By HENRY COLT
Sentinel Staff Writer
Citing chassis-related concerns, the Assembly voted Tuesday evening to postpone until Feb. 11 its decision on whether to pass building and zoning code amendments that would make tiny homes a viable living option in Sitka.
“I believe the City of Sitka would be putting itself in a highly liable position by adopting any regulations regarding a tiny home on a chassis,” wrote Peter Jurczak, a former state mechanical inspector, in a Jan. 27 email to the Assembly. “There are currently no national codes addressing this type of housing such as the International Code Council, National Fire Protection Association, or HUD. If there is a fatality or accident associated with this type of construction the City of Sitka will be exposing themselves to liability by going against these national standards.”
“Tiny homes” are a national trend, and the proposed city code amendments would define a tiny home as having less than 400 square feet of floor space, excluding lofts. Most local codes require tiny homes to be built on a wheeled chassis.
Scott Brylinski, special projects manager with the planning department, acknowledged there is “not a precedent elsewhere” as far as the legal classification of tiny homes on wheeled chassis, but also said, “if the idea is to provide affordable housing options, but not to allow them on chassis, we’re kind of cutting (people) off at the knees as far as the ability to use these small homes as I think people want to use them.”
Joe Weyhmiller stands on the deck of a Shennett Street tiny house in December. (Sentinel Photo)
Assembly member Thor Christianson said, “my only real concern is what is a chassis – I think if you have a really good definition of a chassis, I don’t really have a problem.”
“It seems to me like there are quite a few questions that can’t necessarily be answered in this forum on first read, Bevan said of Jurczak’s letter.
Richard Wein wondered about the potential benefit of a second reading by the planning commission – “to see if things needed to be buffed.”
Kevin Mosher reminded the Assembly of the potential impact of tiny homes in Sitka: “We’re trying to do a variety of things that will help create some sort of affordable housing that’s not subsidized, and that people can actually afford,” Mosher said. “The people growing up and starting a life today are facing a new reality – a reality that’s a lot different than when a lot of us started, so I think it behooves us to try our best.”
He added, “I wish we could have voted to support it now, but I don’t want to take a vote if we’re not going to pass it.”
Mayor Gary Paxton encouraged the Assembly to let planning department staff decide whether the proposed building and zoning amendments will need to go back to the planning commission.
“The end game here is to do this in a way that’s cooperative, creates trust with the community, and gets the right kind of guidance,” Paxton said. “Let’s go back, and, with Hugh’s leadership, digest what you heard tonight and come back (on Feb. 11).”
The Assembly voted 6-0 to postpone voting on the tiny home amendments until February.
