By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Sitka Planning Commission at tonight’s meeting will consider a request for a conditional use permit for a two-unit short-term rental at 105 Jeff Davis Street.
The item is one of only two on the agenda for the meeting that starts at 7 p.m. at Centennial Hall.
The other item is approval of an update to the Sitka Hazard Mitigation Plan.
“Hazard mitigation is any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards,” says the purpose of the plan. It covers Sitka’s plan for preparing for and responding to a number of disasters, mitigating risks and identifying actions “to reduce loss of life and property from natural hazards.”
Plans must be updated and resubmitted to FEMA for approval every five years in order to continue eligibility for the agency’s hazard mitigation assistance programs, the update says.
Sitka’s plan covers flood, earthquake, tsunami, severe weather, landslides, and other “negligible” risk of volcano eruptions, erosion, wildfire and avalanche.
The staff report says that the update “reviews the status of past mitigation actions as well as identified new priorities such as Stormwater System Repair and Upgrade, Gavan Hill Landslide Mitigation Study, Gavan Hill Landslide Mitigation Implementation, All-Hazards Public Education Campaign, Data Collection Plans and Systems, Community Emergency Response Team Development, and Improving Food Security for Vulnerable Populations.”
The Planning Commission at the meeting tonight will be asked for proposed changes to the update, and to recommend Assembly approval.
On the other item, staff is recommending approval, with conditions, of a conditional use permit for short-term rental of two apartments attached to Jennifer Corak’s residence at 105 Jeff Davis. The planning staff said key points of concern are:
– Neighborhood appears to be a combination of uses including single-family housing, a hostel on an adjacent lot, and across the street the Sitka Fine Arts Camp campus.
– The short-term rentals are in a structure housing three dwelling units.
– The handout given to the renter is expected to comply with conditions of approval, specifically regarding access, parking, quiet hours, trash management, transportation, and respect for the neighborhood.
– Short-term rentals have impacts to long-term rentals and home values, which is important to note regarding this specific proposal and STRs at large.
