By ARIADNE WILL
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly voted unanimously Tuesday night to repeal the chapter of the Sitka General Code restricting development in landslide hazard areas.
The vote was on second reading of the repeal ordinance, which was introduced and passed on first reading two weeks ago.
The provision that was repealed was adopted in 2017 as a reaction to a 2015 landslide in which three Sitkans lost their lives. It restricted development on land “identified as a moderate or high risk zone in any city geotechnical risk mapping commissioned and received by the city.”
While intended as a public safety measure, city officials and Assembly members believe it had the unintended effect of raising barriers to lending and insurance on new building and in general.
At Tuesday’s meeting, City Administrator John Leach said the repeal of Sitka General Code Chapter 20.01 doesn’t mean the city is turning a blind eye to building in unsafe areas.
He said those looking to build in identified hazard zones should survey the area, and he would like to develop a process in which those plans must be approved by the Assembly.
A process like the one Leach would like to see implemented in Sitka is already in place in Juneau.
He added that anyone with a building project in a landslide risk area is still required to go through a process that includes assessing the risks.
But Leach said he hopes the repeal of Chapter 20.01 will solve the problem of owners of property developed prior to the designation of a restricted landslide area, who might have been unable to comply with certain measures put in place with the 2017 restrictions.
“They had no choice,” Leach said. “They’re boxed out from refinancing, they’re boxed out from insurance, when really nothing has changed for them.”
Even as the Assembly expressed hope that the repeal of 20.01 will help affected property owners gain access to insurance and lending, there was some skepticism about whether it would have the intended effect.
“It will be interesting to see if this really removes the lending issue,” Assembly member Thor Christianson said. “I have a sneaking suspicion that it was being used as an excuse.”
And Leach said the repeal was just one step toward a larger goal of safe homebuilding in landslide areas.
“I would not say repealing this is the end of it,” he said. “There’s still more work to do.”
