By ARIADNE WILL
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Planning Commission unanimously approved a zoning map amendment Wednesday night, preparing the way for the lease of 17 acres of city land to investors planning to build a tourist destination on the property.
Commissioner Darrell Windsor was absent from the meeting.
As approved by the commission, the tract at 4951 Halibut Point Road was rezoned from R-1 single-family and duplex residential to R-Recreation.
The rezoning approval came just one week before the lease of the land is to be on the Assembly agenda for possible approval.
The 20-year lease, if passed by the Assembly, will allow Shee Atiká Inc. and Adventure Sitka to develop the property as an attraction for the thousands of cruise ship visitors expected in coming years at the cruise ship dock a few miles south of the lease site.
Commissioners Katie Riley and Wendy Alderson expressed concern over passing the zoning map amendment without knowing exactly what developers have planned for the area.
Thor Christianson, the Assembly liaison to the commission, said those worries were something to be discussed at a later date.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily a slam dunk that (the property’s lease) is going to pass next week,” he said, adding that the commission will have more opportunities to “get down and dirty with the details” should the lease receive Assembly approval.
Uses that will need a conditional use permit include eating and drinking places, amusement and entertainment features, and outdoor amphitheaters. Those uses were prohibited when the property was zoned R-1, and after approving the rezoning the commission adopted a zoning text amendment that would allow those uses only with a conditional use permit.
The zoning text amendment also applies to property in the Baranof Warm Springs townsite on the east side of Baranof Island.
Several Baranof Warm Springs property owners spoke at the meeting in support of the zoning text change, which would require conditional use permits for construction of resorts, utility and public water supply facilities within the town site, which is part of the City and Borough of Sitka.
Participants representing the Baranof Property Owners Association (BPOA) said the changes are something they’ve been wanting for a while, and that they hope the zoning text amendment will allow them to participate more in changes to their community.
The commission passed the rezoning and the zoning text amendments by unanimous vote.
Other Business
In other business Wednesday, commissioners unanimously issued a conditional use permit for a short-term rental at 1206B Edgecumbe Drive in the R-1 single-family and duplex residential district. The property is owned by Mark and Hedy Hodges, who recently moved in.
Hedy Hodges told the commission the property was not a long-term rental previously, and she hopes short-term rental income will help to supplement the mortgage.
She said her in-laws will live in the unit during the summer and winter school breaks to provide childcare for her children, making long-term renting more difficult.
Commissioners also approved a variance to reduce the front setback from 10 feet to zero feet, the side setback from 9 feet to 5 feet, and the rear setback from 8 feet to zero feet at 2625 Halibut Point Road.
The property is a mobile home park located in the R-2 MHP multifamily and mobile home district. Applicant Nancy Young – who inherited the property a few years ago – said she wants to build a storage shed and a double-wide at the southern end of the lot.
The portion where she would like to build it is appropriately buffered on the three sides abutting property lines, Planning Director Amy Ainslie said.
