M E M O R A N D U M 06-09

TO: MAYOR HORNADAY AND HOMER CITY COUNCIL

FROM: COUNCILMEMBER WYTHE

DATE: JANUARY 9, 2006

SUBJ: PLANNING AND ZONING PRIORITIES COMMENSURATE WITH CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES.

Attached is a Draft Memorandum to the Planning Commission from the Mayor and Council.

Let's discuss this and send it to the Commission.

RECOMMENDATION:

Approve, with or without amendments, the attached memorandum, and forward, on Mayor letterhead, to the Planning Commission.

Fiscal Note: NA

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: ADVISORY PLANNING COMMISSION

FROM: MAYOR HORNADAY AND HOMER CITY COUNCIL

DATE: JANUARY 9, 2006

SUBJECT: PRIORITY PROJECTS FOR 2006

Homer City Code, 1.76.010, establishes an Advisory Planning Commission in order to maximize local involvement in planning and in the implementation and modification of the Homer zoning ordinance. HCC, 1.76.030, a., limits the duties and powers vested in the Commission by making them subject to the approval of the Council.

Due to changes in the Council since the time the majority of the Commission was originally appointed, the Mayor and Council believe the Commission has the best chance for success if direction and goals are provided.

With the objective of fulfilling the duties of the Commission, Commissioners (past and present) have developed an ever growing Work List. Due to community growth and change, items of importance on the Work List, seem to become lost in the review and approval processes for developments brought before the Commission.

With the goal of returning the focus of the Commission to these Work List projects, the Mayor and Council direct the Commission to focus on the following list of projects for 2006, recognizing that some of these tasks may be duties fulfilled by staff on behalf of the Commission:

• •Title 21 review/amendment, to ensure that the language is consistent throughout.  (Funds were included in the budget to this end)

• •Review the appropriateness of the current zoning of the area west of the Homer Middle School, to determine if it meets the development needs of the community and property owners.

• •Continue work on the Steep Slope Ordinance.

• •Begin the process of relaxing construction regulations to allow for the development of the Town Center.

• •Comprehensive Plan Update

It is the belief of the Mayor and Council that by focusing on these projects and the prompt implementation of the zoning codes as they currently exist, that the Commission will be fulfilling its essential functions and providing the best service to the Community. It is in the best interest of us all to establish a framework that the Commission can succeed in.