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Home My WebLink About2012-11-14 Planning & Zoning Packet - Work SessionAGENDA CITY OF KENAI PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION WORK SESSION November 14, 2012 Work Session from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Immediately Following Regular Meeting 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda Commission Discussion — Imagine Kenai 2030 — Public Review Draft — Review of Comments — Continued from October 24, 2012. *Public Participation: Public comments will be allowed on a limited basis throughout the review. 4. Adjournment * Public comment limited to three (3) minutes per speaker; thirty (30) minutes aggregated. The Commission may relax this restriction. Nike O ff KENAI, ALASKA Tillage with a Past, Gi with a Future' MEMO: 210 Fidalgo Avenue, Kenai, Alaska 99611 -7794 Telephone: 907 - 283 -7535 / FAX: 907 - 283 -3014 11111 r 1992 TO: Planning & Zoning Commission FROM: Marilyn Kebschull, Planning Administration DATE: November 8, 2012 SUBJECT: Imagine Kenai 2030 — Public Review Comments Attached is a copy of the large spreadsheet you were provided at the October 24th meeting. If you still have the large spreadsheet, I suggest you bring it to the meeting. It is easier to read. We will begin the review where we left off at the last meeting, Page 29 after Ms. Weir's comment. Maps 5, 7, 8 and 11 have been updated to reflect comments and direction from the Commission to incorporate changes. Attached are copies of those maps for review. Mr. Greenberg will be at the work session to incorporate any additional changes to the maps. Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Plan Reference Page Comment General Comments Hi there I attended a number of meetings concerning the Comprehensive Plan. Having looked at the draft of the Imagine Kenai 2030, I do not see a plan that the majority of people want. During the resident meetings we discussed buffer strips between residences and commercial businesses. This looks like a plan for the businesses of Kenai and the administration rather than the proposed plan by the residents. The process has been a closed door affair and very un- user - friendly concerning residents. I would like to see more public comment. My property and LIVLIHOOD: Highland Pride Mobile Home Park 1) Somewhere along the way the Comprehensive Plan's priorities which the public wanted in the meeting held in April 2011 and which have been expressed in numerous other ways, have been changed to reflect what the City's officials want, not what the public stated, and many of the goals were awarded "zero' points. (Note: Part of a longer comment letter) Add chapter numbers to bottom of each page for easier navigation. Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Appendix A to the plan describes the extensive public process used during the nearly two -year process to develop the Public Review Draft of the Comprehensive Plan. This process included two formal comment periods (one month each), a community wide public meeting, an open house, a survey, two newletters, many worksessions of the Planning and Zoning Commission, and regular updates on the City website. The April 2011 public meeting involved a prioritization process where each of the breakout groups assigned a score to each item identified by group members. A similar process was used for meetings with City departments, boards and commissions and local businesses. A spreadsheet was created that displayed all comments from these meetings, even those that received a flow or no score by the groups. The City Department heads then reviewed all comments and agreed on priorities for the plan. The Planning Team (consultants and City planning staff) developed multiple drafts of the plan that were carefully reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Public Review Draft incorporated comments from the Commission. The Planning Team recommends the existing numbering system be retained. KPB Planning Department feels "sideways" format of document makes it difficult to read (the KPB's own comp plan being formatted the exact same way notwithstanding! ) The Planning Team recommends the landscape orientation of the plan be retained because it provides more flexibility for displaying information. Page 1 of 33 Commenter Richard Kelso Sandra Lashbrook Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Date 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 Table Notes: Plan Reference Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Page Comment Chap 1- pp1 -4 I want the city to know that I disagree with the current comprehensive plan. It seems to favor the rich people, and ignores the needs of those who don't have a lot of money. Why do I say this? Because with a number of my friends who are struggling to make ends meet, the city's focus in this plan puts a medium priority on frivolous things like making landscaping requirements for all types of zones, and beautifying the city. For Pete's sake, really? Have you taken a good look around? People need help. They need to be able to afford to live here, specially in the winter when many are unemployed. People are living in their vehicles, some with children, and the city doesn't care and seems to want them to just go away. There are many seasonal workers here, and how can they afford to live in a single - family home? They need more affordable housing options, but the City's plan does not allow for that, and wants to make a II the residential zones into single family homes on large, expensive lots. Rural residential is now = expensive homes, and everybody who is not an expensive residence is left out and is being pushed out. It appears that the city thinks its something that its not. (Note: Part of a longer comment letter) Critique of Plan in general: • Leaves out or downgrades priorities established in the community-wide public meeting held in April 2011. • Does not cite sources for policy decisions made in Objectives- Strategies - Priority. Appears to be City Administration, but not disclosed in Draft Plan. • Ignores maps, objectives, strategies and priorities of 2003 Comprehensive Plan. • Ignores KEDS Committee work plan. • Public opinion survey has few community planning questions, is not connected to the future land use map or other policy decisions made in the draft plan. • Does not reflect well -known community attitudes such as public resistance to highway strip re- zoning. • Commercial and industrial development favored over existing and new residential development. Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Date Recommend incorporation of a new objective and strategies under Goal 1: Objective: Develop strategies to ensure there is adequate affordable housing in Kenai. New Strategy: Determine if there is adequate property zoned multi - family; New Strategy: Consider revising the subdivision code to include zero lot line subdivisions; and New Strategy: Subject to performance standards continue to allow mobile home parks as a conditional use permit in several zoning districts in Kenai. 1 Chap2- pp5 -10 4 First sentence - Consider revising as follows: "Imagine Kenai 2030, the City of Kenai Comprehensive Plan (revised in 2011 -2012) updates the City's 2003 plan." Add beginning page number for each chapter following each bulieted chapter name for easier navigation from this spot. Beverly Crandell Chuck Winegarden (Identical comment also submitted by Kristine Schmidt) 10/19/12 10/19/12 Technical correction - recommend adoption The Planning Team recommends the existing numbering system be retained. 5 First colunm, last sentence - add the word "School" after "High ". 8 Third bullet - "A variety of land types( ?)" Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 10/19/12 Page 2 of 33 Technical correction - recommend adoption Technical correction - recommend adoption Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 10/19/12 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Plan Reference Page Comment Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Date Economy 8 3) For instance, the plan states on page 8: "The local economy is diversified, there is a well - qualified work force, and wages are competitive." This is simply not true. Kenai's wage base is one of the lowest in the State of Alaska —why is Kenai ashamed to openly admit this is a PROBLEM, and create a strategy to accommodate this or otherwise do something about this? Kenai's per capita income is LESS THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE! In fact, the percent below the Alaska statewide average has DOUBLED since the 2003 Plan! In the 2003 Comprehensive Plan, on page 7, it stated: "Kenai is a relatively low -cost labor area. Average monthly wages in the Kenai Peninsula Borough ($2,543) were about 9 percent below the statewide average ($2,793) in 1999. Per capita income in the Kenai Peninsula Borough in 1999 was $25,478. This compares with the statewide figure of $28,629 and the national figure of $28,546." However, there were no strategies, no objectives, no goals to help Kenai's residents who must somehow budget their hard - earned dollars to afford to live here while earning much Tess than their Alaskan counterparts in other cities. The current proposed draft glosses over this issue, refuses to mention that the comparison to the state- wide average monthly wage statistic has DOUBLED, and even neglects to mention how much lower Kenai's wages are per capita as compared to the NATIONAL average! The current plan states on page 22 -23: "Kenai is a relatively low -cost labor area. The estimated 2009 annual income for City of Kenai households of $54,054 was about 18.8% lower than that for Alaska, and the estimated per capita income of $27,597 was about 6.1% lower than that for Alaska." "Historically, unemployment rates in the Kenai Peninsula Borough have been above statewide averages. The estimated unemployment rate in the City of Kenai for the period 2005 -2009 was 11.2 %, about 2.5% higher than the unemployment rate for the entire state and 2.1% higher than for the Kenai Peninsula Borough." (Note: Part of a Sandra Lashbrook 10/19/12 longer comment letter) 8 Under #6, add "Municipal" to read "Kenai Municipal Airport "; last entry "Kenai Municipal Airport Master Plan" Technical correction - recommend adoption Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 Chap 3 - pp 10 -12 11 Second paragraph, first sentence is hard to read. Consider revising as follows: "The Kenaitze Indian Tribe operates a Tribal Court under its sovereign leader with oversight by the elected Tribal Council." Technical correction - recommend adoption Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 11 Missing a word: "The Kenaitze Indian Tribe operates a Tribal Court under its soverign ..." Technical correction - add word: "authority" Larry Lewis - email 09/20/12 Chap 4 - pp 13 - 45 12 Third paragraph, first line needs a period after "1741." Technical correction - recommend adoption Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 14 Second occurance of Kenaitze is misspelled. Technical correction - recommend adoption Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 15 First paragraph, last sentence - add Norway and Sweden after Oslo and Stockholm. Technical correction - recommend adoption Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 15 Second paragraph, last sentence - Check with Homer to verify that Kenai's airport is the only "major" airport on the Kenai Peninsula Technical correction - recommend adoption. Only one with flight service station. Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 15 In Climate and Environment section, there should be a reference for the two sentences of the second paragraph that refers to drying trend and higher growing altitude of trees Technical correction - recommend adoption Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 16 In Flooding section specify what kind of tanks, ie. Septic, propane, etc. Technical correction - recommend adoption Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 16 Second column - include the year that the sewer line was relocated. Technical correction - recommend adoption Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 Page 3 of 33 Table Notes: Plan Reference Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Page 17 17 17 Comment Second paragraph, second sentence - add the underlined: "multiple agencies that regulate activities and development In and along the Kenai River." Second paragraph, last sentence - There are two River Center publications (On the River, and On the Coast) which provide guidance for coastal and shorline development. Ignore suggestion to put spruce bark beetle in caps! Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Date Technical correction - recommend adoption Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 Technical correction - recommend referencing both publications 19 -20 4.4 4.3.3 20 20 20 21 21 24 25 26 26 27 Maps 2 & 3 27 29 &30 30 30 Section 4.3.2 Education, the figures at the end of the paragraph at the top of page 20 indicate a need to promote higher education. Goal 1 of this plan should include an objective to promote and support higher education. Second column, last sentence - specify what about rentals are lower, availability? Monthly rent prices? Last paragraph - the Kenai Peninsula Borough no longer publishes the Situations and Prospects report. New assisted living housing on Forest Drive and Anchor Trailer Park. Update with closure of Lowes (date) and sale of facilities. Second column, first full paragraph - the closure of the Lowes store needs to be included either in the same reference to the Kmart closure, or as "Lowes Improvement Center (2008, closed 2011)" Section 4.4.1- Split first sentence into 2 sentences after "workforce." Second column, first full paragraph, third sentence - the cited "decline" is actually an increase. Either the years or the cubic footage needs to be switched. Recommend adding a new strategy under current Objective 1: Provide a variety of formal and informal educational programs. New Strategy: Continue to promote and support the Kenai Peninsula College and other institutions of higher education whenever possible, Sentence already specifies that housing costs are lower Technical correction - note that this publication has ceased Technical correction - mention new assisted living housing. Footnote 11 notes the closure of Lowes Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Phil Bryson 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/17/12 First column, last paragraph, first sentence - Can this be reworded to be easier to understand? Example: "Cook Inlet gas provides Southcentral Alaska with electric power." Include reference to Hilcorp who is in the process of acquiring Marathon's assets and bringing the Drift River tank storage facility back online. Second column, first paragraph - this section provides support for a goal or objective in this plan (Economic Development) to support a Cook Inlet spur line and accompanying industries /businesses. Consider adding. First column, second full sentence - do the processors "focus predominantly on high - quality fresh seafood" or "focus on predominantly fresh, high - quality seafood "? First column, second paragraph - seafood processing area should be in quotes or otherwise called out to show it as being a category with that plan. Footnote 11 notes the closure of Lowes Technical correction - recommend adoption Technical correction - recommend adoption Technical correction - recommend adoption Technical correction - recommend adoption Airport configuration is very old i.e., parallel runway is full length and gravel runway is not shown Second column - Adopt -a -Park should be capitalized. Second column - "rights -of -way" not "right -of ways" 32 First paragraph - Does "Kalifornsky Beach" refer to the actual beach or to Kalifornsky Beach Road? Page 4 of 33 Recommend leaving text as is Staff will look into this issue further Technical correction - recommend adoption Technical correction - recommend adoption Technical correction - recommend adoption - raod area Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Casey Madden 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Plan Reference Page Comment Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter 32 First paragraph, last sentence - Is there a goal or objective in the plan supporting 8 objective p pporting the development of Millenium Square? Consider adding. Christa Cady, KPB Date 34 2nd paragraph: Acquired land total 1942 acres, released land total 484, 1458. Airfield should read airport as it refers to insde of the fence. 3rd paragraph: Is the city or the airport developing the industrial park. "Floatplane taxiway /slip area." Photo - Kenai Municipal Airport. 4th paragraph: Runway length is 7,855. Gravel runway, not strip. Do not refer to helipads as landing and take off as it infers heliport and requires airspacing might refer to parking or loading /unloading. 65' wing span in five commercial slips. Technical correction - recommend adoption Casey Madden 10/19/12 10/17/12 34 "Hangers" should be spelled "hangars" Technical correction - recommend adoption Mary Bondurant - email 10/01/12 34 Page 34, paragraph 4, sentence 5. This sentence regarding slips at the float plane basin is poorly written, inaccurate and grammatically incorrect, It appears that there are 25 long -term slips, 10 transient slips and some unspecified number of commercial slips. What slips have a 48' wingspan capability, short term or private? Perhaps there is too much information for one sentence? I can't begin to give a recommended change to this sentence. Perhaps the Airport Manager can provide some guidance? Rewrite sentence with assitance of airport manager. Henry Knackstedt - email 10/16/12 35 1st paragraph: Runway not strip. 2nd paragraph: FAA required flight service station Kenai Municipal Airport. Air Technical correction - recommend adoption Casey Madden 10/17/12 Traffic control tower. At the terminal. 3rd paragraph: Airport lands are. Airport reserve boundary. 4th paragraph: Alaska Region Fire Training Facility now Beacon Occupational Health and Safety Services. City Animal Control Shelter. FAA Flight Service station. and numberous aviation and nonaviation ... 5th paragraph: The most recent KMA Master Plan. Funding may have been secured in 2010. However the Master Plan got underway in 2011. Developed local aircraft noise ... and estimated aircraft noise exposure by 2015. Map 6 depicts current aircraft noise Levels? Source? Master Plan will provide 2012 aircraft noise levels soon (2013). 6th paragraph. Figure 5 illustrates the passenger emplanements #s incorrect. 2001 - 106,673 passengers, 2009 82,277 (see MP Table 2 -3 page 2 -7). 35 First column, second full paragraph, third sentence - For clarity, consider adding the underlined: "The current Technical correction - recommend adoption Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 conservation zoning designation of airport lands does not support this requirement." 35 First column last sentence - For clarity, consider splitting into 2 sentences and revising as follows: "The City should consider rezoning these lands as an industrial zone within the Airport Reserve, and elsewhere as appropriate to provide highest and best use development for the airport. Such uses include support for airport- related services, revenue generating leases, other private development, or public improvements." Technical correction - recommend adoption Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 Map 5 36 36 Map 5. Legend: cemetery, airport land acquisitions boundary, map does not match use or colors established by planning. Airport and web staff for Master Plan Land Use. Fig. 3 -7? Airport Staff will look into this issue further Casey Madden Boundary misleading - leads reader to believe airport owns land within boundary ry Remove Airport Boundary from Map Rick Koch 10/17/12 vi, 38 Recommendation: Add "Municipal" to title of Figure 5 to say "Kenai Municipal Airport" and in Table of Contents Technical correction - recommend adoption Casey Madden Christa Cady, KPB 10/08/12 10/17/12 10/19/12 38 Kenai Boating Facility section - dipnet should be one word here and throughout plan. Technical correction - recommend adoption Figure 38 5: Passenger emplanements ... Use Master Plan Table 2 -2. page 2 -7. 1st paragraph - 2005 Kenai Municipal Technical correction - recommend adoption 10/17/12 Airport Supplemental Planning Assessment, Note 14. Who travel to and from Kenai. Casey Madden Page 5 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Page IL.omment Sec. 4.5.4 39 42 42 42 Chap 5 - pp 49 - 69 44 45 45 48 Replace Parks and Recreation mission with goal Second paragraph, third sentence - add the following underlined "...the center serves the City of Kenai and the communities of Salamatof..." Last paragraph - consider changing "cope with" to "are faced with mobility limiations" Second column - Alaska Challenger Learning Center Last paragraph, second sentence - For clarity, consider revising as follows: "Through grants the City supports multiple agencies and public activities including the Kenai Watershed Forum, Oilers Baseball, the Chamber of Commerce Industry Apprectiation Day, Central Area Rural Transit (CARTS), the Boys and Girls Club, and the Economic Outlook Forum." First full paragraph - "areawide" should be one word throughout plan First full paragraph - KPB no longer provides "economic development planning". First full paragraph - For clarity, consider splitting this into 2 sentences. 48 First full paragraph - should the word "series" be "services "? Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission The goal of the Parks and Recreation Department is: To enhance the quality of life for all citizens through park facilities, programs, and community services. Technical correction - recommend adoption Technical correction - recommend adoption Technical correction - recommend adoption Commenter Rick Koch Date Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB 10/08/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 Technical correction - update with current name of Chamber of Commerce 10) IMPORTANT: Current LAND USES are more important that what a few people think should happen to certain land in the future. GIVE PRIORITY to the people who have bought land and are using it in its current use — as opposed to changing it so they become "non- conforming "!! The people who were there FIRST should take priority over those who came and bought land nearby LATER. The LATER people have NO COMPLAINT and no reason to complain —they knew what they were getting into, and they should not have rights over those who came first!! (Continued in next cell) Technical correction - recommend adoption Technical correction - recommend adoption Technical correction - recommend adoption Technical correction - change to "services" Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 10/19/12 11) There have been pretty extensive changes to current Comprehensive Plan yet the planners continue to "downplay" them as though they won't act as the future "BLUEPRINT" or AUTHORITY for making the zoning changes that the City administrators seem intent on making. We are not stupid —we know that this Plan gives the City the blueprint to implement drastic zoning changes inconsistent with current uses, under the guise that it's consistent with the comprehensive plan!" So please don't lie to us and tell us "it's only a GUIDE!" a) For instance, City Manager Rick Koch's November, 2011 Memo to the Council regarding Ordinance 2597 -2011 which attempted to make sweeping changes to the Land Use Table and zoning in residential zones PROHIBITING mobile home parks, for instance, where they are now allowed as a CONDITIONAL USE) stated: "Postponement of this ordinance would allow the changes to the land use tables proposed by the Planning & Zoning Commission in Ordinance 2597 - 2011 to be considered during the Comprehensive Planning process. The information assembled in the Comprehensive Plan then would be used by Council in consideration of changes to the Land Use Tables contained in the City Code." (Continued in next cell) Sandra Lashbrook sang = Lashbrook 1U /19/12 10/19/12 Page 6 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Ipl.n ° °r °' ° ^ ^° I Page 'Comment 12) In the proposed plan, stronger emphasis needs placed on existing use patterns in residential zones. No one will disagree with this except the City Administrators! We realize that this Comprehensive Plan will be used to justify all future approvals or denials of rezones and conditional use permits – therefore, the emphasis in this proposed land use plan needs to be on what is CURRENTLY IN EXISTENCE.. not on "single family, low density" for ALL residential zones, and NOT "commercial development" along ALL corridors like the Kenai Spur Highway and Beaver Loop! a) For instance, EXISTING mobile home parks, including HIGHLAND PRIDE MOBILE HOME PARK, MUST be listed on the FUTURE LAND USE MAP as "Mixed Use" and not "rural residential," which is now deemed to be solely for "low- density, single family" residences. b) Highland mobile home park, which has been in existence since the 1960's, is currently deemed "COMMERCIAL" on Map 11, the "Existing Land Use Map," (see the two little red parcels in the insert). That is a misnomer —it is RESIDENTIAL, medium density, and could be considered "multifamily residential," which seems to be a category under the "Mixed Use" category. i) Mobile home parks are NOT "COMMERCIAL," which is defined as including "Central Commercial, General Commercial, and Central Mixed Use zones" and "as intended to create a concentrated, vibrant, and attractive downtown business district which is convenient to both motorists and pedestrians." Mobile home parks appear to be best categorized as "Mixed -Use" as far as land use plans go, and as "Suburban residential" or something similar as far as zoning. i) Booth's Landscaping business which is located between Highland and the Kenai Spur Highway is deemed "Multi - Use" in the Proposed Land Use Plan Map 7 — see the insert. Highland Pride Mobile Home Park's tracts, (the above red tracts), need to be designated as MIXED -USE in Map 7 of the proposed Comprehensive Plan —in other words, the "purple" Mixed -Use land designation needs to be extended onto Highland's two tracts as well! Why would the Planners have a problem with doing that, since that's what it 15? (Continued next cell) Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Sandra I achhrnnlr Date Page 7 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Plan Reference Page Comment Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter 12) In the proposed plan, stronger emphasis needs placed on existing use patterns in residential zones. No one will disagree with this except the City Administrators! We realize that this Comprehensive Plan will be used to justify all future approvals or denials of rezones and conditional use permits— therefore, the emphasis in this proposed land use plan needs to be on what is CURRENTLY IN EXISTENCE.., not on "single family, low density" for ALL residential zones, and NOT "commercial development" along ALL corridors like the Kenai Spur Highway and Beaver Loop! a) For instance, EXISTING mobile home parks, including HIGHLAND PRIDE MOBILE HOME PARK, MUST be listed on the FUTURE LAND USE MAP as "Mixed Use" and not "rural residential," which is now deemed to be solely for "low- density, single family" residences. b) Highland mobile home park, which has been in existence since the 1960's, is currently deemed "COMMERCIAL" on Map 11, the "Existing Land Use Map," (see the two little red parcels in the insert). That is a misnomer —it is RESIDENTIAL, medium density, and could be considered "multifamily residential," which seems to be a category under the "Mixed Use" category. 1) Mobile home parks are NOT "COMMERCIAL," which is defined as including "Central Commercial, General Commercial, and Central Mixed Use zones" and "as intended to create a concentrated, vibrant, and attractive downtown business district which is convenient to both motorists and pedestrians." Mobile home parks appear to be best categorized as "Mixed -Use" as far as land use plans go, and as "Suburban residential" or something similar as far as zoning. 1) Booth's Landscaping business which is located between Highland and the Kenai Spur Highway is deemed "Multi- Use" in the Proposed Land Use Plan Map 7 — see the insert. Highland Pride Mobile Home Park's tracts, (the above red tracts), need to be designated as MIXED -USE in Map 7 of the proposed Comprehensive Plan —in other words, the "purple" Mixed -Use land designation needs to be extended onto Highland's two tracts as well! Why would the Planners have a problem with doing that, since that's what it IS? (Continued next cell) Sandra Lashbrook Date 10/20/12 Page 8 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Plan Reference Page Comment Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Date 12) In the proposed plan, stronger emphasis needs placed on existing use patterns in residential zones. No one will disagree with this except the City Administratorsl We realize that this Comprehensive Plan will be used to justify all future approvals or denials of rezones and conditional use permits — therefore, the emphasis in this proposed land use plan needs to be an what is CURRENTLY IN EXISTENCE... not on "single family, low density" for ALL residential zones, and NOT "commercial development" along ALL corridors like the Kenai Spur Highway and Beaver Loopl a) For instance, EXISTING mobile home parks, including HIGHLAND PRIDE MOBILE HOME PARK, MUST be listed on the FUTURE LAND USE MAP as "Mixed Use" and not "rural residential," which is now deemed to be solely for "low- density, single family" residences. b) Highland mobile home park, which has been in existence since the 1960's, is currently deemed "COMMERCIAL" on Map 11, the "Existing Land Use Map;' (see the two little red parcels in the insert). That is a misnomer —it is RESIDENTIAL, medium density, and could be considered "multifamily residential," which seems to be a category under the "Mixed Use" category. i} Mobile home parks are NOT "COMMERCIAL," which is defined as including "Central Commercial, General Commercial, and Central Mixed Use zones" and "as intended to create a concentrated, vibrant, and attractive downtown business district which is convenient to both motorists and pedestrians." Mobile home parks appear to be best categorized as "Mixed -Use" as far as land use plans go, and as "Suburban residential" or something similar as far as zoning. 1) Booth's Landscaping business which is located between Highland and the Kenai Spur Highway is deemed "Multi -Use" in the Proposed Land Use Plan Map 7 — see the insert. Highland Pride Mobile Home Park's tracts, (the above red tracts }, need to be designated as MIXED -USE in Map 7 of the proposed Comprehensive Plan —in other words, the "purple" Mixed -Use land designation needs to be extended onto Highland's two tracts as we'll Why would the Planners have a problem with doing that, since that's what it 15? (Continued next cell) Sandra Lashbrook 10/21/12 Page 9 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" r 1a11 fCICICIII;C rage comment 12) In the proposed plan, stronger emphasis needs placed on existing use patterns in residential zones. No one will disagree with this except the City Administrators! We realize that this Comprehensive Plan will be used to justify all future approvals or denials of rezones and conditional use permits — therefore, the emphasis in this proposed land use plan needs to be on what is CURRENTLY IN EXISTENCE... not on "single family, low density" for ALL residential zones, and NOT "commercial development" along ALL corridors like the Kenai Spur Highway and Beaver Loop! a) For instance, EXISTING mobile home parks, including HIGHLAND PRIDE MOBILE HOME PARK, MUST be listed on the FUTURE LAND USE MAP as "Mixed Use" and not "rural residential," which is now deemed to be solely for "low- density, single family" residences. b) Highland mobile home park, which has been in existence since the 1960's, is currently deemed "COMMERCIAL" on Map 11, the "Existing Land Use Map," (see the two little red parcels in the insert). That is a misnomer —it is RESIDENTIAL, medium density, and could be considered "multifamily residential," which seems to be a category under the "Mixed Use" category. i) Mobile home parks are NOT "COMMERCIAL," which is defined as including "Central Commercial, General Commercial, and Central Mixed Use zones" and "as intended to create a concentrated, vibrant, and attractive downtown business district which is convenient to both motorists and pedestrians." Mobile home parks appear to be best categorized as "Mixed -Use" as far as land use plans go, and as "Suburban residential" or something similar as far as zoning. 1) Booth's Landscaping business which is located between Highland and the Kenai Spur Highway is deemed "Multi Use" in the Proposed Land Use Plan Map 7 — see the insert. Highland Pride Mobile Home Park's tracts, (the above red tracts), need to be designated as MIXED -USE in Map 7 of the proposed Comprehensive Plan —in other words, the "purple" Mixed -Use land designation needs to be extended onto Highland's two tracts as well! Why would the Planners have a problem with doing that, since that's what it IS? (Continued next cell) Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Sandra Lashbrook Date 1(1/,7 /11 Page 10 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Plan Reference Page Comment Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Date 12) In the proposed plan, stronger emphasis needs placed on existing use patterns in residential zones. No one will disagree with this except the City Administrators! We realize that this Comprehensive Plan will be used to justify all future approvals or denials of rezones and conditional use permits — therefore, the emphasis in this proposed and use plan needs to be on what is CURRENTLY IN EXISTENCE... not on "single family, low density" for ALL residential zones, and NOT "commercial development" along ALL corridors like the Kenai Spur Highway and Beaver Loop! a) For instance, EXISTING mobile home parks, including HIGHLAND PRIDE MOBILE HOME PARK, MUST be listed on the FUTURE LAND USE MAP as "Mixed Use" and not "rural residential," which is now deemed to be solely for "low- density, single fam il,,e residences. b) Highland mobile home park, which has been in existence since the 1960's, is currently deemed "COMMERCIAL" on Map 11, the "Existing Land Use Map," (see the two little red parcels in the insert). That is a misnomer —it is RESIDENTIAL, medium density, and could be considered "multifamily residential," which seems to be a category under the "Mixed Use" category. 1) Mobile home parks are NOT "COMMERCIAL" which is defined as including "Central Commercial, General Commercial, and Central Mixed Use zones" and "as intended to create a concentrated, vibrant, and attractive downtown business district which is convenient to both motorists and pedestrians." Mobile home parks appear to be best categorized as "Mixed -Use" as far as land use plans go, and as "Suburban residential" or something similar as far as zoning. 1) Booth's Landscaping business which is located between Highland and the Kenai Spur Highway is deemed "Multi - Use" in the Proposed Land Use Plan Map 7 — see the insert. Highland Pride Mobile Home Park's tracts, (the above red tracts), need to be designated as MIXED -USE in Map 7 of the proposed Comprehensive Plan —in other words, the "purple" Mixed -Use land designation needs to be extended onto Highland's two tracts as well! Why would the Planners have a problem with doing that, since that's what it IS? (Continued next cell) Sandra Lashbrook 10/23/12 Page 11 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Plan Reference Page Comment Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Date The city's policies seem to favor people with money and high education, not low income, disabled or elderly people like me. We are important too, and we cannot be ignored. The city needs more affordable housing, but that will not occur under this proposed Comprehensive Plan, with its goal to apparently condense all the residential areas into rural residential with the restrictive designation of being single - family low density homes. The Planners need to have more land use designations to reflect the GOALS of the quality of living section, including AFFORDABLE HOUSING and a VARIETY of housing options!! Those goals cannot be reached without opening up more residential zones to mobile homes, mobile home parks, and other types of low and medium income housing like apartment buildings. I read in the Clarion where Marilyn Kubskull said that low income housing is an issue the STATE needs to resolve, but I disagree!! The CITY IS PREVENTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUCH - NEEDED MULTIUNITS and MOBILE HOME PARK DEVELOPMENTS by its restrictive zoning codes, based on the "comprehensive plan." So let's fix this, and make the plan conform to the current land uses, and the NEEDED land uses, which includes many rural residential areas containing mobile homes, mobile home parks, and multi -unit complexes, maybe even zero -lot line townhomes, or similar properties with a low -land cost, so people can actually afford to live here in the beautiful city of Kenai. Please stop discriminating against other residential neighborhoods, too, by redesignating everything the way the City Administration wants it, either "single- family low density" or "commercial strips" along all the highways, making other people who built nice homes along the corridors and highways and have been there a long time suddenly non - conforming (like you did to Highland), and LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE. Nobody wants strip malls, industrial uses, or intense commercial zoning near their homes. If the City feels like there needs to be more Mixed Use or commercial areas, then it should designate some of its own property as such, since it has so much of it, and create new centers of commerce, away from already - established residences of long -term Kenai residents! (Continued next cell) Recommend incorporation of a new objective and strategies under Goal 1: Objective: Develop strategies to ensure there is Jacquie Stauffer 10/19/12 adequate affordable housing in Kenai. New Strategy: Determine if there is adequate property zoned multi - family; New Strategy: Consider revising the subdivision code to include zero lot line subdivisions; and New Strategy: Subject to performance standards continue to allow mobile home parks as a conditional use permit in several zoning districts in Kenai. Page 12 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Plan Reference Page Comment Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Our voices must be heard. We vote! We will remember what you do I The people who were here first, who bought and planned their lives around the land use in place at the time they built their residences (or pulled in their mobile homes) are more important than the City's goals to become another Palm Springs! Kenai leans heavily towards being mostly a blue - collar town, has low wages when compared to other towns, and has lots of service- oriented jobs with hard - working people filling them (which people kenai NEEDS), and elderly, some of whom are disabled, and those on fixed incomes, and with young families. Provide a land use plan which accommodates all these types of people as well as those who can afford to live along the river. There is enough land that nobody needs to be forced out. Be nice! I'm glad to see an assisted living center will be developed in Kenai, but am sad to learn that all of the Anchor park residents will have to move out. This is all the more reason to open up other land use areas where people can live in mobile homes. What is so bad about that? Mobile homes provide a viable living option, low-cost, and allow people to spend more time on their families instead of making payments on a $150,000 mortgage with both parents having to work! Kenai needs to stop its vendetta against mobile homes! I doubt the City's residents truly support all those prohibitive ordinances, when so many people are having trouble paying for housing! I will be following what the City does with this plan, as will dozens of my friends, neighbors, and others affected by it. Your actions will not go unnoticed. You have awakened a sleeping giant. The Planners who are ignoring public comments and molding a plan that they want contrary to the people, should remember: even though you are not elected and we did not vote you in, we can certainly vote out the people who hired you, which is something our elected councilmen, too, should keep in mind. We brought you into the Council... and we can take you out. Jacquie Stauffer Date 10/19/12 Page 13 of 33 Riau ne■erence rage comment I live in the City of Kenai and rent a mobile home in Highland pride mobile home park. I like the area, and enjoy the fishing opportunities. I live here with my little girl who is in 2n d grade. I pay less than $ 500 a month in rent, plus utilities. Even with that low rent, there have been times I have had trouble meeting my bills. I can't imagine where else I could move to in the kenai city where I could afford it. Affordable housing options are very limited in the city, and although the city seemed to realize this in the Goals section of the proposed comprehensive plan, there don't seem to be much else about it. The section on strategies and plans to make those goals happen leaves out anything about more affordable housing or variety of housing. This is not good. The city needs to focus on the needs of all its residents, not just those who want nicer landscaping. After looking at the document, it seems to me that the city wants everyone to live in traditional wood - framed houses. I would love to, but I can't afford that. The rural residential land use means single family low density omes, which, of course, excludes the trailer homes where I currently live. It seems that most other types of housing are apparently excluded from this large section of land use called rural residential? Making the land that the trailer park is on turned into single family low density, means that all of the park's homes are called nonconforming. I understand that this means that the park owner cannot spend more than 10% of her rental home's replacement value on fixing up homes, including the one I live in. I guess the city has figured out that with rules like this, eventually they will get to condemn all the homes in Highland. I've heard from my neighbors that the city's officials have been very vocal about their desire to get rid of mobile home parks, but what about people like me, do they want to get rid of me and my little girl, too? Where else would we be expected to live? By designating highland's property as rural residential, the Planners seem to be buying into the city's plot to get rid of us. The Planners obviously know that a mobile home park sits here, and it does not fall into the single family low density category, but they did not designate it for what it is: a mixed use or multifamily land use. This underscores my previous point that the city is trying to get rid of us, and I don't think that's fair or right. The consultants working with the city on this plan must have to put their signatures on it confirming that they agree with it. How can they agree with this obvious problem? The future land use plan needs to designate Highland property for what it has been for a very long time: a mobile home park, which is probably mixed -use or multi - family or something like that, but definitely not rural residential if that means single family low density homes. The Planners had no problem designating all the areas around the major roads as mixeduse, so they should not have any problem designating a true mixed -use property as It already is and should be designated. 49 Second paragraph - change "in" to "through "? Map 7 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" 51 Change "Mixed Use" classification of residential uses. Delete "multi - family :' objective before residential. Extensive classification of undeveloped areas as a mixed use only encourages strip development where it doesn't 52 exist. Eliminate Mixed Use classification on Kenai Spur between Evergreen St. and Redoubt Avenue. Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Technical correction - recommend adoption Commenter Jerry Thornton Recommend deletion of "multi family" from this category in Table 14. 52 Graphics - Mixed use appear very similar to RS (Woodland S /D): Use different colors Staff will look into this issue further Date Christa Cady, KPB Phil Bryson - comment form Phil Bryson - comment form Phil Bryson - comment form 10/19/12 10/19112 10/17/12 10/17/12 /1r /1L Page 14 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Page 15 of 33 Plan Reference Page Comment Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Date Education Use Parcel. Please note that Kenai Peninsula Borough owned parcel 045- 010 -07 which is located along the Kenai Spur Highway across from Kenai Central High School is deed restricted to educational uses according to the federal patent. The property is proposed for Mix Use which would support the educational use of the property. The borough therefore supports the proposed mixed use designation for this property. Marcus Mueller - letter 10/17/12 Raceway Parcel. Please note that the "Existing Land Use" Map shows Kenai Peninsula Borough owned parcel 014- 030-58 as vacant. This property is improved with motor racing facilities and has been used for motor sports since the early 1970's. The "Future Land Use" Map shows this parcel as being with the Parks, Recreation and Open Space area. Additionally Table 19 on page 80 of the draft plan provides Goal 3, Land Use Objective 10 "reivew zoning and subdivision codes for present and future uses'; 6th strategy "Review recreation zone to determine types of uses that shoudl be permitted, ie.e., racetrack, ATV, snow machine trails and other similar activities." Parcel 014 -030 -58 is leased to the Kenai Peninsula Racing Lions for motor sports uses open to the public. Please not that the Kenai Peninsual Lions have expressed to the borough and to the City that development and use of motor sports facilities should be permitted uses under the City of Kenai's zoning. The borough interprets the stated stragegy as reflecting the interests expressed by the Kenai Peninsula Racing Lions involving proper owned by the borough and therefore supports the plan's intent to consider motor sports as a permitted use facility. Marcus Mueller - letter 10/17/12 Page 15 of 33 Table Notes: PInn P f Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" rage ,-omment To Whom it may concern: I am writing this in regards to the city of kenai's PROPOSED comprehensive plan. I have lived in highland pride mobile home park since june of 1991 . During this time there has been many changes in and around the park. People have moved in around the park, knowing full well they were buying property next to us. Now the City wants to pass some damn "comprehensive plan" stating the future land use of this property is "rural residential" while defining that as "single- family low density" which means the park and its mobile homes like mine are "non- conforming" even though we were here first! It's the other residences around us which are "non- conforming"! CHANGES REQUESTED: As best as 1 can tell, Highland's tracts should be deemed "mixed -use" which will allow us to eventually be zoned as what we've been for over 50 years: a mobile home park! Otherwise, if this plan leaves Highland property as only "single- family, low density" land use, my home will remain "non- conforming" indefintely, and I will not be able to put more than 10 percent of the replacement value of my mobile into repairs for the upkeep and maintenance DUE TO PREVIOUSLY PASSED City Ordinances. I for one, can not afford a newer mobile home, let alone a house. where are we suppose to live if this should pass? We need to keep our homes, and the land use plan needs to support those who bought property FIRST, and built their lives around it under the assumption they would be able to live there without interference! the lower income housing is needed in Highland — In fact, we need more of it! People who bought land and built homes around highland knew the park was here long before their purchases. It didn't stop them from buying and building and since then they have done nothing but complain about Highland to the city— perhaps they should not have bought here if they thought that we were the ones who should move out. It certainly feels like we low- income home - owners are being discriminated against by this proposed comprehensive plan, one might go on to say just plain old harassed, like being bullied! makes me wonder what was meant by *residents enjoy a choice of residential neighborhoods and lifestyles* Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Beaver Creek Area: The Kenai Peninsula Borough owns parcel 049 - 120-06 which is a 19 acre parcel north of Beaver Loop Road proposed for Rural Residential with mixed use along the Beaver Loop Road frontage. The borough's property has gravel pit uses on both sides of it. While the borough agrees with the proposed land use, the borough is concerned that a Rural Residential zone does not reflect actual characteristics of the area behind the mixed use buffer. The borough recognizes that the highest and best use of this land is for material extraction. Additionally, the borough would be extremely hesitant to encourage a residential use of the property given the surrounding gravel pit land uses. Recommendation: The borough therefore asks the City's consideration of proposing a zone more fitting to the existing and compatible uses of this ara, and in particular that recognizes the suitability of the land for material extraction purposes. Attached is a map which supports the borough's concern. Commenter Mr. and Mrs. James Patten Date 10/19/12 1U/1//12 Page 16 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Plan Reference Page Comment Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Date Map 7, Future Land Use Plan Critique of Future Land Use Map: • Drastic changes to current Comprehensive Plan with little or no public notice or support; downplaying these drastic changes in public forums ( "it's just a guide ") when in fact the map is used to justify all future approvals or denials of rezones and conditional use permits. • Mixed Use encourages highway commercial strip development that is not supported by most residents. • Rezones from residential to Mixed Use Zone or other commercial zones will lead to single family residences being labeled as "nonconforming," and zoned out. • includes numerous proposed rezones to commercial that are known to be unpopular with Kenai residents, such as: Walker Lane, Lawton Acres, MAPS, Angler Drive. • Industrial and commercial zone "creep" into currently residential zones. • Decrease in conservation and open space. Chuck Winegarden (Identical comment also submitted by Kristine Schmidt) 10/19/12 Glenn: I appreciate your quick response and attention regarding my attempts to get my comments on the "Imagine Kenai 2030" Comprehensive Plan draft heard. This says to me that you care about the end product truly reflecting the wishes of our community members and that it is something you can be proud to have your name associated with. As I explained on the phone, I was in attendance at the April 2012 public meeting. There seems to be a disconnect between my personal input and that of others present that day and what is being put forth in the draft. I realize there were other meetings held after that to gather input, but its my understanding they were held with more "special interest" groups vs. the general public. I would hope that you have or will have access to the comments made at that April meeting and thus see where some of my concern is coming from. See response to the second comment at the beginning of this table regarding how issues were prioritized. Nancy Schrag - Email 10/17/12 Page 17 of 33 My major concern lies with the Proposed Land Use Plan. It is weighted heavily with Industrial, Commercial and Mixed Use which greatly impacts Residential. In particular: * Current Conservation (located next to Residential) has been changed to Industrial. * Current Conservation (located across from Residential) has been changed to Commercial * Mixed Use is essentially Commercial which doesn't allow for single family residences. *A "City Center ", which was part of previous Comprehensive Plans and still a priority for many residents, is not mentioned. n closing, I want to say that I am active in my community and participate in various forums where our community and its health are discussed. The desire expressed in all of them is for a community where "quality of life" is a sriority and a belief that if that exists, people will want to move here and then industry will follow; not the other vay around. Residents have time and time again expressed a desire for the protection of our residential ieighborhoods and for our commercial areas to be more concentrated without sprawl along our corridors. A ommon saying is, "we don't want to become another Wasilla ". Table Notes: Plan Reference Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Page Comment Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Page 18 of 33 Nancy Schrag - Email Date 1V /1 /J.L Table Notes: Plan Reference Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Page Comment I agree with Sandra Lashbrook in her concerns for the future of Highland Mobile Home Park and the other parks in Kenai just as all the other tenants in the park are concerned. I do feel very strongly that the Park should be designated as (Mixed use on the Future Land Use Map). The Park has been in this location for over 50 years. The owner of the properties that have been bough and homes that have been built since then, they are "newcomers". They don't have a right to say "we don't like you (poor people) being here anymore, you need to go ". One of these (newcomer) "Home Owners ", use to live in the Highland Park when he first moved to Kenai. Then he bought and built a home on the hill just past the Park. Now he does not want to see a reminder of where he came from, where he used to live. He considers himself high class and the people in the Park low class. Most of the people that live in the park live on Social Security, Social Security Disability, limited fixed income, low income (minimum wage jobs and there are a lot of them in Kenai) or Retirement income. We cannot all be RICH people. There are a lot of poor in this world, but if they have a roof over their heads and food on the table then I consider them RICH in a lot of ways. I have known people that have had to live in their cars even in winter. Right here in Kenai a high school teen lost both of her parents had no family and was evicted from here only home and was forced to live in her car. There are going to be more homeless people in Kenai because we are going to lose jobs and the cost of living is going to go up. Kenai will have a homeless situation just like Anchorage. Some city officials need to get OFF their POWER TRIPS. There will be some people I am sure that will disagree with the way the current tenants of the Park feel, but those people are no longer tenants for a very good reason and I personally am grateful that they are no longer tenants here. I do not care for DRUGS, HEAVY DRINKING, VIOLENCE and DISREGARD for human decency in my neighborhood. As a former Federal Gent I cannot tolerate it. I had my run ins with some of those tenants and they made me very uneasy.* I am in agreement with the other tenants when I say, "This is my home ", I do not want to be forced to move or have the Land Use changes that would not be beneficial to the Park and its tenants. The city needs to stop passing ordinances and land use plans that zone out low income people from the City of Kenai, based on a Land Use Plan that does not reflect current use. Live and Let Live! P.S. I hate to see some people make other suffer, even when they don't know them, because of their sick sense of superiority. *Three of the tenants that were evicted were even given notice of the upcoming hearing in violation of the Kenai Municipal Code. I live on Beaver Loop Road and am opposed to the changing of land use from rural residential to that of mixed use as the new plan implies. It is in fact in direct opposition to the city's previous plan drafted in 2003. You'll find on page 35 the following paragraph. Beaver Loop Road is a rural area with scenic vistas, natural open space, and a low - density residential lifestyle with a short drive to city services. This area is not likely to develop at densities that will support public sewer and water service in the foreseeable future. Much of the vacant property in the Beaver Loop area is affected by wetland or floodplain conditions, and may not be suitable for uses more intense than rural residential development. I believe the paragraph above, defining Beaver Loop Road as it is, is accurate. I can only wonder why we've deviated from the former comprehensive plan. Page 19 of 33 Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Janet Weir - comment form Curt Wilcox - email Date 10/18/12 10/19/12 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Plan Reference Page Comment Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Date 52 Proposing beach and dunes area at end of Kenai Avenue to be mixed use is ridiculous. It is obviously a Parks, Recreation and green space area. Anonymous 10/19/12 52 I find it offensive for the commission to anticipate that all property along major roads to be mixed use in the future. As a property owner in a subdivision that borders the Spur Highway I am curious why anyone would anticipate a change in zoing for my property. For clarification I do not live in MAPS. Existing neighborhoods should not be Anonymous 10/19/12 envisioned to change. They can be managed by conditional use. You can say it is not the interest to change and there are no plans but the title "Future Land Use Plan" shows intent or a belief by the P &Z Commission that is not in line with people who spend $100,000's to buy homes in subdivisions. Undeveloped areas are perhaps ok for mixed use but not current residential use. 52 There is a strip of green Open Space that extends from the Kenai Spur Highway north to the northeast corner of the future city maintenance lot shown in red. I recommend the following modifications to the green Open Space strip. 1) Clip the northern end of the green so that it terminates at the southeast corner of the future maintenance shop lot shown in red. 2) Provide a 100' wide green buffer strip along the northern and western boundaries of the adjacent Suburban Residential area shown in pink. This area to be changed from Industrial to Open Space is wetland and is likely not to be developed in the next 50 years. This issue was pointed out by a nearby resident during the public outreach at the Senior Center. I think the concern is valid and should be considered. Henry Knackstedt - email 10/19/12 52 Map 7, "Future Land Use Plan ", shows a great deal of areas along the North Road, Spur Highway, Strawberry Road, Beaver Loop Road, and the Kalifornsky Beach Road, as well as a portion of downtown Kenai as "Mixed Use ". While I realize that such listing does not constitute rezoning, I believe that inevitably, sooner or later it would be used as justification to rezone these areas to less restrictive classifications than now exist. The Downtown /Old Town area may be de facto "Mixed Use ", but if it is desired to rezone this area it should be done as a separate act, and not through use of the to -be- adopted Comprehensive Plan. I would urge that the "Mixed Use" classification should be removed from the plan, and more specific classifications, based both on present uses and the desires of the residents, should dictate their zoning. Gerald Brookman - email 10/16/12 Page 20 of 33 Table Notes: !Dime, Dever.,.. Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" rage k-omment I strongly disagree with the new designation of Beaver Loop Road as 'Mixed Use' and I hope you will reconsider. I have the following comments and questions: Ten years ago Beaver Loop was described in the city's comprehensive plan as "a rural area with scenic vistas, natural open space, and a low- density residential lifestyle ". Since then, a few new houses have been built along the road. The gravel pits are producing less gravel. The long stretch of forest next to me (though it has been inexplicably labeled in 2012 as under 'Industrial Use') is unbroken, except for a pond. Ten acres of old gravel pit behind my house are being protected and enhanced for the Dolly Varden and Coho in the pond there. My question: why all of a sudden is Beaver Loop being re- designated as 'Mixed Use'? It has changed very little, and along most of the road, it has changed in the direction towards more single - family homes and away from industrial /commercial use. When a person buys property and builds a house in a neighborhood, should they have a reasonable expectation that the city is not going to change the land use underneath and around them? It seems to me that the people of Kenai have spoken clearly on this issue - the MAPS referendum, for example. I attended the public meetings over the last couple of years that were meant to collect citizen input on the comprehensive plan. I did not hear one person say they wanted commercial and industrial development in neighborhoods. I do not think that citizen input was accurately communicated to the author of this comprehensive plan. What does it mean to have a line running through one's front yard with a designation (Mixed Use) that is different from the rest of one's property and house (Rural Residential)? It seems needlessly confusing, or maybe even misleading. If the city wants Beaver Loop to be zoned differently, it should be upfront about it and notify people. What is the city going to actually do to enhance and protect salmon habitat, which is a stated goal of the plan? There are ponds and streams in the Beaver Loop area with fish. How is 'Mixed Use' going to protect waterways? If anything, more traffic, asphalt parking lots, and clearing of trees destroy and change habitat. Thanks for reading this, and I hope you listen to what the people who live in the neighborhoods, and the people who care about Kenai, say about this comprehensive plan. Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Laura Sievert - 2nd email Date I 10/19/12 Page 21 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Plan Reference Page Comment 49 52 52 Map 8 - Zoning Existing zoning Land Ownership 49 52 53 54 59 60 61 Having gone to the public input meetings leading up to the plan, I was surprised to see the 'Mixed Use designation all along Beaver Loop and Spur highway. Residents at those meetings specifically asked that the city try to contain sprawl and make the downtown of Kenai more vibrant and compact. People do not want businesses in their neighborhoods. I also feel that the way this change is portrayed on the map is misleading. What does it mean to have 'Mixed Use' in your front yard, while your house is still on 'Rural Residential'? That really really thin purple line means a lot, yet appears so small. I live on Beaver Loop, and can tell you that people want Beaver Loop to remain Rural Residential. Yes, there are small businesses like B & Bs in the area- we have long successfully handled the addition of those via exemptions from Rural Residential that allow a public hearing. There is no reason for Beaver Loop to be designated for a different use. Right now there are more than 50 single family homes right on Beaver Loop. Does the city want to phase them out in favor of apartments and businesses? Some people have lived on this road since homesteading days. The city planner downplays the importance of this new designation, saying that there would still have to be a hearing for any rezone. True- but the city will ultimately be guided by the new plan. Isn't that the point of it? It would be more honest for the city to just ask for a rezone for Spur and Beaver Loop to Mixed Use. That way at least residents would have to be notified about what is likely to occur in their neighborhood. Recommendation: Please ask P &Z to reconsider this large change that would completely change Beaver Loop as well as Spur. Thank you. I would prefer the area in yellow in front of 410 lawton to be zoned mixed use vs Commercial - molly due to houses across the street. Recommend rezone to mixed use. Though not specifically a zoning issue - the Kenai River side of Bridge Access Rd. west of the Kenai dock to the "current soccer field" needs a review to convert the area to prime view /commercial with an aim to promote restaurants and hotels to build with a "water view." Kenai is not taking advantage of the waterfront. Water view property created from the eye sores of boats etc. currently there. The industrial designation that abuts Princess Street should be reconsidered. Recommended action: Consider designating area east of the drainage way to suburban residential and extending the parks, recreation, open space designation along the drainage way north. Both designations northern boundaries would align with the commercial area to the west. Second paragraph - change "in" to "through "? Colors do not match those developed by Planning, Airport and WCB staff for Master Plan? First paragraph, last sentence - Consider revising for clarity. Same as above - both maps don't show airport as now exists. Second column - Local Improvement District should be capitalized. First column, last line - delete period after the word "Of ". Color does not match that provided WCB for Master Plan 5 -25 -12 NC, _ 4 -24 -12 MK Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter i Laura Sievert - 1st email Date Roy Wells 10/18/12 Roy Wells 10/08/12 Mark Schrag - comments to City Council 10/05/12 10/05/12 Technical correction - recommend adoption Christa Cady, KPB Staff wit look into this issue further Casey Madden 10/19/12 Technical correction - recommend adoption Christa Cady, KPB 10/17/12 10/19/12 Technical correction - recommend adoption Casey Madden Technical correction - recommend adoption 10/17/12 Technical correction - recommend adoption Christa Cady, KPB Christa Cady, 10/19/12 Staff will look into this issue further KPB Casey Madden 10/19/12 10/17/12 Page 22 of 33 Table Notes: Plan RefvIcn C Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Map 10 rage e.omment I live on Princess Street. The land across the street is currently classified as "vacant" in the comprehensive plan, and zoned conservation. It is proposed to become "industrial" in the new plan. I am having difficulty understanding why planners would want to change this land from conservation zoning to industrial as the "industrial" classification would allow for any kind of noxious and /or dangerous activity imaginable. Even though you say that would never happen, what is the message we send if we classfy it as such? This is not an industrial areas. Accidents happen and any explosion, emission, spill could have disastrous effects on the adjacent neighborhood and businesses. It is a sensitive wetland draining into the Kenai River. High on your various lists of priorities expressed by the community is quality of life. Desirable components of quality of life include recreation and wildlife. This little piece of wetlands is the last corridor for wildlife on the north side of the Spur [Road] for miles in either direction. It is also used recreationally as an access point out into the open country east of the airport for ATVs and snow machiners. I fully support letting the world know Kenai is ready and open for business by making accommodations for increased business growth. But Corporations and businesses are also looking for locations that have a high quality of life, which allow them to attract more talented workers. Removing these last remaining bits of wildness detracts from the appeal Kenai has. We are not Anchorage and many have relocated here for just that reason. Wherever possible I hope we can preserve some of the wilderness left in town. Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Stanley Kaneshiro - letter Date 10/08/12 Page 23 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Plan Reference Page Comment Staff Recommendation Planning Commenter Date Map 8 - Zoning 54 This email is to request a change in the zoning for an area in which one half the block is zoned Neighborhood Residential, and the other half the block is zoned Neighborhood Commercial. Specifically, this is the area along First Avenue between Birch Street and Spruce Street. There are currently two homes in the proposed Commercial area and only one business. We own an original government lot (one acre) which has been subdivided into three lots. There is a one acre lot next to us on the corner of Birch and First which is currently undeveloped, and another one acre lot in the center of the block between the former Halls Quality Builders and our home. We respectfully request the city zone this half block as Mixed Use, the same as Old Town Kenai. That designation would allow us to use our additional lots as a home site for our retirement home or for our children to build on. It would also allow us or the owners of the other home currently in the above area to rebuild if disaster were to destroy our house. It is far more likely that the acre at the corner of First and Birch would be developed for residential housing (as is the rest of the block, and the block facing it) then as commercial property. A Mixed Use designation would in no way impact the existing commercial building. It is extremely unlikely that the City of Kenai will have need of this half block, which is not highway frontage, for any type of commercial use, or that a business would move into this area. There is a strip mall on the other side of First Avenue that has available space and fronts the highway. Another strip faces the first across the highway, and it also has available space. to and Zoning Commission Nancy Wiles Map 10 57 Map 10: Inconsistency with wetlands /developed parcels. Recommend map be corrected - email Rick Koch 10/08/12 Section 53.3 59 Existing Land Use - Inaccurate designation off Marathon Rd. Recommend correction to existing land use Rick Koch 10/17/12 10/08/12 Page 24 of 33 Table Notes: Plan Reference Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Page Comment This week I reviewed the 2012 Comprehensive Plan draft, and I would like to bring to the Kenai Planning and Zoning Commission's attention several important items which either have been left out or I believe need further emphasis. These three items are: 1) Development of a City Center /Millennium Square, 2) Tourism, and 3) a Convention Center Facility. Next, I reviewed the 2003 Comprehensive Plan to see what its recommendations were, noting that much of the emphasis was on developing an attractive City Center/ Millennium Square; see attached pages 2, 26, 30 -34 of the 2003 Plan. (Exhibit A) In 2004, following completion ofthat document, the Mayor and Council selected 17 individuals in our community to be on a committee called KEDS (Kenai Economic Development Strategy) . I have served on this committee since its inception. We met every other week for many months during 2004 -2005, and in 2005/2006 following a public hearing, presented a document to the City Council with their acceptance. Five major initiatives and an artists' concept of Millennium Square Development Plan were part of that document; see attached KEDS document, specifically Appendix A pages 27 -29, which incorporate ideas and strategies fo r implementation of the 2003 Comprehensive Plan; and page 23 of the Business Development Initiative, and page 26 of the Tourism Industry Initiative which both support Appendix A. (Exhibit B) (Continued in next cell - see letter for Exhibits) Moving forward in time to the 2012 Comprehensive Plan... Thursday April 21, 2011 at Kenai City Hall, Boards, Commissions, and Committees got together and broke up into six groups; Economic development was the KEDS group. There were 4 -S of us. This was chaired by RickCook, and I served on this Committee, in which Business, Airport lands, and Industrial development became a priority in the 20 minutes we were allotted, and this was then presented to the wrap up session; facilitating year -round Tourism was runner -up with mention of a Convention facility. Seeattached"Summary of that meeting. (Exhibit C) April 23, 2011, a Saturday, a general public work session was held but 1 was unable to attend. Reviewing the summary of that gathering there was emphasis on developing the City Center, trails, and green areas, among other things. (Continued next cell) Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Recommend adding a new objective under Goal 2: Economic Development: New Obiective: Investigate if there is interest to reactivate the Kenai Economic Development Strategy (KEDS) Committee to review status of recommendations from the KEDS document. Page 25 of 33 Commenter Peter Hansen, M.D. Peter Hansen, M.D. Date 10/08/12 10/08/12 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" rian neterence Page Comment Chap 6 pp 70 -93 General June 8, 2011, a Wednesday morning, a business work session was held at the Senior Center with many business men and women. I attended, and we broke up into four random groups. Reviewing the prioritization of these groups, three of the four groups listed as a priority the develop ing of a Convention Center for the city, and tourism. Seeattached copy of that 8 page summary. (Exhibit D) Summarizing: • The 2003 Kenai Comprehensive Plan Recommendations • The KEDS Tourism Initiative and Artists Draft showing strategies for implement ing above • The 4/21/2011 Boards, Commissions, Committees work session recommendations • The 4/23/2011 Public work session recommendations for City center development • The 6/8/2011 Businesswork session with three out of four groups recommendations All of the above signify the importance of creating an emphasis on developing Kenai's City Center /Millennium Square, Year - around Tourism, and a Convention facility which will provide jobs, small business development, and a beautiful surrounding park with trails; all of which add to our quality of life in Kenai Alaska. Now if we can look at the 2012 Comprehensive Plan draft. The following are recommendations. • Please look at pages 62 -63. I strongly suggest the KEDS Art ists' conception of Millennium Square Development Plan be added • See pages 75 -76, item 6.3, goal 2 - Economic Development should have Tourism, Conventions and Meetings added ... and bullet 85 add Tourism. Table 18 goal 2, under Item 8 Promoting Ideas for Job Security, add Developing Tour ism and Conventions • Page 77 under strategies, fifth paragraph down, adding "and Conventions ". Appendix C presents the Public Survey of the top 3 things community members like living in Kenai The same goes for tourists coming to our city whether for recreational or convention purposes. Top dislike lack of employment opportunities. Tourism and meetings /conventions bring new employment opportunities to our area for people of all ages. Page 2 of appendix Cnotes people would support increase in property taxes for walking /biking/pathways and ski trails; this would come with the development of Millennium Square as outlined on the KEDS artists' concept Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Add a new strategy under Goal 2: Economic Development, current Obiective 8: Job Security. New Strategy: Promote tourist businesses and activities at City sponsored events. New Strategy: Develop alternatives to constructing a City funded convention center to promote Kenai as a large meeting destination. 2) Landscaping, beautification, and funding the library are all lofty goals, but the City is placing too much emphasis on "cosmetic" issues in an attempt to create a facade of a "beautiful city" and not enough emphasis on more basic quality of life and land -use issues that haunt its residents. Kenai is not a retirement town and never will be. Its wage base is lower than almost anywhere else in Alaska, yet the Comprehensive Plan seems embarrassed to address this issue or create goals and strategies to acknowledge this problem and help the residents affected by it. (Note: Part of a longer comment letter) Commenter Peter Hansen, M.D. Date 10/08/12 Sandra Lashbrook r 10/19/12 Page 26 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Plan Reference Page Comment Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter 5) The decisions in the Objectives section of the plan for each of the Goals, which lists the Strategies and most importantly, assigns a priority to each item, was ARBITRARILY determined without a public review, and completely ignores several of the goals as apparently too insignificant to even have a strategy. This section and much of the plan seems to be controlled by 2 -3 people "in charge" at the City, and I have a big problem with that. This is OUR CITY, and it makes no sense to have goals listed then completely ignored. a) For instance, in the QUALITY OF LIFE section, one of the goals is "Housing — Affordable with a variety of housing options." This is a critical goal for Kenai! On page 9 of the plan, it states: "An increase in education attainment and reasonable wages make Kenai a desirable location for new businesses." However, where are these people who make "reasonable (i.e., LOWER) wages" supposed to live? Everyone can't live in Sterling, Ridgeway or Nikiski! (Continued in next cell) Sandra Lashbrook Date 10/19/12 Page 27 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Plan Reference Page Comment Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter Date Goal 1- Quality of Life b)There is a SERIOUS LACK of low- to medium - income housing in the City, yet the City continues its elitist attempts to try to make all residential zones all "low-density, single family" which excludes multi -unit housing, mobile home parks, and other potential housing options which do not cost upwards of $100,000. This is NOT "variety." It is systematic discrimination against the poor, elderly, disabled, and the blue - collar working people as well as young families starting out. The City claims that this is a "State" issue, but it is not —it is a planning and zoning issue. The City has consistently reflected an "elite attitude" and seems to be against the low and medium residents. 1) Although "Affordable Housing" is listed as a goal on page 71, there is nothing in the page 72 -75 "Table 17 Objectives and Strategies" about how the City could contribute to this goal being met. Here are some suggestions: ii) Does the City truly want to respond to the need to provide avenues for low- income AFFORDABLE HOUSING and increase the number of housing options as its GOAL states? Here's how: (1) There are already many areas of the City which contain mobile homes on lots —Make those LAND USE AREAS consistent with the CURRENT USES, such that those lots may be appropriately zoned so the structures on them are not NON - CONFORMINGI (2) Designate and /or "open" those areas and the surrounding areas which already contain these housing types to accommodate land use consistent with allowing mobile homes and other multi -unit housing developments instead of trying to force those areas to be all "single family, low density"! (3) The City has already "protected" any land which could involve the future development of mobile home parks by passing the Mobile Home Park Ordinance in 2006 establishing standards for new mobile home parks, yet seems bound and determined to "zone- out" and PROHIBIT mobile home parks from all the city's residential zones! Was the passage of the Mobile Home Park Ordinance on November 21, 2006 just "lip service "? (4) City Officials need to cease publicly boasting that "The City's goal is to get rid of all mobile home parks," Who is "the City ?" What right does this City Administration have to dictate "goals" that eliminate housing for dozens of families, the elderly, the disabled, and those on fixed or low- incomes? The action of passing an Ordinance providing for new standards for mobile home parks, then turning around and stating the goal is to get rid of all of them, is inconsistent and clearly prejudicial. (Part of a longer comment letter) Subject to performance standards, the City currently allows mobile home parks as a conditional use permit in several zoning districts. Recommend incorporation of a new objective and strategies under Goal 1: Objective: Develop strategies to ensure Sandra Lashbrook 10/19/12 there is adequate affordable housing in Kenai; New Strategy: Determine if there is adequate property zoned multi - family; New Strategy: Consider revising the subdivision code to include zero lot line subdivisions; and New Strategy: Subject to performance standards continue to allow mobile home parks as a conditional use permit in several zoning districts in Kenai. Goal 1 I attended the initial Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing. At that meeting the majority of groups highlighted the need to protect residential neighborhoods from commercial encroachment. I see nothing in the plan that recognizes this vital need. Proposed Action: Make this the number one priority in Goal 1. "Goals, Kellle Kelso Under Chapter 6: Objectives, Strategies, and Plan Implementation ", protecting and preserving the character of residential neighborhoods seems to have been completely overlooked. Based on my 34 years of residence in Kenai, I believe that this is the most important priority to the great majority of people I know, as well as myself. This section of the plan needs to be completely reworked, with adequate consideration given to protecting, preserving, and enhancing the character of residential neighborhoods. Gerald Brookman - email 10/19/12 Page 28 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Plan Reference Page Comment Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter 7) The City emphasizes the development of businesses and industries way more than it emphasizes the happiness and quality of life of its CURRENT residents who live in residential zones. (Note: Part of a longer comment letter) Sandra Lashbrook Date 4) Where are the strategies and objectives to address this severe unemployment that 11% of Kenai's residents suffer from in order to try to make these people's lives EASIER? Is it the page 73 "medium priority" strategy which states that the City should spend time and money to "Consider establishing landscaping requirements in all zoning districts "? I think not! (Note: Part of a longer comment letter) "Low ", Sandra Lashbrook 10/19/12 71 Priorities last sentence - For clarity, revise as follows: "These priorities are listed as issues at the beginning of each section." Recommend adoption of this recommendation. Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 72 Objective 2, 4th strategy - add "to be" after the word "need ". Recommend existing language be retained. Christa Cady, KPB 10/19/12 75 Issues, bullet 5, Kenai Municipal, Aiport Technical correction - recommend adoption Casey Madden 10/19/12 75- 76, 77 Tourism and Convention Center: Meetings on the 2012 draft Comprehensive Plan, the 2003 plan and the Kenai Economic Development Strategy emphasize development of round tourism and a convention center.Such a facility would provide business development with a beautiful surrounding park with trails which would improve the quality of life in Kenai. Economic development should have tourism, Convention and Meetings added; add tourism to bullet #5, and add "developing tourism and conventions" to Table 18, goal 2 #8 Promoting Ideas for Job Security. Note: Comment summarized - see letter for detailed justification for this recommendation. Add new stategies under Goal 2. Economic Development, current Objective 8: Job Security. New Strategy: Promote Peter Hansen, M.D. 10/17/12 tourist businesses and activities at City sponsored events. New Strategy: Develop alternatives to constructing a City funded convention center to promote Kenai as a large meeting destination. 85 7885' asphalt R /W, 2000' gravel runway, 4600 water runway. FAA flight service station and a airtraffic control Technical correction - recommend adoption Casey Madden 10/19/12 tower *as well as associated terminal and aircraft service facilities. 86 #17 - Airport reserve boundary ... Consistent with the Airport Master Plan and ... Technical correction - recommend adoption Casey 10/17/12 10/17/12 92' 88 Motion to strongly support Goal 8 and to support a drift boat pull out in Kenai Madden Add a new strategy under current Objective 13: Evaluate Harbor Commission - discussion at meeting feasibility /need for public improvements. New Strategy: Coordinate with the State to site a drift boat pull out on the Kenai River. 88 88 Bicycle and pedestrian traffic along Bridge Access Road are fatalities waiting to happen. It could occur by a misstep, a bike, an errant car or a truck unbalancing a bike with its air wake. Priority should be changed to High. Could also appear in Table 21 Line item 18 (as priority High) Objective 21, "youth Recommend this suggestion be adopted into plan Phil Bryson - Comment form 09/10/12 88 third strategy - add soccer" after "disc golf ". Objective Technical correction - recommend this suggested be adopted Christa 21- Trails Plan and Unity Trail should be capitalized. Technical correction - recommend this suggested be adopted Cady, KPB Christa Cady, 10/19/12 KPB 10/19/12 Page 29 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to 'Response to Comments" 'Plan Reference rage Comment Appendix A I am very concerned that the goal to pursue funding for completion of the bicycle path has been designated as a medium priority. I have regularly biked the trail including the very dangerous part of the Bridge Access Road that goes over the bridge and connects with Kalifornsky Beach Road. In my mind and in the mind of many others, the present bike trail immediately next to car lanes looks like an accident waiting to happen. A separate trail needs to be designated and buid along the road and bridge. Recommend changing the priority level to pursue funding for completion of the_ from medium to HIGH • these needs to be a separate trail - not bicycle signs and trail on the 88 side of the road. 90 Objective 22, second strategy - delete reference to KPB Spruce Bark Beetle Office, as it no longer exists. Public Outreach and Participation I was unable to attend many of the sessions on this plan, for personal reasons. However, I am disappointed that public input was not more extensively solicited, and did not seem to be welcome. I would like to urge that the project be re- opened, with more extensive public input solicited, welcomed, and incorporated into the final plan . .. In view of the lack of meaningful public input, I would like to urge that the process go back to "Square One ", and do it over, but do it right this time. Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Recommend this suggested be adopted into plan Technical correction - recommend adoption Commenter Eileen Bryson Date Christa Cady, KPB 10/17/12 10/19/12 Gerald Brookman - email 1n /1a /1-1 Page 30 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Pinn rope LUmment 1. I must protest the very short public comment period that was allowed to review and make comments about th plan. I have been very involved in attending Planning & Zoning Commission meetings on the comprehensive plan, so I was able to obtain a draft plan on September 19, 2012. However, as far as I know, there was no wide- spread public announcement on September 19 that the draft plan was available on that date, or what the comment period was. As far as I know, the draft plan was not even available on the City website until well after September 19. Even now, people cannot get a hard copy of the draft plan without going to the City and having to provide information about themselves in order to get a copy. In my own situation, I have not been able to provide the extensive critique of the draft plan that I would like, because I was out of state for a couple of weeks. I understand that you have asked for "solutions" not just criticism, and the City's recently provided form is designed to have the commenter be specific about page numbers and so forth. However, it is not reasonable to require people to be specific or to give you page by page alternatives in the short period of time given. I request that you extend the comment period for another 30 days, so that people can have a MEANINGFUL (instead of just a pro forma) opportunity to comment on the plan and give alternatives. 2. In my 30 years of living in Kenai, I have never seen a more closed and non - transparent process than the current Kenai comprehensive plan process. At every step of the process so far, ordinary citizens have been restricted (and in some cases actively prevented) from getting information about the plan process or contents of the draft plans, and from giving input, participating in the plan process, and having their input and participation given respect or weight. In addition to extending the public comment time period, the City Administration should open up this process by holding several town hall -type meetings for people to give input, throwing out the 'gag rule" in place for planning commission work sessions on the comprehensive plan, and having rules of conduct in place to ensure that planning commissioners and council members who attend meetings on the comprehensive plan behave in a professional and respectful manner towards the public, and do not interrupt, chastise, argue with or ridicule members of the public who are trying to give input. Furthermore, the City Administration should disclose the sources of the objectives- strategies - priorities, so that everyone is aware of who is behind these important policies. This is all I have had time for in the unreasonably short period allowed. Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments. is Survey 6) The public opinion survey did not have many questions about planning and land uses or other important policy plans and decisions which the Administration of the City made "for us" in the Comprehensive plan of September, 2012. It appears as though the City Administration does not truly want people to give their true opinions. (Part of a longer comment letter) Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission Commenter See Appendix A for a description of the public participation D147process. The 30 -day comment period was advertized in a public notice, on the City webpage, and in a newsletter that was sent to all property owners. The purpose of the survey was to get input on public interest on public services and some land use issue to guide the City on future priorities for expenditures. Kristine Schmidt Date 10/19/12 SandraLashbrook iu /IV /12 Page 31 of 33 Table Notes: Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" rmo nei CI Cf Lt rage comment 8) The City did not give its residents enough time to comment and review this plan. There needed to be meetings with the areas of the residents who would be affected by the severe changes in the and use map —NOT just meetings with business groups! The Planning & Zoning "work sessions" were too often not wet announced in advance, were not recorded, and the public was kept from making comments at some of them. It appears the City administration wants the plan that they want... not the plan that the residents of Kenai want! 9) The notice and outreach to the Kenai residents was weak. The surveys done at the high school were a waste of time. Questionnaires should have been sent to the residents of Kenai instead of a slick newsletter with the photos of the city's administrators on it. Where was the public input when the strategies and objectives were determined to meet the goals? (Part of a longer comment letter) The banning of public input thwarts the concept of the plan. The residents of an area being considered should have been specifically notified. With growth low, there was no need to hurry. Radically changing zoning is not going to spur growth. Critique of Comprehensive Plan process: • Public comment period too short. Two weeks (October 5 to October 19) is not enough time for citizens to review, comment and provide alternatives for 100 page draft plan. • Roadblocks to meaningful citizen input: - new "gag" rule at P &Z work sessions impedes public participation - no verbatim record of P &Z work sessions such as taping or on the internet - public inappropriately banned from participation at some P &Z work sessions - no agenda or advance notice of CP topics for upcoming P &Z work sessions - no schedule of events related to CP disseminated to the general public - restricting public input at 10/5 Open House to written comments only - no meetings with neighborhoods affected by changes in the and use map • Public outreach lacking: only one community -wide session in April 2011, no follow up when developing Objectives- Strategies - Priority. • 10/5 Open House restrictions on input (only written comments accepted), choice of date and time suspect (Friday night after work). • Biased: outreach and private meetings with business groups, but no outreach or meetings with ordinary residents or neighborhoods. • Secretive: notes from public meetings were posted on City's web site, but notes from private business group meetings are not. Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission See Appendix A of the plan and the response to the first comment at the beginning of this table for a summary of the public participation process. A notice of the 30 -day comment period was sent to each property owner and it was advertised on the City web page and through a public notice. The newsletter announcing the public comment period of the plan was sent to each landowner. A 30 - -day public comment on the Public Review draft was held, and comments were accepted after that date to accommodate those who did not make the comment deadline. The open house format was chosen to provide a dialog with residents on the Public Review Draft rather than a public hearing where there is limited dialog. Attendees were encourage to provide written comments to ensure that comments were not mischaracterized. Commenter Sandra Lashbrook Date Chuck Winegarden Chuck Winegarden (Identical comment also submitted by Kristina Srhmirltl 10/19/12 10/19/12 19 '0//12 Page 32 of 33 Table Notes: Plan Reference Kenai Comprehensive Plan - Public Review Draft Response to Comments September 19 - October 19, 2012 (Updated October 22, 2012) 1. Long comments have been separated into multiple cells and entered into the relevant part of the table. 2. Recommendations and major points in the comments have been bolded. 3. For some issues, a staff recommendation is provided in this draft, and additional recommendations may be provided after the planning team meets to discuss comments. 4. After the Commission decides how to address public comments, the column titled "Staff Recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission" will be changed to "Response to Comments" Page Comment Appendix C I have been told that there was a meeting "by invitation only ", that was held with business owners that was closed to the public. If this is true, it seems to me to have been a violation of the state's Open Meetings Act, and could subject the city to legal action. Staff Recommendation to Planning and Zoning Commission The meeting with local businesses was public noticed and held in a public building (Senior Center). Although it targeted the business community, anyone was welcome to attend. Commenter Gerald Brookman - email Date 10/19/12 6 Chart title says "top 3 things" but chart lists 4 things Recommend leaving text as it - the chart depicts the top three items with two items tied. Page 33 of 33 Larry Lewis - email 09/20/12 Map 5. Kenai Municipal Airport Existing Land Use Map • 2012 I I Airport Operations Aviation Related Activities Cemetary iii Commercial -Light industrial Ti Government Facilities, Non - Airport ON Institutional I-1 Lowlands MMI Parks Residential Undeveloped Uplands _'• Airport Reserve Boundary C.:: Airport Lands Acquisitions Boundary* I `A baupdary depicts historical land acquire by the airport. 'Airport I,ay -ort Plana identities Fnci, that lave been sold or leased. Data Source: 2004 tVmce f,octhill -Bry r, Map 7. Future Land Use Plan 2012 / / City of Kenai Corporate Boundary 0 O1 Legend Strawberry Rd 1 r•—..r Re Suburban Residential ▪ Rural Residential ie Mixed Use IIIP Industrial Commercial Institutional ip Parks, Recreation & Open Space Data Source: City of Kenai 0 0.5 1 2 Miles Map 8. Existing Zoning 2012 City of Kenai Corporate Boundary tzl Legend Conservation Limited Commercial Central Mixed Use Central Commercial General Commercial dr Light Industrial 41 Heavy Industrial 41 Recreation Rural Residential Rural Residential 1 41 Suburban Residential le Suburban Residential 1 Suburban Residential 2 4i Urban Residential Historic Townsite Education Strawberry Rd Data Source: City of Kenai 0 0.5 1 2 Miles Map 11. Kenai Peninsula Borough Existing Land Use (based on most current assessment) 2012 City of Kenai Corporate Boundary Kenai_Spur Hwy 0 Kenai l e z Strawberry Rd '1 Legend Residential II Commercial Industrial Institutional Agricultural Vacant � 1 1----nu' ( ( t'� �e _ ��_�� i Data Source: 9( ,rcti Peninsula Borough 0 0.5 1 2 Miles