Session 08-06 a Special Meeting of the Homer City Council was called to order at 5:40 p.m. on March 10, 2008 by Mayor James C. Hornaday at the Homer City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska, and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

PRESENT:                 COUNCILMEMBERS:        CHESLEY (excused/telephonic connection                                                                            lost), HEIMBUCH, NOVAK, ROBERTS,                                                         SHADLE, WYTHE                     

 

                                    STAFF:                                   CITY CLERK JOHNSON

                                                                                    CITY ATTORNEY TANS                             

 

Councilmember Chesley has requested telephonic participation. Councilmember Chesley will not be eligible to participate in deliberations in Executive Session due to telephonic status. Telephone connection was lost at the beginning of the meeting.

 

AGENDA APPROVAL (Only those matters on the noticed agenda may be considered, pursuant to City Council’s Operating Manual, pg. 5)

 

The agenda was approved by consensus of the Council.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS UPON MATTERS ALREADY ON THE AGENDA

 

There were no public comments.

 

Board of Adjustment Appeal Hearing – CUP 07-12 Lighthouse Village

 

Mayor Hornaday explained this is an appeal by Glenn and Elizabeth Seaman of a decision by the Planning Commission to approve Conditional Use Permit 07-12 for Lighthouse Village on property located at 1563 Homer Spit Road.  The permit was granted on the application of Duane Knapp and Douglas Meeker.  Written briefs from the Seamans and from Duane Knapp have been received.  Mr. Knapp is represented by Attorney Sandra Wicks.

 

Duane Knapp and Glenn and Elizabeth (Bette) Seaman were present and identified themselves for the record.

 

Preliminary Matters

Mr. Knapp has challenged the Seamans' right to appeal on the ground that the Seamans do not have standing because they did not participate in the proceedings before the Commission.  The Seamans counter by arguing they own property within 300 feet of the project and did not participate before the Commission because they did not get notice in the mail as required by the code.

 

Mayor Hornaday suggested the Board of Adjustment hear from both parties on the issue during the time allotted to them for oral argument. The Board was in agreement.

 

 

 

Oral Arguments

 

Mayor Hornaday recommended the Board hear oral arguments and grant each side a total 30 minutes, if needed. The Board was in agreement.

 

The brief from Duane Knapp filed by Attorney Wicks was not copied for the Seamans or the Board of Adjustment. City Clerk Johnson noted the brief was received in the Clerk’s office on February 27, 2008 and was placed in the file without copying all participants.

 

Mayor Hornaday expressed his inclination to postpone the hearing and strongly advised the Seamans not to proceed on the basis of just receiving notice of the appeal.

 

Glenn Seaman stated he spoke with developer Duane Knapp and indicated they may have a much quicker solution.

 

Duane Knapp stated on October 5, 2007 there was a public hearing with the Planning Commission. One of the requirements of the CUP (Conditional Use Permit) was a Traffic Impact Analysis of the development. The most contentious issue was the extension of B Street. It was strongly objected by neighbors; they all had unified concerns of the impact on Bay Avenue. One contention of the appeal is the impact of traffic on Bay Avenue from Lighthouse Village. Mr. Knapp would like to work with staff on other options. He would like to resolve the issue and avoid further hearings.

 

City Attorney Tans stated Mr. Knapp is asking that the matter be remanded back to the Planning Commission to make changes and submit new evidence.

 

The Seamans stated their agreement to the remand. Bette Seaman asked if the process would start over again and would go before the Planning Commission again and be formally noticed. She asked if they would be noticed.

 

Councilmember Shadle asked if it would be easier if the appeal was postponed as he felt like the parties were being pushed to do something they may regret.

 

Mayor Hornaday noted per HCC 21.68.065 if there is new evidence or changed circumstances are alleged the Board of Adjustment shall either hear the appeal without considering the allegations or remand back to the Planning Commission that shall determine whether to hear the matter.

 

Council discussed remanding the matter and if new information could be reconsidered. Mayor Hornaday recommended remanding the matter.

 

Bette Seaman commented if the Planning Commission can chose not to hear the matter they need to proceed or postpone. She only wants it to be remanded with proper notice.

 

Mayor Hornaday re-read HCC 21.68.065.

 

Councilmember Wythe noted we have to discount Mr. Knapp’s statement. If Council does not make a determination to find the Seamans are in the 300 ft. area they would not have standing to receive notice of further action.

 

Councilmember Roberts asked to postpone and then if something changes the parties may change what they want done.

 

Mayor Hornaday stated the parties want new information in the record. The BOA can only hear what the Planning Commission has in the record. The BOA can only hear the appeal or remand to the appropriate lower administration.

 

HEIMBUCH - MOVED TO REMAND TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR FURTHER RECONSIDERATION.

 

Motion died for lack of a second.

 

Councilmember Novak stated we are here only to determine if the Seamans should have received notice. If they should have received notice and did not, the matter is remanded back to the Planning Commission. Now we are talking about other things they may want to take effect. It still doesn’t address their position. We need to be dealing with one thing, whether the Seamans should have been notified.

 

Councilmember Shadle asked City Attorney Tans if the matter can be postponed without reprimanding anything.

 

City Attorney Tans stated it is reasonable to postpone, although when it comes up again we are sitting here at the same position.

 

Councilmember Heimbuch explained if Council rules on the appeal it is the end of the matter. If Council remands it back to the Planning Commission they have the opportunity not to recreate the wheel.

 

Councilmember Wythe said if it is remanded to the Planning Commission it needs direction that the commission should revisit the 300 ft. zone to see if the Seamans are included.

 

Councilmember Heimbuch asked the BOA if the attorney opinion has been read?

 

Glenn Seaman stated they can make their case and then the BOA can decide what they want to do. He asked if there was the option to postpone.

 

Councilmember Novak asked City Attorney Tans if the BOA does not rule on the question before them can it be remanded back to the Planning Commission. City Attorney Tans answered if the matter is remanded to the Planning Commission they will make a determination about factual findings if the Seamans were in 300 ft. The second remand is quite different, as Mr. Knapp would like it to go back to the Planning Commission so he can make a proposal to amend the CUP. It will require a commitment from Mr. Knapp for modification of the CUP.

 

Councilmember Wythe asked if the BOA remands back to the Planning Commission and the commission holds an additional public hearing, are the Seamans free to come to the public hearing whether they are noticed or not and develop their standing?

 

City Attorney Tans answered yes. He noted a changed circumstance or new evidence both fit a remand.

 

WYTHE/HEIMBUCH - MOVED THAT THE COUNCIL REMAND CUP 07-12 TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONSIDERING ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED DUE TO A CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO HEAR NEW EVIDENCE.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: YES. NON OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE

 

There were no comments.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CITY ATTORNEY

 

Attorney Tans had no comments.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CITY CLERK

 

City Clerk Johnson had no comments.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CITY MANAGER

 

City Manager Wrede was not present.

 

COMMENTS OF THE MAYOR

 

Mayor Hornaday had no comments.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

 

Councilmembers had no comments.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business to come before the Board of Adjustment, Mayor Hornaday adjourned the meeting at 6:20 p.m.  

 

 

______________________________

JO JOHNSON, CMC, CITY CLERK

 

Approved: _____________________