By ARIADNE WILL
Sentinel Staff Writer
After a half hour of discussion, the Planning Commission voted 3-1 at their regular meeting Wednesday to “generally support” an ordinance that would make changes to Sitka’s short-term rental policies.
Commissioners Darrell Windsor, Katie Riley, and Stacy Mudry voted in support. Chris Spivey voted against. Wendy Alderson was absent and excused from the meeting.
The ordinance was drafted by Assembly members Kevin Knox and Kevin Mosher, who were present at the meeting to provide context about the draft ordinance.
In other business at Wednesday’s meeting the commission issued two conditional use permits for short-term rentals and approved a final plat for a minor subdivision.
The commission also had a discussion about city lands and opportunities for housing development, but no vote was taken.
Short-Term Rental Ordinance
The changes in the short-term rental ordinance proposed by Knox and Mosher include the sunsetting of short-term rental permits upon the sale or transfer of a property and a requirement that permit holders reside in Sitka at least 180 days a year.
The Sitka zoning code requires conditional use permits for short-term rentals in R-1 and related zones and R-2 and related zones. In other zones no permit is required.
The ordinance proposed by Mosher and Knox will be introduced for first reading at Tuesday’s regular Assembly meeting. The proposed effective date for the changes, if the ordinance is passed on two readings, will be Sept. 14.
Conditional Use Permits
A conditional use permit for a short-term rental was issued for a property at 2613 Halibut Point Road on a 3-1 vote, with Katie Riley opposed.
The single-family home is in the R-2 MHP multifamily and mobile home district. It was purchased by applicants Christa, Peter, and Hilke Teichmann earlier this summer.
Commissioners raised concerns about management of the property when the applicants said they are not currently Sitka residents. Prior to the vote of approval the commission added conditions requiring a local property manager when the owners are not in Sitka, and an occupancy limit of four adults and two children in the rented property.
The commission also granted a conditional use permit for a short-term rental to Eric and Brita Speck for their house at 607 Etolin Street in the R-1 single-family and duplex residential district. The permit was approved by unanimous vote.
Eric Speck told the commission that he and his wife want to rent out the house when they are out of town, usually in the summer.
The Specks’ application mentioned an apartment for inclusion in the permit. Neighbors attending the meeting asked the commission to table the permit application because an apartment does not exist on the property.
The Specks said they intend to add an apartment, but the planning department said the permit as approved covers only the house as it exists, without an apartment.
Land Development
Following up on a comment by Stacy Mudry at the commission’s Aug. 4 meeting, the Planning Commission discussed possibilities for opening up city land for housing development.
Staff agreed to look into funding options for the land development and said a report – or at least an update – will be given to the commission late this fall.
Of particular interest was land in the Kramer Avenue area that was in the beginning stages of development at the time of the 2015 landslide in which three people were killed. That development was not resumed following the slide.
Riley suggested the city investigate joining with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program for funding.
Other ideas involved working with the Sitka Community Land Trust to lobby for state and federal funding.
Under public comment, the land trust co-executive director, Randy Hughey, said that land development can’t come soon enough.
“Urgency is what I want to impart,” he said. “The housing crisis is getting worse.”
Other Business
A final plat for a minor subdivision passed by unanimous vote.
The minor subdivision results in two lots at 728 Indian River Road in the R-2 MHP multifamily and mobile home district.
Applicant Brett Haavig said he plans to build a single-family home on each of the two lots.
