2007-05-16 Regular Meeting
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING I MAY 16, 2007
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by
CHAIR KING on May 16, 2007 in the Borough Assembly Chambers.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners
Present Excused
Absent Others Present
Dave King - Chair
Gary Carver
Brent Watkins
Casey J anz
Bill Kersch
Gary Juenger
Vacant
x
X
X
X
X
Duane Dvorak, Acting Director
Community Development Dept.
Sheila Smith, Secretary
Community Development Dept.
x
A quorum was established.
COMMISSIONER CARVER MOVED TO EXCUSE COMMISSIONER JUENGER. The
motion was SECONDED by COMMISSIONER WATKINS, and it CARRIED by unanimous
voice vote.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
COMMISSIONER JANZ MOVED TO APPROVE the agenda. The motion was SECONDED
by COMMISSIONER WATKINS, and it CARRIED by unanimous voice vote.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
COMMISSIONER WATKINS MOVED TO APPROVE the April 18, 2007 P&Z minutes as
submitted. COMMISSIONER JANZ SECONDED the motion, and it CARRIED by unanimous
voice vote.
COMMISSIONER KERSCH MOVED TO APPROVE the Continued from April 18, 2007 on
May 7,2007 P&Z minutes. The motion was SECONDED by COMMISSIONER WATKINS,
and it CARRIED by unanimous voice vote.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS AND APPEARANCE REQUESTS
David Thorson spoke on behalf of Lee Russell and requested the commission reconsider their
decision.
Randall Borgeman requested the commission grant the Variance.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Case S07-013. Request preliminary approval, according to KIBC 16.40, to allow the replat of
the remainder of Lots 1 and 2, Block 2, Southeast Addition No.2, U.S. Survey 2910 A&B,
creating Lots lA and 2A, Block 2, Southeast Addition No.2, U.S. Survey 2910 A&B.
May 16, 2007
P & Z Commission Meeting Minutes
Page 1 of5
Dvorak reported Lot 1 is currently vacant and the petitioners have provided a slight boundary
shift to convey a 20 foot swath to Lot 2. The land transfer is coming from Lot 1 to Lot 2 in this
subdivision. There is also a 5 foot utility easement to be created on the other side of the property.
There is still adequate room to build a reasonable single family dwelling. Staff recommends
approval of this request.
COMMISSIONER JANZ MOVED TO GRANT preliminary approval of the replat of the
remainder of Lots 1 and 2, Block 2, Southeast Addition No.2, U.S. Survey 2910 A&B, creating
Lots 1A and 2A, Block 2, Southeast Addition No.2, U.S. Survey 2910 A&B, and to adopt the
findings in that staff report as "Findings of Fact" for case S07-013. COMMISSIONER
WATKINS SECONDED the motion.
Regular session closed:
Public hearing open:
Public hearing closed:
Regular session open:
Brief discussion regarding the steep cliff.
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. This plat meets the minimum standards of survey accuracy and proper preparation of plats
required in Title 16 of the Borough Code.
2. This plat meets all the requirements of Title 17 of the Borough Code.
3. This plat provides a subdivision of land that is consistent with adopted Borough plans for this
area.
The question was called, and it CARRIED 5-0.
B) Case 07-027. Request a Tax Foreclosure Property Review.
Staff reported 10 parcels were foreclosed upon due to non-payment of property taxes. The code
requires them to be reviewed upon acquisition for whether or not there is public need for these
parcels. If the commission finds no public need then those parcels can be disposed of in order to
recoup for the taxes. Staff has reviewed these parcels and recommends they be declared not to be
of public need and offered at a future KIB land sale.
COMMISSIONER CARVER MOVED to recommend to the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly
that the following ten (10) tax-foreclosed parcels be declared not to be of "public need" and be
offered at a future KIB land sale:
KODIAK URBAN AREA & ROAD SYSTEM
Legal Description Location Zoning Use
A!eutian Homes Bk 1 912 Oak Ave. R-l SFR
Lt 24B
Mtn View 2na 2566 Oevil's Prong RR -1 VAC
Bk 4 Lt 11
Lakeside 1 st 2345 Beaver Lake Dr R-2 ZZL
Bk 1 Lt 10A
Russell Est 3rd 1820A Larch St. R-3 COO
May 16, 2007
P & Z Commission Meeting Minutes
Page 2 of5
Bk 2 Lt 19A-2
ATS 899 22569 Chiniak Hwy CN VAC
Middle Bay Cannery
KODIAK ISLAND VILLAGES:
Legal Description Location Zoning Use
Old Harbor TR F Third Ave R-1 SFR
Bk 9 Lt 1
Old Harbor TR F Hill St. R-1 SFR
B k 3A Lt 6A
Akhiok Bk 11 A Lt 3A Nhn Akhiok R-1 SFR
KODIAK ISLAND REMOTE:
Legal Description Location Zoning Use
T31S R29W Uyak Bay C - Con VAC
TL 11 03
T30S R29W Larsen Bay C - Con Lodge
TL 3005
COMMISSIONER KERSCH SECONDED the motion.
Regular session closed:
Public hearing opened:
Public hearing closed:
Regular session opened:
The question was called, and it CARRIED 5-0.
OLD BUSINESS
A) Adopt "Findings of Fact" for Case 07-020
Dvorak reported this case was denied at the April 18th regular meeting, and at that time the
commission deferred adopting Findings of Fact until the next regular meeting. The
commissioner's have contacted him individually with their reasons of why they voted the way
they did. Staff has aggregated those comments into a revised set of findings. In order to grant a
Variance the commission has to find all six required standards have been met. After aggregating
the findings that were conveyed to staff, staff found that at least four of them appears to have not
been met, particularly 1, 2, 3, and 5. It is essential the commission adopts findings whenever it
makes a decision.
Discussion of procedures
COMMISSIONER JANZ MOVED to adopt the findings contained in the memorandum
dated May 16, 2007 as "Findings of Fact" in support of the denial of a variance for Case
07-020. COMMISSIONER CARVER SECONDED the motion.
The commission discussed each Finding of Fact.
May 16, 2007
P & Z Commission Meeting Minutes
Page 3 of5
FINDINGS OF FACT
17.66.050 A.1.Exceptional physical circumstances or conditions applicable to the property or
intended use of development, which generally do not apply to other properties in the same land
use district.
There are no physical circumstances applicable to the property, which does not apply generally to
other lots in the R-2 Two Family Residential Zoning District.
The conditional development restrictions placed on this property during the subdivision process
did not result in an inequitable burden on this parcel. The petitioner submitted a zoning
compliance permit demonstrating that a confonning residential structure could be located on the
property without need of a variance.
17.66.050 A.2.Strict application of the zoning ordinances would result in practical difficulties or
unnecessary hardships.
Strict application of the zoning ordinances, as currently applied, would relieve the property of the
25-foot minimum setback requirement per Plat Note No.1 of Plat 96-19. This requirement was
placed on the plat to ensure a certain degree of building separation on flag lots. Based on the
zoning compliance submitted for this site, it did not appear at the outset of construction that the
strict application of the zoning ordinance would result in practical difficulties or unnecessary
hardships.
17.66.050 A.3.The granting of the variance will not result in material damages or preiudice to
other properties in the vicinity nor be detrimental to the public's health, safety and welfare.
Based upon the written submissions and oral testimony of the adjoining property owner located
in front of the subject parcel, the Commission finds that the granting of the variance would result
in material damage to other properties in the vicinity of the requested variance.
17.66.050 A.4.The granting of the variance will not be contrary to the obiectives of the
Comprehensive Plan.
The Comprehensive Plan is a general policy guide, which does not address site-specific standards
such as setbacks.
17.66.050 A.5.That actions of the applicant did not cause special conditions or financial hardship
from which relief is being sought by the variance.
The intent of the KIB variance standards, and the applicable Alaska Statutes which form their
basis, is to require the adjudication of variance requests before the property owner undertakes
construction activity and significant investments.
In this case, the petitioner filed a zoning compliance permit indicating that a conforming
residential structure could be placed on the site. The fact that the builder either erred or
deliberately violated the setback by building over the designated setback line does not in and of
itself justify a variance in this case. The purpose of the variance process is intended to grant
relief from practical difficulties and unnecessary hardships arising from the land and strict
interpretation of the code. The variance procedure is not intended to grant relief from
construction errors or deliberate attempts to circumvent the reasonable development standards of
the community.
17.66.050 A.6.That the granting of the variance will not permit a prohibited land use in the
district involved.
May 16, 2007
P & Z Commission Meeting Minutes
Page 4 of 5
The granting of the variance will not permit a prohibited land use in the R-2 Two Family
Residential Zoning District.
The question was called, and it CARRIED 5-0.
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
COMMUNICA TIONS
COMMISSIONER CARVER MOVED TO ACCEPT communications as submitted. The
motion was SECONDED by COMMISSIONER JANZ, and it CARRIED by unanimous voice
vote.
REPORTS
COMMISSIONER CARVER MOVED to acknowledge receipt of the reports.
COMMISSIONER WATKINS SECONDED the motion, and it CARRIED by unanimous voice
vote.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
There were no audience comments.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
COMMISSIONER WATKINS stated we're still looking for someone who lives in the city to fill
the seat on the commission.
ADJOURNMENT
COMMISSIONER JANZ MOVED TO ADJOURN. The motion was SECONDED by
COMMISSIONER KERSCH, and it CARRIED by unanimous voice vote.
CHAIR KING ADJOURNED the regular meeting at 8:08 p.m.
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
By:
~e.
ATTEST
By: ~f>~Oo. On~
Sheila Smith, Secretary
Community Development Department
DATE APPROVED: June 20, 2007
May 16, 2007
P & Z Commission Meeting Minutes
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