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

Planning Panel OKs Short-Term Rentals

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The Sitka Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a conditional use permit for two short-term rental units in a home at 106 Finn Alley.
    The main part of the house is a two-bedroom unit, where the owners will continue to live as full-time residents.
    The two units planned for short-term rental were formerly long-term rentals. Short-term rentals by definition under the Sitka General Code are for 14 days or fewer.
    The planning department received five letters from neighbors concerned about possible increased traffic and noise with the units. They also were concerned about changing the character of the neighborhood, and taking long-term rentals off the already tight apartment market.
    The planning department originally presented the structure as a triplex, which is a nonconforming use in the Residential-1 (single family duplex district), but allowed under grandfather rights. While keeping the triplex with the long-term rentals would not be a problem, adding a conditional use for the short-term units would have required the owners to also seek another conditional use permit for the triplex.
    But after some discussion about the actual layout of the house, and a door connecting two of the units, Planning Director Mike Scarcelli determined it could actually be considered a duplex, and the discussion continued on the short-term rentals.
    In considering the letters of concern from neighbors, Scarcelli asked the four commission members to consider only the points related to the actual permit. Some of the neighbors expressed concerns about the potential for the expansion of charter businesses into the neighborhood.
    Scarcelli said he has worked previously with the owners, Brendan and Rachel Jones, on the couple’s short-term rental on the tug Adak in Eliason Harbor. The Adak started operating as a short-term rental when the harbor was zoned Waterfront. The zone has since changed to Public, and the short-term rental on the tug is a legal nonconforming use in the harbor. Scarcelli said the Joneses have done a good job in managing their short-term rental, and no complaints have been received from neighbors about impacts on the harbor neighborhood.
    Two neighbors near the Joneses’ new home testified about their concerns related to noise and traffic that could come from the new business, as well as changing the character of the neighborhood. One of the neighbors said the area has a tendency to get noisy in the morning during the summer as charter businesses arrive to start their day at nearby Crescent Harbor.
    Phil Wyman, who’s lived in the neighborhood for 40 years, said he didn’t want to see increased commercial activity – such as charter businesses – in an already busy neighborhood.
    “Most of the neighborhood doesn’t look forward to that happening,” he said. “I don’t want to see it turned commercial. ... I don’t want a precedent we have to deal with in the future.”
    He said his concerns would be alleviated with a condition added that the owners live on-site.
    Mike Trainor, on Barlow Street, expressed similar concerns about noise.
    The Joneses said they have the same concerns about traffic and noise, and that since they will live in the house they said they will be able to handle problems that arise. In discussing traffic, they said it’s been their experience very few short-term rental customers have a car.
    Planning Commission members said they understand that renting out part of their homes is needed by some people in order to afford a house in Sitka.
    “This is a way ... they can finance it for where they want to be,” commission member Dick Parmelee said. “We don’t have a lot of young people moving into town. If they have a place where they can make it work I’m all for it.”
    Parmelee said on his street there are both short term and long term rentals, and doesn’t notice an increase in traffic from either.
    Commission members suggested a review after this summer, which was added, along with a condition that the house be owner-occupied. Both conditions were approved.
    Commission member Taylor Colvin also expressed his support.
    “I think this is a great thing, it’s what Sitka needs, it’s an economic generator,” he said.
    Kevin Knox, the Assembly liaison with the planning board, said it might be a good idea to include maps in the planning packet, to show where the long- and short-term rentals are located in the neighborhood under consideration.
    The permit and conditions were approved 4-0. Chris Spivey was absent.

Downtown Parking
    In other business, Scarcelli and the commission discussed downtown parking, and the need to consider new requirements in light of the current congestion at Crescent Harbor and the Lincoln-Lake street intersection, increased use of Centennial Hall and more cruise ship traffic and visitors this summer.
    “In past discussions on creating a vibrant downtown and reducing development costs, the topic of parking has been a central part of that discussion,” the planning director wrote in a memo to the commission. “In addition, we have seen the pros and cons of the lack of parking requirements for downtown businesses within the Central Business District. More importantly, we are anticipating larger visitor loads in the next years, and we need to be proactive on this issue now.”
    Planning staff has already met with other departments to discuss the issue.
    “From that conversation, it is clear that parking is a multi-department issue and the solutions will be across numerous departments,” he wrote. “In fact, it is anticipated that the zoning code will have little to do with improving downtown parking. Instead those improvements will come from increased enforcement and other managerial policies within other departments.”
    The idea is to “come up with easy solutions that will hopefully improve parking and traffic – both vehicle and pedestrian traffic – as we prepare for the visitor season,” Scarcelli said today. It will also be helpful to know what options are off the table, he added.
    Scarcelli said he will meet with the departments affected and some community organizations – and return with a report next month.

Other Business
    On other items, the commission:
    – approved a variance request for 610 Biorka St., for a rear setback from 10 feet to 5 feet to build an accessory dwelling unit. The owners of record are Adam and Kris Chinalski. The item was postponed at the last meeting in order for the electric department to make changes to preserve an access and utility easement.
    – approved a minor subdivision request to create two lots out of the one at 218 Shotgun Alley. The property is owned by Steven Reifenstuhl and Andrea Thomas. More information will be required on flagging and a utility plan when the item comes back for final approval.
    – approved a conditional use permit major amendment for the expansion of a marijuana cultivation facility at the Sawmill Creek Plaza, 1321 Sawmill Creek Road. The current facility occupies Units O and P, and the request would add Units L, M, and N. The request was filed by Northern Lights Indoor Gardens LLC, owned by Micah Miller and Michael Daly.
    Scarcelli said more conditions were added, including a requirement for a more specific plan for security, odor control and waste management.
    – approved a nonconforming use permit request by the Jehovah’s Witness congregation for the relocation of a religious facility on property already used as a religious facility at 517 and 519 Monastery Street. Scarcelli said the church officials plan to take down the existing building and build a new one with a different orientation.
    – approved a conditional use permit for a short-term rental at 1960 Halibut Point Road, by owners Richard and Marie Wichman. Scarcelli said staff expressed concerns about impacts, which will be worked out among neighbors.


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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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