Session 08-18, a Regular Meeting of the Homer Advisory Planning Commission was called to order by Acting Chair Storm at 7:02 p.m. on September 17, 2008 at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

PRESENT:         COMMISSIONER BOS, KRANICH, MOORE, SINN, STORM, ZAK

 

ABSENT:           COMMISSIONER MINSCH

 

STAFF:             CITY PLANNER ABBOUD

PLANNING TECHNICIAN ENGEBRETSEN

                        DEPUTY CITY CLERK JACOBSEN

                       

AGENDA APPROVAL

 

The agenda was approved by consensus of the Commission.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

The Public may speak to the Planning Commission regarding matters not scheduled for public hearing. (3 minute time limit) Presentations approved by the Planning Director, the Chair or the Planning Commission. A Public Works representative may address the Planning Commission.

 

There were no public comments.

 

RECONSIDERATION

 

There were no items for reconsideration.

 

ADOPTION OF THE 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 September 3, 2008

2.       Time Extension Requests

3.       Approval of City of Homer Projects under HCC 1.76.030 g.

4.       KPB Coastal Management Program Reports

 

The consent agenda was approved by consensus of the Commission.

 

PRESENTATIONS

Presentations approved by the Planning Director, the Chair, or the Planning Commission. A Public Works representative may address the Planning Commission.      

 

There were no presentations scheduled.

 

REPORTS

 

A.         Borough Report

 

There was no Borough Report.

 

B.         Kachemak Bay Advisory Planning Commission Report

 

There was no KBAPC report.

 

C.         Planning Director’s Report

            1.         Staff Report PL 08-101, City Planner’s Report

 

City Planner Abboud reviewed the staff report. He also reported that staff is working on upgrading the City’s financial software program for permitting. The parking ordinance will come back next meeting and City Planner has some ideas for non conformity to discuss with the Commission.

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS

The Commission conducts Public Hearings by hearing a staff report, hearing public testimony and the 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.

 

A.                 Staff Report PL 08-100 , Ordinance 08-XX, An Ordinance of the City Council of Homer, Alaska, Amending Homer City Code 21.60, Sign Code, to Include the Town Center District and Correcting Table 1 to Include the Marine Commercial District.

 

City Planner Abboud reviewed the staff report.

 

There was no audience in attendance to comment.

 

KRANICH/BOS MOVED TO APPROVE STAFF REPORT PL 08-100 WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AND FORWARD THIS CODE REVISION TO THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

 

There was brief discussion.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

 

Motion carried.

 

PLAT CONSIDERATION

The Commission hears a staff report, testimony from applicants and the public, The Commission may ask questions of staff, applicants and the public, The Commission will accept testimony or a presentation on agenda items that involve an applicant.

 

A.         Staff Report PL 08-97, Lot 7A Fairview Subdivision 2008 Replat Preliminary Plat

 

City Planner Abboud reviewed the staff report.

 

KRANICH/ZAK MOVED TO BRING TO THE FLOOR STAFF REPORT PL 08-97 FAIRVIEW SUBDIVISION 2008 REPLAT PRELIMINARY PLAT WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROVAL.

 

 

Commissioner Kranich commented that this is a platting action not a subdivision and as such the City can request easements but if the property owner doesn’t want to give them then the plat can’t be held up because of it. Since there is no applicant or applicant’s representative in attendance to comment on giving these easements he doesn’t want to do this with out getting their concurrence on the easements that are recommended. It is reaching beyond the powers of authority in a platting action.

 

City Planner Abboud commented that Gary Nelson presented this and they probably didn’t show up because it is pretty routine. He is not aware of a reason they couldn’t attend. City Planner Abboud added that the owner owns both properties and his house is sitting on the lot line.

 

KRANICH/MOORE MOVED TO POSTPONE THIS TO THE NEXT MEETING TO GET COMMENT FROM THE APPLICANT OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVE TO SEEK THEIR POSITION ON THE EASEMENTS.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION UNANIMOUS CONSENT

 

Motion carried.

 

It was noted that written comment would be acceptable.

 

PENDING BUSINESS

 

There were no pending business items.

 

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, applicants, and the public. Any items brought before the Commission for discussion are on the floor for discussion following introduction of the item. The Commission will accept testimony or a presentation on agenda items that involve an applicant (such as acceptance of a non conformity).

 

A.         Staff Report PL 08-103, Review of Comprehensive Plan, Forward, Executive Summary, Chapters 1 through 3 & Chapter 7.

 

KRANICH/BOS MOVED WE BRING STAFF REPORT PL 08-103 REVIEW OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.

 

There was no discussion on the motion to discuss.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

 

Motion carried.

 

The Commission discussed this information during their worksession. The following comments were made:

 

·         It would be good to have Chapter 7 back before the process is done since it is getting reworked the most.

·         The definition of broad and vague needs to be clarified and it needs more direction.

·         A lot of the chapters could be re-worked so they are in the same format. The current formatting is leading to some confusion.

·         If each chapter has a stated goal in the same format, it would alleviate some of the broadness. Each chapter should have a stated goal, what it’s trying to achieve, and a plan to achieve it.

·         Having reviewed the Petersburg Comp Plan, it uses the same format in every chapter, it is clear, easy to read and understand. Our plan should be written like that.

·         Plan implementation is the last chapter and it gives a near term, mid term, long term, and a list of primary responsibilities for that section.

·         Consideration could be given to have an implementation section at the end of each section.

·         The easier it is to read, the more the community will want to use it.

·         Chapter 9 defines what they want to do throughout the book, and reading it first makes the rest of it easier to understand.

 

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

 

A.       Memorandum dated September 10, 2008 to the HAPC from Rick Abboud, City Planner regarding upcoming training events.                                                

B.       Memorandum dated September 12, 2008 to the HAPC from Rick Abboud, City Planner regarding Comprehensive Plan Timeline

 

There was brief discussion on the informational items.                 

 

COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE

Members of the Audience may address the Commission on any subject.

 

There were no audience comments.

 

COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION

Commissioners may comments on any subject, including requests to staff and requests for excused absence.

 

Commissioner Zak commented that Acting Chair Storm did a good job tonight.

 

Commissioner Sinn concurred.

 

Commissioner Moore said Chair Minsch will be disappointed because there was a lot more talking tonight.

 

Commissioner Kranich commented that they did a good job tonight and is excited about their future as a Commission.

 

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  7:38 p.m. The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for October 1, 2008 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, CMC, DEPUTY CITY CLERK

 

Approved: