CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

                                                                                                        City Manager

RESOLUTION 07-39

 

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA DESIGNATING CITY OWNED LOTS IN THE AREA IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE HOMER FISH DOCK AS A RESTRICTED USE AREA AND LIMITING PRIMARY USES THERE TO ACTIVITIES DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY.  

 

            WHEREAS, The City of Homer is a vibrant commercial fishing community with very significant potential for growth and diversification in the future; and

 

            WHEREAS, Expanding and diversifying the commercial fishing and processing sectors of the local economy are prominent goals in the Homer Economic Development Plan; and

 

            WHEREAS, The City has a first class, open access commercial fishing dock complete with multiple cranes, an ice making facility, and other amenities and services which represent a major public investment in the commercial fishing and fish processing industries here; and

 

            WHEREAS, The City has other assets that may help the industry grow and diversify including relatively low taxes and fees, access to the national highway system, an excellent airport, and an ice free deep water port; and

 

            WHEREAS, The City wishes to stimulate growth in the commercial fishing and fish processing sectors by making land available that has direct and easy access to the Fish Dock and associated facilities; and

 

            WHEREAS, The City Council recognizes that some investors / developers may be able to obtain better financing terms if uses were not restricted in this area and further, that there is a high demand for this property for uses other than commercial fishing activities; and

 

            WHEREAS, Although the Port and Harbor Commission and the City Council have historically agreed that the highest and best use of the City owned lands adjacent to the Fish Dock was commercial fishing activities and that it was in the overall community interest to restrict uses to those types of activities, the City has not taken any official action to create a “restricted use area”; and

 

            WHEREAS, The City, as the property owner and landlord, has the right to designate uses on lands it leases that are more restrictive than the zoning code for that district if it determines that it is in the best interest of the City to do so.

 

            NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Homer City Council hereby finds that creating a “restricted use area” on City owned lands immediately adjacent to the Fish Dock is in the overall interest of the community and consistent with the City Comprehensive Plan and Economic Development Plan, and

 

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The City Council hereby establishes a “restricted use area” on City owned lots adjacent to the Fish Dock, declares that the primary use for these lots shall be activities directly related to the commercial fishing and fish processing industries, and directs that the Lease Committee to proceed accordingly, and

 

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Parcels included in the Fish Dock Restricted Use Area as they exist on February 26, 2007 are Lots 9A, 10A, 12 A-1, 12B, 12C, and 41. Activities related to commercial fishing are also encouraged on Lots 88-4 and 13B.

 

            PASSED AND APPROVED by the Homer City Council this 26th day of February, 2007.

 

                                                                        CITY OF HOMER

 

 

                                                                        _____________________________

                                                                        JAMES C. HORNADAY, MAYOR

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

______________________________

JO JOHNSON, CMC, CITY CLERK

 

Fiscal Note:  NA