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City of Homer
Planning & Zoning Telephone (907)
235-3106
491 East Pioneer Avenue Fax (907) 235-3118
Homer, Alaska 99603-7645 E-mail Planning@ci.homer.ak.us
Web
Site www.ci.homer.ak.us
M E M O R A
N D U M 05-154
TO: MAYOR
HORNADAY AND HOMER CITY COUNCIL
THRU: WALT
WREDE, CITY MANAGER
FROM: BETH
MCKIBBEN, CITY PLANNER
DATE: September 20, 2005
SUBJECT: Town Center Development Plan
The Town Center Development Committee (TCDC),
created by resolution of the Homer City Council, held their first meeting in
October 2003. City Planning personnel served as staff to the TCDC. The Committee met regularly. In February 2005 the City of Homer hired a
landscape architect, Laura Ballock, to work with the TCDC in illustrating their
vision of Town Center.
Laura Ballock introduced the TCDC to the
concept of “systems” based planning.
She took the work of the committee; the vision, guiding principles and
the likes and dislikes of previous plans considered, utilized the systems
approach and created alternatives A and B as presented in the plan. It is important to remember that
Alternatives A and B are based on a flexible framework. The advantage of the systems approach is that
it is not based on a fixed scenario but is changeable and adaptable over time. This makes it especially suitable to phased
development.
The Town Center Development Plan also
includes an Action Plan. The Action
Plan is intended to help maintain momentum in bringing Town Center to fruition.
The Action Plan is grouped in short term, mid term and long-range time frames
and identifies tasks, lead department/agency as well as a time frame for
completion.
The public review draft of the Town Center
Development Plan was completed and the Committee held a community “Open House”
to present the plan. The open house,
held in the Cowles Council Chambers on June 9, 2005, was well attended, with
over 78 people signing in. Copies of
comments received on this draft of the plan are attached.
With a presentation at the July 9, 2005 Homer Advisory
Planning Commission meeting, the Committee handed off the Plan to
Commission. The Commission held a
public hearing to take comments on the Town Center Plan at the September 7,
2005 meeting. At this meeting the
Commission voted to recommend the City Council adopt the Town Center
Development Plan with no amendments.
The Commission further recommended their preferred development
alternative is Option A as presented in the Plan.
Recommendation:
The Homer Advisory Planning
Commission recommends the Homer City Council hold a public hearing, adopt the
plan and forward to the Kenai Peninsula Borough for adoption as an update to
the Comprehensive Plan.