By HENRY COLT
Sentinel Staff Writer
After three first readings, an ordinance that would make tiny homes a viable living option in Sitka passed Tuesday night – but, per protocol, will come back to the Assembly March 10 for public hearing and second reading.
On the initial first reading, Jan. 28, the Assembly sent the ordinance back to the planning department for clarification on the structural requirements for the wheeled chassis on which many tiny homes are built.
On the second first reading, Feb. 11, the Assembly eliminated a section from the ordinance that dealt with allowable building materials specific to tiny homes. This qualified as a “substantive change,” which necessitated the third first reading.
City Planning Director Amy Ainslie said the ordinance in its current form sparked a phone call from the Tiny Home Industry Association, a pro-tiny-home nonprofit whose slogan is “Making Tiny Possible.” She said the association had reviewed the Sitka ordinance on the city’s website.
“They contacted us to tell us how impressed they were with this ordinance, that they thought it was the most well-written one regarding tiny houses being folded into a local ordinance, and that they thought it could be a nationwide model,” Ainslie told the Assembly at Tuesday night’s meeting. “I share that in part to credit how much work Scott (Brylinsky) has done on this.”
Still, others disagreed.
Assembly member Valorie Nelson read aloud a section of an email she’d received from Peter Jurczak, a former state mechanical inspector.
“The city of Sitka is piecing together a terribly written ordinance that is full of holes,” she said, quoting the email. “They have the tools already to build legal tiny homes according to IRC and IBC ... I’m afraid this could impact BIHA (Baranof Island Housing Authority) and STA (Sitka Tribe of Alaska) getting grants for affordable housing.”
After reading from Jurczak’s email, Nelson said, “I’m not against trying to do things that make affordable housing; I’m against writing bad laws that we shouldn’t be passing when we already have tiny home ordinances or tiny home capability in our code.”
Three members of the public went before the Assembly to comment on the issue.
Andrew Thoms and Tamara Kyle were in favor of the ordinance, but Connor Nelson expressed concern that the new ordinance would override a city-adopted ordinance that he says requires all homes in Sitka to meet U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development building standards.
“If you want me to show you how to build a tiny home, I’ll do that,” he added.
After hearing from the public, the Assembly discussed the ordinance.
“I’m going to vote yes on this,” said Kevin Mosher. “I know it’s not perfect, but it’s a good start to our housing issues. I appreciate the testimony of Mr. Nelson.”
The vote was 6-1 to approve the measure on first reading, with Kevin Mosher, Thor Christianson, Gary Paxton, Richard Wein, Steven Eisenbeisz and Kevin Knox in favor, and Valorie Nelson against.
On March 10, the ordinance will be back before the Assembly for public hearing and a vote on final approval. If it passes then, it will become part of the city code of ordinances.
