercial 2 District provides an area for heavy industrial and commercial uses. What makes GC1 unique is the proximity to arterials and transportation centers. Additionally, land near Ocean Drive has access to a full complement of utilities and infrastructure.

While supply is constrained, demand is limited. There is some opportunity for development, the largest being the site of the farmers market, that comes at a high price. Many of the ‘vacant’ lots are being used to support a business site on adjoining parcels. The Planning Commission was unable to confirm a defined demand for additional opportunities in the GC1 District.

The minutes of the Planning Commission meeting included several points of the discussion.

There is GC1 land but it is expensive and hard to create something that will make money year round
There isn’t any place to expand it to but could designate another area as GC1
There are places to build businesses in Homer
If another area is designated, what would be displaced
When it has been proposed in other areas, property owners have objected to it
Amending the sign ordinance would help business owners
There isn’t any place to go, we have to create a new GC1 and take it from someplace else