Homer Comprehensive Plan Update Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting #5

Monday, July 30th 6:00-8:30 pm.

Cowles Council Chambers

Meeting Notes

 

Six of the thirteen committee members were present at the meeting held at the Cowles City Council Chambers.  The meeting was facilitated by Chris Beck and Tanya Iden of Agnew::Beck Consulting and Tamas Deak of KPB. 

 

Attendance:

Committee Members


Allegra Bukojemsky

Marianne Schlegelmilch

Bill Smith

Christopher Story - ABSENT

Hannah Bradley - ABSENT

Anne Marie Holen

Tina Day – ABSENT

Ethan Martin - ABSENT

Michael McCarthy

Val McLay

Jim Henkelman - ABSENT

Bob Howard - ABSENT

Barb Seaman - ABSENT

 

Interested Community Members

n/a

 

Staff 


Beth McKibben, Homer Planning Dept.

Tanya Iden, Agnew::Beck Consulting

Chris Beck, Agnew::Beck

Tamas Deak, KPB

 

 

Meeting Overview

The meeting’s purpose was to review the draft Homer Comp Plan Public Facilities and Services Chapter and the Land Use Map and Categories. 

 

Public Services and Facilities

As the CAC provided input, revisions were made to the document.  The CAC’s feedback will be reflected in the revised document.  A summary of key suggestions follows:

  • Include discussion that police are measured by their competence in responding to calls, community needs and their professional staff.  Need to continuously work toward this.
  • Add to water and sewer discussion the importance of conserving water where possible and considering incentives for saving/reducing water use.  Also look to new technologies to provide service
  • Remove discussion of Twitter Creek as a possible reservoir site.
  • Discuss that demand on parks and recreation is growing and they may need additional resources to respond to the need.
  • Discuss the importance of watershed management planning in relation to storm water control.
  • Insert an Org chart of the City admin staff.
  • Update the discussion of the City Hall/Plaza Review Committee to better reflect progress made.
  • Include discussion of Homer’s exceptional public education system and put more emphasis on college’s plans for expansion.
  • Solid waste discussion need to more explicitly encourage recycling.
  • Youth services discussion should be more about reducing barriers to participation in youth activites.

 

Land Use Map and Categories

The group reviewed the Land Use Map and associated categories together.  Key discussion topics include:

  • The difference between R2A and R2B may not be necessary.  Consider dropping this distinction (B&B by right or admin. Review)
  • The CBD should have an Old Town/Town Center overlay rather than shifting the eastern portion to GC1.
  • How can Student Housing be incorporated into a land use district?
  • The GC2 around the wetland/Kachemak drive area needs to be re-evaluated.  May not be an appropriate designation – should rather be Conservation.
  • Add a neighborhood commercial designation – potential areas are near Homer Brewpub, up West Hill Road.

 

Wrap-Up

The CAC was distributed at the meeting a new 1st goal for the Economic Vitality Chapter because it had accidentally been omitted from the re-write.  They were asked if they wanted the goal included.  The group agreed to the goal with a minor revision..

 

Changes will be made to the Public Facilities and Services Chapter, the Land Use Map, and the Land Use Classifications and they will be distributed to the CAC.

 

Next Meeting:

Monday, August 6, 2007, 6-8:30pm in City Council Chambers

Purpose will be to review the draft Parks, Recreation, & Culture Chapter and the Draft Transportation Chapter.