LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

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Daily Sitka Sentinel

Zoning Issue Delays Plat on Alice Island

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

The Planning Commission postponed action on a preliminary plat for an 11-lot subdivision on Alice Island Tuesday in order to give the planning staff time to “reconcile harmony of use” with owners of existing lots on the island.

Shee Atika Holdings Alice Island LLC had proposed the 11-lot subdivision on the 2.5-acre parcel on the inside of the Alice Loop road. Currently, the property is zoned Waterfront, which is similar to Industrial.

Shee Atika Holdings has previously sold lots around the outside of the road for high-end residential development. That property is also zoned Waterfront, but Shee Atika placed restrictive covenants on the deeds forbidding many of the commercial and industrial uses that are allowed in the Waterfront zone.

None of the lots in the proposed new subdivision has waterfront exposure, but Shee Atika has stated its opposition to having the property rezoned.

Owners of existing Alice Island lots have asked the Planning Commission to consider rezoning the area of the new 11-lot subdivision, or placing other restrictions on it to prevent development incompatible with the residential character of the neighborhood, but that request was turned down in the past. 

Commission members agreed that it was worth considering action to prevent such Waterfront uses as a fish processing plant or other industrial uses allowed in Waterfront.

Debra Pohlman agreed. “It would be nice to consider (something) that allays the concerns while still moving forward,” she said. She said she could see where industrial activities or unsightly uses of the adjacent property – like boat storage – would affect property values in the neighborhood.

Ken Cameron, president and CEO of Shee Atika Inc., said he didn’t see a problem with the current zoning but understood that residents were concerned.

“I’m not sure we’re fixing something and we may be making things worse,” he said.

Cameron said he hasn’t had time to talk to his staff about alternatives for changing the designation for the property.  

From the public, one of the Alice Island residents, Grace Brooks, said she and her neighbors would like the residential character preserved.

Randy Hughey proposed directing planning staff to work with Shee Atika on proposals to preserve the neighborhood as residential.

Pohlman said she did see the benefit of keeping options open to enhance the neighborhood by allowing other activities, such as restaurants and services, which would not be allowed if the neighborhood were entirely residential.

“I do understand the desire to keep it waterfront,” she said.

In other business, the commission completed the annual review of a barbecue food cart at 242 Katlian Street. The owner, Karen Lucas, has a conditional use permit to operate a non-motorized food cart on the parcel.

Dan Stockel, who owns the residential and commercial building next door, said he believes the manager, Gary May, is running a good operation, but he has concerns about smoke and parking associated with the business.

Planning Commission members said they didn’t want to focus on parking since it isn’t required in the Central Business District, but they did want smoke addressed, since it was in the conditional use permit.

May said he is doing his best to bring smoke under control, but didn’t believe his operation created any more smoke problems than smoke from residential wood stoves.

“Is there a better way to lessen the smoke while still barbecuing?” asked Pohlman. She said there is a difference between restaurants in the neighborhood and May’s operation, which has a conditional use permit.

“It’s not the same thing. Something to mitigate the smoke needs to be done to make things cohesive in the neighborhood,” she said.

Senior Planner Mike Scarcelli said he would be happy to talk to May about options for controlling smoke, although May said he believes he may not be able to afford the extra expense.

“I’m trying to take care of it,” he told the commission.

Other business

In other action, the panel:

– voted 3-0 on a variance for Randy Hughey to reduce the side setback from 8 to 3 feet for a shed Hughey plans to move at 220 Lakeview Drive. Hughey, a member of the commission, abstained from voting on the variance.

– voted 4-0 on a variance for Aaron and Emily Routon reducing a front setback from 20 to 15 feet and side setback from 8 to 6 feet at 205 Crabapple Drive. They plan to expand their house.

– voted 4-0 to give a variance to Mike and Taylor Vieira to reduce a front setback from 20 to 12 feet to build an accessory dwelling unit at 312 Eliason Loop, and approved a conditional use permit for the ADU. Both the house and the ADU function as two separate lots, because each will be served by its own driveway, on either side of the lot, commission members pointed out.

Neighbor Bill Hughes expressed concern about increasing the density of the neighborhood if everyone along that section of Eliason Loop builds an ADU on their property, but commission members said they didn’t see much danger given the size of the lots, and positioning of the homes.

Commission members also stated their general support of ADUs in town, as a way of increasing the availability of housing.

“It’s exactly what we envisioned when we set up ADUs,” Darrell Windsor said.

The panel also discussed recognizing the need for affordable housing in a review of the land use, housing and economic development sections of the comprehensive plan. 

Under reports, Planner 1 Samantha Pierson said the “meetings in a box” concept has gone over well, with 20 to 30 boxes already picked up by residents volunteering to host their own public meetings on suggestions for the Comprehensive Plan.

 

 

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

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