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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-03-23 P&Z Minutes•. ity of Kenai, A1a~ska 210 Fidal~o, Suite 200 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION "~*AGENDA*~~ March 23, 1994 - 7:00 p.m. Chairman Kevin Walker 1. ROLL CALL 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 3. APPROVAL OF 11QNUTES March 9, 1994 ••~"""~~~~~ 4. PLANNII~TG a. an's Paint d I , `` - Chester done -Boat c. Ft1A a. Review of 9. REPORTS '' •.>._,. a. City Council h. Borough Planning c. Administration 11. INFORMATION ITEMS 12. COM1rIISS~ON COMI~IENTS,•~ QIIESTIONS 13. ADJOIIRNMENT .~ ~~~~"~~~~~ai1~ Cites u# Kenai, Alaska _ 210 Fidal~a, Suite 200 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ~~MINUTES4'~ March 23, 1994 - 7:00 p.m. Chairman Keviin Walker 1 _ ROLL CALL Members present: Phil Bryson, Ron Goecke, Lori McComsey, Teresa Werner-Quade, Charlie Pierce, Kevin Walker Members absent: Carl Glick {excused} Also present: Councilman Hal Smalley, City Engineer Jack La Shot, Administrative Assistant Loretta Harvey 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chairman Walker requested additional information items be added under 7a. and 6b. Phil Bryson MOVED approval of agenda as amended. Ron Goecke SECONDED and asked UNANIMOUS CONSENT. PASSED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. 3. APPROVAL OF 1HiNIITES March 9, 1994 Ron Goecke MOVED approval of minutes as presented and asked UNANIMOUS CONSENT. Phil Bryson SECONDED. PASSED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. 4. G a. Resolution PZ 94-13: Preliminary Plat -Habitat Acres MOTION: BRYSON MOVED APPROVAL OF PRELIMINARY PLAT -HABITAT ACRES. Planning and Zoning Commission March 23, 1994 Page 1 DISCUSSION: Barry Eldridge, Board of Directors Habitat for Humanity, said he was made aware of the comments by the City Engineer on this lot and wished to urge the Commission to consider approving the plat as submitted. One reason is that the layout of the adjoining areas, some of which have already been subdivided. There will be a thru north/south street on the west end of the plat, ultimately. There will probably never will be a thru street on the east side of the plat. Habitat tries to build community as well as get low income families into homes. One of the reasons for the cul-de-sac is that as the houses are built around the cul-de-sac the residents can look after each other and the kids can play there and it's a lot safer than a thru street. He said he understood the City's concern regarding the cul-de-sac but since this is such a small parcel it would not be feasible. Habitat relies on volunteers, the more roads they have to develop the longer people will be without homes. They hope to build at least one house in this area this year and than develop the other five lots with homes in the near future. Eldridge urged on the behalf of Habitat that the Commission approve the plat as originally submitted. Phii Bryson, asked what streets Habitat was proposing to construct? Eldridge would continue to construct Colonial Drive into the cul-de-sac and than the cul-de-sac itsel#. Of course right now the service ends at the corner of the lot, with a T-off at the cul-de-sac. Bryson felt that it would be a reasonable continuation of Colonial Drive all the way through in the long term. Eldridge agreed in the long term that would work, but right now the lots to the west side are not developed, there's just trees there at this time. Lieutenant Patton, Salvation Army, Board Member of Habitat, said he wanted the Committee to think about accepting the Habitat proposal. Cul-de-sacs are safer for children involved and all the families which are in the process of being selected have children. These are good families that just need a little help getting into a home, because they do not meet the requirements for traditional funding. it is Patton's experience that cul-de-sacs are safer for families. In most of the cities he has lived in they are preferred because they cut down on crime, because there is no thru access. He wished to give his support to the plan as presented. Bryson wished to incorporate the City Engineers concerns via an amendment. The Engineer's comments per staff report were: "The proposed subdivision with a cui-de- sac and double fronted lots is an undesirable design. Cul-de-sacs are difficult to maintain and create dead-end water lines. The double-fronting is an inefficient use of land. The developer will propose to construct only enough streets and utilities to Planning and Zoning Commission March 23, 1994 Page 2 serve the cul-de-sac, which leaves two north/south streets undeveloped. To develop ~ both northlsouth streets and Colonial is prohibitive, however." Bryson said he didn't feel the cul-de-sac would necessarily affect the lifestyle of the residents. AMENDED MOTION: BRYSON MOVED TO AMEND THE MOTION TO INCLUDE THE ENGINEER'S STATEMENTS IN THE MAIN MOTION. Chairman Walker asked if there was a second. Seeing and hearing none the amendment died for a lack of second. La Shot said he didn't make that much of a recommendation except that the Commission consider this proposal carefully. There have been other subdivision's developed with double frontage and this creates streets which may be substandard. These small parcels are hard to develop because of their size. Bryson felt that the 25' that fronted on the cuf-de-sac could be better used as part of the lot. Gaecke asked staff if there were any plans in the near future to extend the streets in this area? La Shot responded that he didn't know of any. The project has been on the Capital Improvement Projects in the past, but not as a priority. Once platted these roads will provide access to other lots in the area and once two houses are built on the cul-de-sac the City will be responsible far winter maintenance. Werner-Quade noted some comments which might not be related to a small parcel, but she felt they might be pertinent in the future. Her comments were from a report from the State of Alaska Housing Authority, Design of Subdivisions Some Basic Rules: 1 } Avoid agrid-iron pattern; 2) Avoid double access; 3} Conserve land -Excessive street area is wasteful and an unnecessary expense; 6) Design a residential subdivision to be uninviting to thru traffic; 7) Design 3 way or T intersections. Avoid 4-way intersections; 17) Design cul-de-sacs, the safest of ail residential streets. Werner-Quade said that snow removal may be initially more difficult, but the subdivision is being designed for people not machines. Chairman Walker asked if there were further comments or questions. Seeing and hearing none he called for the question. Planning and Zoning Commission March 23, 1994 Page 3 VOTE: Bryson Goecke Pierce Werner-Quade McComsey Glick Walker YES YES YE5 YES YES NA YES MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Councilman Smalley noted that the Habitat house which had been built on city donated land off Wildwood Drive was the first Habitat house built in Alaska. The second house built on Wildwood Drive was the third Habitat house built in Alaska. 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS 6. NER' BUSINESS a. Petition to Vacate Fisherman's Paint SID MOTION: RON GOECKE MOVED APPROVAL OF THE PETITION TO VACATE FISHERMAN'S POINT SUBDIVISION. PHIL BRYSON SECONDED. DISCUSSION: Jack La Shot referred to a copy of a street plan included in the packe#. The plans called for the city to use aturn-a-round quite a bit shorter than the one which is proposed to be vacated. The people on Barabara Drive had requested the city not develop the drive to the end so the turn-a-round was pulled back. Phil Bryson gave a history on turn-a-rounds. In the past these were required where streets ended in dead-ends. The original intent would be that they just expire if they were not needed, that doesn't happen, they stay on the records until they are formally vacated. In recent years the Borough has quit requiring a 50' radius turn-a-round. They've gone to not requiring one at all if there is 60' of ROW available. Ron Goecke said he had a problem with vacating this at this point. He felt that perhaps some of that turn-a-round should be put in place. If you go down Barabara Drive it is very narrow, there is hardly room for two cars, and there should be a turna- round until the city and residents can construct Barabara Drive to have the turna- round as noted by the City Engineer. Planning and Zoning Commission March 23, 1994 Page 4 Bryson noted that there was a 30' dedication on each side of the road but not on the river side. He asked staff why there was not a 30' dedication on the river side, or if it was it just not needed? La Shot said he did not know if there was room to construct the 50' radius cul-de-sac. Goecke felt there was not 50' from the center of the street to the bluff. La Shot noted that we had put the design together and there had been quite a bit of public input which was why Barabara had been taken out of the plan. There was concern that the end should remain undisturbed. VOTE: Bryson Goecke Pierce Werner-Quade McComsey Glick Walker NO NO YES NO YES NA NO MOTION FAILED BY MAJORITY VOTE. b. Corps of Engineers Permit -Chester Cone -Boat Launch Jack La Shot reported that the permit was similar to the one the City had tried to develop which failed. The private property owner is trying to get the permit passed and the City has no interest in the project, at this time. The only thing the City may require if this permit is approved is a Conditional Use Permit SCUP} for commercial recreation, if the applicant will be charging for the boat launch. The CUP would be for the business only, not for the dock. Walker asked the Commission if they wished to recommend approval or require a conditional use permit? He felt that a hearing with public agencies should be at the request of Council not P&Z. Phil Bryson said that part of the Coastal Zane Management criteria was to solicit public testimonies from cities which would be affected. He felt that comments from the P&Z or Council would be appropriate to send to the Borough. Walker said he just felt that P&Z would not wish to request an intergovernmental hearing, that would be up to Council. Walker asked for a motion. Planning and Zoning Commission March 23, ~ 994 Page 5 MOTION: RON GOECKE MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE BOAT LAUNCH FOR MR. CONE. BRYSON SECONDED. DISCUSSION: Phil Bryson commented that the project, as proposed, is substantially the same as the intent of what the city wished to do previously. The only difference would be that it would be privately operated. He didn`t personally have any different comments to the proposal than if was a city project. Ron Goecke wished to clarify that this property was to the east of the funeral home on Beaver Loop? Walker said yes, next to the ditch, he called it a ditch, not a stream . He also said he personally supported the project whether it was public or private. EPA letters notwithstanding, and as a private citizen he objected to the reference that these were "high valued wetlands". He reiterated his support of the project. VOTE: Bryson Goecke Pierce Werner-Quade McComsey Glick Walker YES YES YES YES YES NA YES MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Smalley asked staff if they would be informing Mr. Cone that he would need a Conditional Use Permit if this is going to be a commercial venture. La Shot said staff would notify Cone. c. FAA -Proposed Easement MOTION: RON GOECKE MOVED APPROVAL OF THE EASEMENT. CHARLIE PIERCE SECONDED. Planning and Zoning Commission March 23, 199 Page 6 DISCUSSION: Jack La Shot reported that the FAA is requiring a clear zone in the air space surrounding the new antennaes they are constructing at this site. This plat basically gives the FAA free airspace and lets the city retain partial control over the property. Walker asked if the Commission had reviewed this item previously and whether the question had been raised, at that time, whether FAA would have enough space for their antennas. La Shot said the Commission had reviewed the iandscapinglsite plan and a plat of the new leased area, and at that time they thought there was enough space. They have since decided something different, and that they may want to protect the airspace around the antennae. Phil Bryson said he hated to give up land without a purpose. As far as easements are concerned the proposed use needs to be stated. Is this an aviation easement, or a use of airspace. La Shot said the angle of the antennas require so much unincumbered airspace. VOTE: Bryson Goecke Pierce Werner-Quade McComsey Glick Walker YES YES YES YES YES NA YES MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. 7. OLD BIISINESS a. Review of Commercial Zones -Spur Highway Chairman Walker noted the packet which staff had prepared outlining past rezonings along the Spur highway corridor. Planning and Zoning Commission March 23, 1994 Page 7 MOTION AND VOTE: CHARLIE PIERCE MOVED TO POSTPONE ACTION ON THIS MATTER UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING SO THEY COULD REVIEW THE INFORMATION PRESENTED. RON GOECKE SECONDED AND ASKED FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT. PASSED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. 8. CODE ENFORCEMENT ITEMS 9. REPORTS a. City Council Councilman Smalley reported that the Historic Board had been appointed. The Council had decided to wait before appointing ad-hoc members of the Council and P&Z Commission. b. Borough Planning Phil Bryson noted there were no items specific to Kenai. Items of general interest were use of water for highway compaction on the Hope/Sunrise/Turnagain project and a resolution recommending changes to the Proposed Reconstitution of the Mental Health Trust and conditionally relinquishing certain Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Selections under the Municipal Entitlement Act. Some lands in Moose Pass were being considered under this plan. c. Administration La Shot reported that a lady had proposed bringing a car crusher into the city last year but it did not arrive on time far financing. The car crusher is due this June. She had already removed 100 cars from the Quandt property and hauled them to the proposed crushing site. She has contacted several junk car owners in the area and supposedly made arrangements to dispose of other vehicles. 18. PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCIIEDIII.ED 11. INFORMATION ITEMS 12. COMhIIS.SION COMMENTS ~ IIESTIONS Planning and Zoning Commission March 23, 1994 Page 8 13. Al)JOIIBNMENT There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respe tfully submitted, ~~ oretta Administrative Assistant