By ARIADNE WILL
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Planning Commission unanimously approved two conditional use permits and a variance at their meeting Wednesday evening.
Commissioners also discussed horticulture and agricultural uses in Sitka – specifically how many feathered fowl can be kept on a property – and decided on how they will begin work on a tourism master plan.
Tourism Master Plan
Following a joint session with the Sitka Assembly last Tuesday, the Planning Commission and Assembly liaison Thor Christianson decided last night to find a date in early May for a special session without the Assembly.
The time and date of the session wasn’t determined, but it’s to be a venue for the commission to focus on the form and format the plan will take and when work will be done on it, among other logistical factors.
Agriculture and Horticulture
After about an hour of deliberation, members talked of beginning a process of conditional use for those who would like to keep more than five small, domestic animals living outside.
The conversation around agricultural and horticultural activities was facilitated by Planning Director Amy Ainslie in response to public comments during the commission’s review of the comprehensive plan and the commission’s interest.
Of main concern to the group was the language around property owners and domestic animals.
Sitka’s General Code says that property owners are allowed “any combination of up to five domestic dogs, cats, feathered fowl, or other small animals living outside.”
Wednesday’s discussion brought up issues with sound and smell that sometimes arise when property owners are raising livestock in their yards.
City Planner 2 Ben Mejia said that complaints regarding chickens, specifically, are not an uncommon conversation topic in the planning department.
But commissioners were hesitant to take action, since there was little new public comment, and the body was aware of diverse opinions about keeping animals such as chickens.
City staff said this includes those who feel that it would be appropriate to keep 20 chickens, and those who feel there should be a three-mile buffer between chicken coops and adjacent properties.
Regular Business
The commission approved a conditional use permit for a short-term rental to Patricia Droz, owner of zero lot lines at 1109 Edgecumbe Drive.
The property is also known as Lot 1, Baranof Estates Subdivision. It is in the R-1 single-family and duplex district.
Droz said she has lived in an adjacent zero lot line for more than 20 years and recently purchased the property at 1109. It was previously a long-term rental, but Droz said the tenants often had pets, which affected her quality of life.
Commission member Wendy Alderson asked Droz if she’d considered renting long-term to someone without pets. Droz said she has, but that she wants the flexibility to use the unit as a short-term rental.
The commission OK’d the conditional use permit, but with the stipulation that the permit will become void if either of Droz’s properties are sold.
The commission also granted a variance to Adam Chinalski, who has been developing the property at 424 Katlian Avenue for the past couple of years, he said.
The property is also known as Lot 50, Block 1 of U.S. Survey 2542 and is located in the WD waterfront district.
The variance will reduce the setbacks to Katlian Avenue and Kaagwaantaan Street from 14 feet to 10 feet, and will allow space for Chinalski to place a small dwelling unit on the property, which will eventually become a long-term rental.
An amendment to a conditional use permit held by Eric VanVeen was also passed. The pre-existing conditional use permit allows for a marijuana cultivation facility at 224 Smith Street, also known as Lot 6, Smith Street Industrial Subdivision. The amendment will approximately double the size of VanVeen’s operation.
