Session
10-01, a Regular Meeting of the Homer Advisory Planning Commission was called to
order by Vice Chair Kranich at 7:09 p.m. on January 6, 2010 at the City Hall
Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.
PRESENT: COMMISSIONER BOS, DRUHOT, KRANICH, SINN
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER HAINA, MINSCH, WALKER
STAFF: CITY PLANNER ABBOUD
DEPUTY CITY CLERK JACOBSEN
APPROVAL OF
AGENDA
The
agenda was approved by consensus of the Commission.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The public may speak to the Planning
Commission regarding matters on the agenda that are not scheduled for public hearing or plat consideration. (3 minute time limit).
There
were no public comments.
RECONSIDERATION
There
were no items for reconsideration.
ADOPTION OF CONSENT
AGENDA
All items on the consent agenda are
considered routine and non-controversial by the Planning Commission and are
approved in one motion. There will be
no separate discussion of these items unless requested by a Planning
Commissioner or someone from the public, in which case the item will be moved
to the regular agenda and considered in normal sequence.
1. Approval
of Minutes of December 2, 2009
2. Time Extension Requests
3. Approval of City of Homer Projects under
4. KPB Coastal Management Program Reports
The
consent agenda was approved by consensus of the Commission.
PRESENTATIONS
Presentations approved by the City
Planner, the Chair, or the Planning Commission.
No
presentations were scheduled.
REPORTS
a. Borough Report
b. Kachemak Bay Advisory Planning Commission
Report
c. City Planner’s Report
City
Planner Abboud updated the Commission regarding the ongoing appeal of the
nonconformity at 1440 East End Road, which will be heard by the Board of Adjustment
at a special meeting on January 11th. He said the Comprehensive Plan
is before Council for adoption at the regular meeting on the 11th.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
The Commission conducts Public
Hearings by hearing a staff report, presentation by the applicant, hearing public
testimony and then acting on the Public Hearing items. (3 minute time limit) The Commission may question
the public. Once the public hearing is closed the Commission cannot hear additional
comments on the topic.
The applicant is not held to the 3 minute time limit.
A. Staff Report PL 10-04, Draft Ordinance
10-XX, Amending the Residential Office Zoning Code
City
Planner Abboud reviewed the staff report.
Vice
Chair Kranich opened the public hearing. There were no public comments and the
public hearing was closed.
BOS/SINN
MOVED TO BRING STAFF REPORT PL 10-04 TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION AND FORWARD
THE ORDINANCE TO CITY COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION.
Point
was raised to clarify that the assisted living portion was deleted because it
is covered in another area.
There
was brief discussion that this amendment deals with a district where home
offices are allowed and addresses situations where a residential dwelling is
being changed to a residential office, non-residential building requirements, how
it relates to setbacks, and fire marshal requirements for setback.
VOTE:
NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT
Motion
carried.
B. Staff Report PL 10-03, Draft Ordinance
10-XX, Amending the Bridge Creek Watershed Protection District
City
Planner Abboud reviewed the staff report.
Chair
Kranich opened the public hearing. There were no public comments and the public
hearing was closed.
BOS/SINN
MOVED TO BRING STAFF REPORT PL 10-03 TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION AND FORWARD TO
CITY COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION.
It
was noted that the amendment only adds a sub-paragraph under conditional uses
that would allow more than one building containing a principal permitted use on
a lot as a conditional use. It was brought forward by staff to take care of an
inconsistency. It could have been permitted outright, but prior discussion
showed that it should be a conditional use.
VOTE:
NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT
Motion
carried.
C. Staff Report PL 10-07, Public
Right-of-way Vacation for a Portion of Hough Road (CANCELLED)
PLAT CONSIDERATION
The Commission hears a report from
staff, presentation from the
applicant and testimony from the public.
The Commission may ask questions of staff, applicants and the public.
A.
Staff Report PL 10-06, Chirstensen Tracts 2009
Addition Preliminary Plat (CANCELLED)
PENDING BUSINESS
No
pending business items were scheduled.
NEW BUSINESS
The Commission hears a report from
staff. Commission business includes
resolutions, ordinances, zoning issues, requests for reconsideration and other
issues as needed. The Commission may ask questions of staff and
the applicants. Any items brought before the commission for discussion are on
the floor for discussion following introduction of the item. The
Commission will accept presentation on agenda items that involve an applicant
(such as acceptance of a nonconformity.)
A member of the public wishing to comment on regular business items that
do not require a public hearing or public notice may do so under Public
Comment.
A. Staff Report PL 10-05, Draft Ordinance
10-XX, Amending HCC 21.75, Storm Water Plans
City
Planner Abboud reviewed the staff report.
BOS/SINN
MOVED TO BRING STAFF REPORT PL 10-05 TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE
AMENDMENTS.
There
was no objection to the motion expressed and discussion ensued.
The
Commission discussed the draft ordinance. Discussion points included when a Storm
Water Plan is required, the need for developer accountability, the cost of
engineering, development in subdivisions, and concerns with the concept of
exemptions.
It
was noted that it needs to be established how they are going to address the
exemptions. It could be in a dollar amount, size, or volume, and then decide
what it will take to get there. It can be discussed in a worksession, before
burdening staff with compiling more information.
BOS/SINN
MOVED THAT WE TAKE STAFF REPORT 10-05 TO A WORKSESSION.
There was no
discussion.
VOTE: NON
OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
B. Staff Report PL 10-08, Draft Spit
Comprehensive Plan
Vice
Chair Kranich commented that the Commission had discussion with Pat Coleman
during their worksession regarding the maps. They provided Mr. Coleman with
some ideas and he will be presenting them with new documents for review at
another worksession.
INFORMATIONAL
MATERIALS
Items listed under this agenda item
can be
No
informational materials were provided.
COMMENTS OF THE
AUDIENCE
Members of the audience may address
the Commission on any subject. (3 minute
time limit)
There
were no audience comments.
COMMENTS OF STAFF
City
Planner Abboud had no further comment.
COMMENTS OF THE
COMMISSION
Commissioners may comment on any
subject, including requests to staff and requests for excused absence.
Commissioner
Druhot had no comments.
Commissioner
Bos welcomed Commissioner Druhot. He said it is good to be back and wished
everyone a happy new year.
Commissioner
Sinn commented that good progress was made on the spit plan and they have a
good start. He looks forward to jumping into the storm water plan a little
deeper. He wished everyone a happy new year.
Vice
Chair Kranich commented regarding the bulletin in the Planning Commissioner’s
journal regarding zoning for religious institutions. He commented that handling
that in larger, more diverse populations with larger institutions, it could be
really dicey. It isn’t something that has been an issue in Homer. He also found
an article called Role for Planning in a
Sustainable Community. He said that you hear the word sustainable quite
often and he has wondered what it really means. The author of the article
summed it up well saying “while there is no single universally accepted
definition for sustainable development; a good description is that it is a way
of life that provides benefits to the economy, to the environment, and
community livability without sacrificing one for the other.” Vice Chair Kranich thinks that as long as we
keep that in mind as we go forward, it might not make everyone happy, but maybe
it will work better.
ADJOURN
Meetings adjourn promptly at 10 p.m.
An extension is allowed by a vote of the Commission. Notice of the next regular
or special meeting or work session will appear on the agenda following
“adjournment”.
There
being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting adjourned
at 8:16 p.m. The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for January 20, 2010 at 7:00
p.m. in the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers. There is a worksession at 5:30
p.m. prior to the meeting.
MELISSA
JACOBSEN,
Approved: