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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-03-27 Planning & Zoning MinutesCITY OF KENAI PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION AGENDA CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MARCH 27, 2002 - 7:00 p.m, 1. CALL TO ORDER: a. Ro11 Ca11 b. Agenda Approval c. Consent Agenda *All items listed with an asterisk (*J are considered to be routine and non- controversial by the Commission and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Commission Member so requests, in which case the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda as part of the General Orders. 2. *APPROVAL OF MINUTES: a. *March 13, 2002 3. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT: a. PZ02-14-An application for a Conditional Use Permit for a dormitory at the Alaska Challenger Learning Center for Space Technology located at 9711 Kenai Spur Highway (KN T05N, Range 11 West - A portion of Section 33 as described in lease agreement 559 @ 796J. Application submitted by Steve Horn, Executive Director, Alaska Challenger Learning Center far Space Technology, 9711 Kenai Spur Highway, Kenai, Alaska. b. PZ02-1 S An application for a Variance Permit for an oversize sign for the property located at 9711 Kenai Spur Highway (KN T06N, Range 11 West - A portion of Section 33 as described in lease agreement 559 @ 796). Application submitted by Steve Horn, Executive Director, Alaska Challenger Learning Center for Space Technology, 9711 Kenai Spur Highway, Kenai, Alaska. 4. CONSIDERATION OF PLATS: 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 6. OLD BUSINESS: 7. NEW BUSINESS: 8. PENDING ITEMS: 9. CODE ENFORCEMENT: 10. REPORTS: a. City Council b. Borough Planning c. Administration 11. PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED: 12. INFORMATION ITEMS: a. "Zoning Bulletin" -March 10, 2002 b. City of Kenai Resolution No. 2002-2 c. Legislative Information News - HB 389 d. Beautification Committee Roster e. Harbor Commission Roster 13. COMMISSION COMMENTS & QUESTIONS: 14. ADJOURNMENT CITY OF KENAi PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MARCH 27, 2002 - 7:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN RON GOECKE, PRESIDING MINUTES ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER Chairman Goecke called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 1-a. Roll Call Members Present: Glick, Bryson, Goecke, Nord, Erwin, Osborne Members Absent: Tunseth Others Present: Councilwoman Jackman, Planning Director Kebschull, Planning Assistant Carver, Department Assistant Harris 1-b. Agenda Approval MOTION: Commissioner Osborne MOVED to approve the agenda and requested UNANIMOUS CONSENT. Commissioner Glick SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. 1-c. Consent Agenda MOTION: Commissioner Glick MOVED to approve the consent agenda and requested UNANIMOUS CONSENT and Commissioner Bryson SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. ITEM 2: APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2-a. March i3, 2002-Approved by consent agenda. IfiEM 3: SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT 3-a. PZ02-14-An application for a Conditional Use. Permit for a dormitory at the Alaska Challenger learning Center for Space Technology located at 9711 Kenai Spur Highway (KN T06N, Range 11 West - A portion of Section 33 as described in lease agreement 559 @ 796). Application submitted by Steve Horn, Executive Director, Alaska Challenger learning Center for Space Technology, 9711 Kenai Spur Highway, Kenai, Alaska. MOTION: Commissioner Osborne MOVED to approve PZ02-14 conditional use permit for the Challenger Learning Center and Commissioner Erwin SECONDED the motion. The resolution was opened far public hearing. City Planner Kebschull noted staff had no additional comments other than what were included in the packet, i.e. landscaping and fire inspections. Bryson stated he would abstain from voting on the item due to his involvement in the design process of the project. Goecke stated he had two concerns regarding the permit, i.e. that the dorms would be used only for students going through the Challenger program and if the Challenger Center contacted local hotels to check for lodging alternatives. Discussion followed and Kebschull explained the conditional use permit is for a dormitory and it is being applied for by the Challenger Learning Center. Unless the Commission placed a condition on the permit, it could be used as a dormitory for other students or other uses that the Challenger may decide upon. Goecke stated he believed non-profit organizations should consider giving back to the community, whether helping with projects, or in this case, buying lodging space from hotels for students going through this program, Goecke added, he was not convinced it (the dormitory) was a good idea. Erwin stated he had no objection to the dormitory being part of the Center as it would allow for housing for students/chaperones who may not be able to afford a hotel room, as well as less problems with transportation, better control of the students, etc. Erwin added, he understood the concern, from a business point, of utilizing the existing services, but he felt the dormitory was probably a good idea. However, Erwin did agree some consideration should be given to the use of the dormitory. MOTION TO AMEND: Commissioner Glick MOVED to amend the motion, that the dormitories can only be used to house students and their chaperones and Commissioner Erwin SECONDED the motion. There were no further comments of the Commission. VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT: B son Abstain Erwin Yes Goecke Yes Nord Yes Osborne No Glick Yes Tunseth Absent MOTION PASSED. PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MARCH 27, 2002 PAGE 2 Osborne was asked if the intention of his motion was to include the recommendations 1 of staff in the motion and he stated he did. VOTE ON THE MAIN AMENDED MOTION: Erwin Yes B son Abstained Nord Yes Osborne Yes Glick Yes Tunseth Absent Goecke No MOTION PASSED. 3-b. PZ02-15--An application far a Variance Permit for an oversize sign for the property located at 9711 Kenai Spur Highway (KN T06N, Range 11 West - A portion of Section 33 as described in lease agreement 559 @ 796). Application submitted by Steve Horn, Executive Director, Alaska Challenger Learning Center far Space Technology, 9711 Kenai Spur Highway, Kenai, Alaska. MOTION: Commissioner Nord MOVED to approve PZ-021 S and requested UNANIMOUS CONSENT. Commissioner Erwin SEONDED the motion. Staff recommendations: Kebschull explained to the Commission the current code limits signs to 32 sq. feet in height and if the Commission decides to approve the variance, a size limitation (for future variances) should be made. The Commission spoke at length regarding issues of the overall sign, size of the sphere, and the exact location of the proposed sign. They determined the sphere is part of the overall sign, though the cement base is not. Steve Harn-Challenger Learning Center -Horn addressed the Commission regarding the following signage topics: • Several sign sizes were included in the packet. These designs were established by a `sign committee', which included Challenger employees, a representative for Agrium (a corporate sponsor) and others. • Horn informed the Commission the Challenger Center has significant right-of--way issues with the highway. Due to this, the proposed sign would be 160 feet from the road in a slightly depressed area of land, thus inhibiting the overall size of the sign. The Commissioners made the following comments: PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MARCH 27, 2002 PAGE 3 • Goecke stated he feels the sphere is part of the overall sign, as it becomes a sort of logo. He stated he does not feel the concrete pedestal is part of the sign, but the overall size must be all-inclusive. • Glick stated he feels the sphere is part of the sign and that a 107 sq. ft. is a lot of variance when the original code says 32 feet. • Erwin state he feels the sphere is part of the sign and the requested variance is unacceptable. Erwin asked if the sign could be made smaller. • Nord asked if the Challenger Center has prepared alternative proposals that are less excessive. Nord also added that the sign is attractive. • Osborne stated he likes the look of the sign. He also stated that if the sign is to sit 160 ft. from the road and in a slightly depressed area, a `regular' sized sign could be difficult to read. VOTE: B son Abstained Erwin No Nord No Glick No 'hmseth Absent Osborne No Goecke No MOTION FAILED UNANIMOUSLY. Horn was informed of the 15-day right to appeal. ITEM 4: CONSIDERATION OF PLATS -- None ITEM 5: PUBLIC HEARINGS -- None ITEM 6: OLD BUSINESS -- None ITEM 7: NEW BUSINESS -- None ITEM 8: PENDING ITEMS -- None ITEM 9: CODE ENFORCEMENT -- None ITEM 10: REPORTS 10-a. City Council -Councilwoman Jackman gave a report on Council action items. ~O-b. Borough Planning -Commissioner Bryson gave a report of Borough Planning action items. 10-c. Administration - Kebschull reported on the following: PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MARCH 27, 2002 PAGE 4 • Information of the Conditional Use Permit far extraction of natural resources Beaver Loop Road has been received. The information will be in the April 10, 2002 packet to determine if it meets the requests of the Commission. If it does, a public hearing will be scheduled for April 24, 2002. • The April 10, 2002 P&Z meeting will take place in the Clerk's Office Conference Room. ITEM 11: PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED Debbie Sonberg-410 Cinderella Street, Kenai: Sonberg (in reference to the Challenger Learning Center sign request) inquired as to whether a memorial structure would be considered to be a sign and if this requires a conditional use permit. Additionally, she inquired if a single structure could be both a memorial as well as a sign and what types of permits are required. Kebschull stated, memorials do not require a permit but the object would be closely inspected to make sure it is not a sign. Kebschull also stated she would look further into Sonberg's inquiries, and any new ideas the Challenger Center might propose would need to be reviewed by administration. ITEM 12: INFORMATION ITEMS I2-a. "Zoning Bulletin" -March 10, 2002 12-b. City of Kenai Resolution No. 2002-2 12-c. Legislative Information News - HB 389 12-d. Beautification Committee Roster 12-e. Harbor Commission Roster ITEM 13: COMMISSION COMMENTS.Ba..QUESTIONS Nord stated she felt the Commission should try to accommodate the needs of the schools and other institutions as she considers the current zoning to be wrong. Kebschull explained the whole area might need to be looked at as an institutional zone. She added, in a commercial zone, a business can have a sign up to 120 sq. ft. The Commission further discussed the nation of re-zoning from residential to institutional around the Kenai High School, Kenai Middle School, Multi-Purpose Center and Challenger Learning Center areas and whether this would be considered spot zoning. Commissioner Bryson stated he felt it was two different situations (spot zoning vs. institutional zoning) as the area in question has considerable acreage. Kebschull explained the re-zoning process and informed the Commission it takes at least ten weeks. ITEM 14: ADJOURNMENT PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MARCH 27, 2002 PAGE 5 MOTION: Commissioner Glick MOVED for adjournment. There were na objections. SO ORDERED. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.rn. Minutes prepared and trap ribed by: S on M. Harris, Departmen Assistant PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MARCH 27, 2002 PAGE 6 April 2, 2Q021 To: Marilyn Kebschull, planning administrator From: Kevin Waring Re: Proposed schedule for P&Z Commission reviews of Draft Comp Plan After reflecting on the best procedure for P&Z review and action on the Draft Comp Plan, my overall recommendation is that P&Z: 1. conduct reviewslwork sessions on draft chapters as needed; then 2. "accept" revised draft chapters as working documents for the interim; until 3. P&Z can review, hold public hearings, revise and "approve" as a whole the Draft Comp Plan it will recommend to the city council. The main reasons for recommending this process are: 1. As the project progresses, and we and P&Z will improve our grasp of planning issues and how plan "pieces" interrelate. 2. Thus, it makes sense to reserve final approval of individual chapters until all chapters are in hand and we can see how the plan as a whole fits together. For what it's worth, this is exactly the procedure the Anchorage P&Z followed for reviewing and approving Anchorage 2020. They "accepted" revised draft chapters on an interim basis, and reserved "approval" for the end, instead of approving the Draft Comp Plan in stages. On the assumption that this proposed procedure is agreeable, I have developed a tentative schedule of proposed dates far P&Z review of draft work already delivered and to be delivered. This schedule is, of course, subject to the will of P&Z and yourself. I have targeted regularly scheduled meeting dates of P&Z for presentations and work sessions. However, depending on P&Z's work load, it may be advisable to consider some special work sessions at which P&Z could concentrate solely on Draft Comp Plan review. The proposed schedule takes us to delivery and first review of all Draft Chapters, at which time it we together may be in a better position to assess timing for any further P&Z public hearings and meetings enroute to approval of the Draft Camp Plan. April 24 Draft Chapter 1 (Planning Background). This chapter was previously submitted for city staff review and revised per staff comments. We will provide copies for distribution to P&Z at its April 24 meeting. My suggestion is that staff forward this informational chapter to P&Z for its review as an information item at this time, and that P&Z reserve opportunity to revise as needed at a subsequent time. ~ Draft Chapter 2 {Goals and Objectives). If revisions made to date are agreeable to P&Z, I suggest that, at its April 24 meeting, P&Z accept the revised draft as a working document for later final approval as part of the complete Draft Comp Plan. Mav 8 &Mav 22 Draft Chapters 3 {Land Use) and 4 (Community Improvements). We will provide drafts of Chapters 3 and 4 for distribution to P&Z for review before its May 8 meeting. We would make presentations of major recommendations to P&Z at that meeting, with a work session to follow. As needed, an additional work session may be scheduled far its May 22 meeting. June 12 Draft Chapter 5 {Implementation). We will submit a draft of Chapter 5 far distribution to P&Z for review before its June 12 meeting, at which time P&Z would hold a work session on the draft.