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       08-25

 

TO:                  MAYOR HORNADAY AND HOMER CITY COUNCIL

                        WALT WREDE, CITY MANAGER

 

FROM:            BETH MCKIBBEN, CITY PLANNER

 

DATE:             February 14, 2008

 

SUBJECT:       An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Homer, Alaska, Amending the Homer Zoning Code by adopting a new chapter 21.56 to create a new Town Center Zoning District and amending the zoning map to rezone portions of the Central Business District to the Town Center Zoning District.

 

 

At the regular meeting held February 6, 2008 the Homer Advisory Planning Commission (HAPC) held a public hearing on the above referenced ordinance.  The Commission discussed this ordinance at several work sessions.  They held a special meeting on February 13, 2008 to continue working on the ordinance.  The HAPC recommends City Council approve the ordinance and map amendment with amendments.  The amendments are listed below.

 

·        Add a whereas clause as follows:  Whereas,  The Homer Advisory Planning Commission held a public hearing on the matter on February 6, 2008, as required by Homer City Code, Section 21.70.020; and

·        Line 59 – delete hardware, appliance and furniture stores (they would become a conditional use)

·        Line 83 – delete item l (move to conditional use)

·        Line 109 – delete item u (move to conditional use)

·        Line 116 – mobile food services would be permitted only on city owned land

·        Line 118 – itinerant merchants would be permitted only on city owned land

·        Line 125 – Open Air Business would be deleted and replaced with Farmers Market.

·        Line 133 – Planned Unit Development would be deleted.

·        Line 143 – Shelter for the Homeless would be deleted.

·        Line 153 – add conditional use “Retail sales of hardware, appliance and furniture stores , building supplies and materials, only if such use, including storage of materials, is wholly contained within an enclosed building.”

·        Line 153 – add conditional use “Plumbing, heating and appliance repair shops, only if such use, including storage of materials is wholly within an enclosed building.”

·        Line 185 – maximum building height to remain at 35 feet (see memo from Fire Chief Painter).

·        Line 301 – add subsection 4 – Storm water management and drainage will be integrated with adjacent properties to the maximum extent possible.

·        Line 340 – subparagraph (i) should be (1). 

·        Add a requirement that all utilities in the district are required to be underground

·        Amend the district boundaries to be as illustrated in the attached map.  The boundary would be Poopdeck on the east, Sterling Highway on the south, Main Street on the west, and the lots contiguous to Pioneer Avenue on the north side of Pioneer, between Main Street and Poopdeck.  Staff notes this will leave four remnant lots zoned Central Business District.  If the district boundaries are amended staff recommends the remnant lots be included in the Town Center District or the lots north of Pioneer Avenue not be included in the district.  Because of the proposed changes in the district boundaries Planning staff has sent notices of the City Council public hearing to all property owners within the amended boundaries as well as those within 300 feet of the proposed district boundaries.

 

The HAPC further recommends amendments to Title 7, Vehicles and Traffic, that allow for on-street parking and shared parking, be addressed before the Town Center reaches final plat approval.

 

Recommendation:

 

The Homer Advisory Planning Commission recommends the Homer City Council adopt the ordinance and amend the Zoning Map with the above listed changes.

 

Attachments:

 

1.      Ordinance 08-XX 

2.      Map dated February 14, 2008 showing HAPC recommended boundaries for TCZD

3.      Minutes HAPC February 6, 2008

4.      Minutes HAPC February 13, 2008

5.      SR 08-02 with attachments

6.      SR 08-12(S)

7.      SR 08-18 with attachments

8.      Public comments dated February 6, 2008

9.      Public Notice and mailing list