♪ >> Okay. We will call the August 11th meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission to order. please have the roll call. Randy Weber. Jerad Gardner. Here. Stop Polis Jeff Iran here, Andrea Spinelli here. Greg Strike here. Jim Winchester, ready Christian is excused. Absentee of corn. Okay. There are no minutes to approve. >> commissioners have any disclosures. Commissioner Stripe, thank you and threw the chair it possible possible conflict. But you have to make that case case. Number 2025, 0, 0, 1, 9, This is for rezoning plant and the request. I do live in an adjoining subdivision to this area. But I will note that I did not receive any public notice in regards to this meeting. Therefore, I what's going on outside the distance requirement. But I want to put that forth to the commissioners. See any conflict there. Anybody else? Has anything to. If anybody disagrees, they can make a motion to. To consider it. But otherwise, I would direct you to. Participate. Any other disclosures. seeing none. We will move on. We have no items on the consent agenda for approval, correct? And that will take us to Jeanne public hearings. And I will read. The procedures by which the public may speak the commission at its meetings are. One after staff presentation is completed on public hearing items. The chair will ask for public testimony on the issue. Persons who wish to testify will follow time limits establishing the commission rules of procedure. Petitioners, including his or her representatives, will receive 10 minutes. Part of this time may be reserved for battle. Representatives of groups Community Council's PT Idzik Center of oversee five-minute individuals will receive 3 minutes. When your testimony is complete. You may be asked questions by the commission. You may only testify once on any issue in question by the commission and the party of interest wishing to appeal show first file with the planning director within 7 days of the commission's decision made on the record a written notice of intent to appeal in accordance with AMC. 21. 0, 3, 0, 5, commission. Recommendations to the Anchorage Assembly are not appealable following approval of the written findings of fact and decision any party of interest may within 20 days fallen appeal by filing a notice of appeal and paying the appeal fee and deposit in accordance with 21. 0, 3, 0, 5, 0, the notice of appeal must be filed with the planning director on a form prescribed by the municipality. If the appellant is not the applicant, the appellants notice of appeals shall include proof of service on the applicant. But that we will move to case 2025. Dash 0, 0, 1, 9, may be please have staff presentation. Thank you, Mr. Chair the property owners requesting to rezone approximately 5 acres of land from our one. >> And our 2, 2, BR 3 district. These 7 parcels of land are all undeveloped. Approval of rezoning will get all the property into the same zoning district, Dr 3 and is necessary to effectuate the recording of the the final plat of the properties into one tract of land. Page's 34 38. 35 of your packet. I have a public comments as well as a supplemental packet that has public comments received after the staff packet was finalized. State municipal reviewing agencies have no objection to the rezone. proposed are 3 district is compatible with surrounding land uses the site borders townhouses to the South. 2 family home to that West and single family home neighborhood to the east across Lake Otis and then to the north. It's the Chester Creek Greenbelt. Anchorage, 2040 land use plan map identifies this site has compact mix residential, medium and the primary implementing zoning district of that land use designation is the are 3 district. The request before us. There are people mover public transit routes on both northern lights East 15th Avenue. The site is west of Lake Otis Parkway, which is a class 3 major arterial south of East 24th Avenue which local road. The department is recommending approval of the applicant's request to rezone are 3 and enclosed draft assembly ordinance for the rezoning on page 7 of your pocket. I'd be happy to answer any questions. And the petitioners here as well to make a presentation. Thank you. You are there any questions for staff? >> Seeing none. Commissioner Polis. >> Is Lake Otis Dot on road. But this location, it is right. >> I believe that it But I think Lake Otis, all dot until you get very far south. Near around like Huffman. But time that's my sense of it. I think that's one more question. Yeah, our 3 can you remind me of allowed uses are multi-use development get to do my homework. This depth on this one on. Can you remind me that what's allowed nursery? >> Yes. Single family to family. family detached, single-family attached. Multifamily housing is allowed. There's a limit how many townhouses in a row you can have. So just try and regulate through the size of the building. But it is that multi-family residential zoning district that allows a wide variety residential uses and some community uses residential. Only though case, correct? Okay. Thank you. Commissioner Stripe. Yes, thank you into the chair in regards to density, the current are one and our 2 m zoning. You did mention 5 acres. I'm seeing 2, and a quarter acre. >> Are we looking at 5 or 2 and a half or 2? >> Threw the Mr. Strike oh, yeah. >> There's an error on Page one saying that it's a the site encourages 2 and a quarter All the properties together are 4.9, 3 acres. So at 5 acres with the higher density level of and the show on Page 2.40, housing up to 40 housing units. So 40 housing units times 5. We looking at the possibility of 200 units allowable under this rezoning. That correct? >> I don't have that. I'm not calculator, but yeah, it's it's a it's a medium density residential district, correct? >> District allows 15 to 40 and just taking the higher limit. Cherry 40 times, 5 acres, 200 unit. staff take into consideration the bill. This is a one-way street and out no other real exits. When the when you look at the approval process. looking at the density and the number traffic flow that might take place, which also known as significant number of the comments that we've seen in the package. that the traffic department had no objection to the rezoning. I could point to that page. >> 44 traffic engineering has no objection to approval of this rezone this is just about you know what zoning long but apply to the land. It would be the are 3. It does not determine you with the property be used weather will be developed or what it will be developed with. there are site constraints. That time. Certainly they will not be granted driveway and a lake Otis on, that's highly unlikely right? >> So their access will be to 24th. There is 2 pagara fee road building or driveways. It gets expensive. So they'll be constraints. I guess the thing I leave you with is the site's within building safety police fire parks, recreation areas building permit will be required. Both Lake Otis and East 24th. They're built to municipal standards. It said 24th is a two-way street. It is a dead end. As you say but the traffic engineer when when and if they building plans, we'll review those and can the requirement for a traffic impact. Analysis at any time during the process. So that is to say that they don't they're showing us any development plans. I don't believe they have a new development plans. But when those do that could reduce the number all units allowed to be developed, understood and appreciate Just have to take a look at what a developer would what he's entitled to pursue under the current under the change in the zoning and also at the end of that street, I believe it is a single family home or 2. Yeah, I think it's just one single family home with maybe shed or something with what a large shed maybe. What's a large home. Mainly some bat. Threw the chair. Just to answer the question from earlier Lake Otis in that area is owned by the municipality. >> Thank you. Any other questions for staff? May we please have the petitioners presentation? >> Did you not say earlier the public hearing people would talk first and then I would talk okay. No, I didn't say that. If I did, I apologize because correct. >> petition or go first. But you do have. >> 10 minutes. I think what I >> And you can reserve some time for rebuttal if you're right. >> Hi, my name is Ron Thompson with school permitting and engineering. The owner of the property is the Joe Lock the state. Everyone probably knows Joe passed away. The family is looking to move this property, not develop the property, but make it available. That is in the form that. Someone would like to purchase it's been our it's been kind of dual zone for a little while. The only way to make this work. To be able to rezone was to combine the 2 together and break the the 2 apart. Obviously almost half a lot in the back is. Behind what the municipality installed as a drainage I would say underground drainage kind of like a curtain drained caught and moved and turned into the creek. So I mean, they can't be fully developed on the entire parcel. Almost half of it is subject to distances away from the we do have a I think they mentioned that there is a reply. The replied has been filed. And Ben, to the point where it's almost at the end here, basically you can't replant till the rezoning is the same. So to reply to it, it takes the rezone to take place. In this man. Are the owners took a look and worked with me and saw that in the 2040 plan that calls for the density housing. Therefore, it's only zoning without having to change the 2040 plan map. We believe that the the amount of traffic we met with the city. We met with the community Council only seen in the last couple days. A couple of e-mails that with regard to comments against, I would just say that comments against. Obviously most of those have to do with items that will be addressed during any development of whatever development takes place. We think that that left for that part. But we wanted to make this rezone match the municipalities rezoning plan and therefore it will make the property much easier to possibly. have someone take a look at it and take it off the hands. Obviously the Locke family is is ready to let the property go and they feel that this is the the best way to be able to move the property and in the manner that the municipality wanted us to go to. And we've tried to meet everything. With association to total. 21, the planning requested in our. In our PRE application process. So. I don't think there's a whole lot more needed to be said. It's in the in the packet. This is not about development. We think the questions and concerns that are out there have to do with development and and that will come up at the time that someone develops this time. We're just talking about rezoning and then being able to combine the lot lines which make this property much more functional and be able to to have the ability to move forward in the future. So without all reserve the rest my time at the end, thank you. >> Thank you. You have 6 minutes. Any questions for the petitioner? I questions. Thank you. Anybody from the public wishing to testify, please step forward State. Your name. Let us know if you're speaking on behalf of yourself or a group. >> Mr. Chairman members of the Commission, my name is Henry Penny. Last name is PE. And then he why I live. A 2091 should drive, which is and which side East joining the property to the south. And lived there for over 20 years. As something little bit of history, a little bit disclosure. I also served on the planning board from 1994 2000 and on this commission from 20, 0, 1, to 2003 and have chaired both organizations born and raised here in Anchorage, licensed real estate broker for over 30 years. And I've known the petitioner in their family for over 40 I understand that this property is going to be developed. It will be the question is how it gets developed and their 2 concerns. I have. First of all, the comp plan has already to find our think that the rezone 2 or 3. Under the current density with the current Platt. We're talking 29 calling units. Once it's rezone and by the way, the it was a short planned action that was approved by the planning board on the 21st of July. And so that short flat, too combine all the property lines come to to bake hate the property lines one parcel was approved on the 21st subject to resolution of this matter. some of my comments were would be better reserved for the planned action. But we didn't have an opportunity because a short doesn't require a public hearing. 2 concerns. One is the density. The proposed and city will take as commissioner strike pointed out 197 units possible Lake Otis. And 24th 24th that ends on 2 out it intersects like Otis, it's at the bottom of the valley right there near Chester Creek between northern Lights East 20th, there's no way to Signalized intersection because it's at the bottom of the hill and you have signals at 20th and northern lights. I guess I'm going to run out of time here. Stability. The s**** is the other issue. I've talked with residents who have lived in Woodside East for over 30 years and at one time that used to be swamped down there for lack of a better term. Staff noted there education on the on on on the s**** and on the petition site itself that wouldn't that didn't exist 30 years ago until they put that storm drain essentially drained the property. The concern is stability. The s****. And so what would like the commission to consider is a special imitation, putting a 50 foot development setback along the toe of the s**** to do couple things. One maintain stability of the s**** and it would also maintain the tree structure. And consequently, offer from the higher density residential property down below. So we'd have a visual buffer from the trees that have grown up over the period of time. there any questions for the question from Commissioner Strike? >> interest to, you know, talk about the density. Did you want elaborate further on the density? 197 units on >> 4.9 acres is. Intense. And and again, our concern is. Accessing traffic off 24th onto Lake Otis, there's there's no way the traffic engineers going to allow for that kind density on the because it's it's two-lane roads, 4 lanes, no turn pockets. The right of way isn't wide enough. And staff is correct. That is a municipal right away because Woodside East, the fence along the eastern boundary of our property is actually owned by the municipality and they're going to be replacing that chance later on this year because it's deteriorated so badly. >> Thank you. And in regards to the special limitation that you mentioned, I think reserve that to the petitioner to see. I want to know their feelings any any type of special limitations that might be placed. Thank you. it makes sense. just to me to be. >> A viable way to preserve the preserve the s****. >> And it doesn't really impact the developable area of the property I fully support him a real estate broker. support developing the property, but we just need to do it right. It's bat. >> Threw the chair. If remind the commission that special limitations are no longer tools that commission can by code. >> Anybody else wishing to testify on this matter. Please step forward. >> We're going last as I just answered. But does cause to the chair of money is done. Skewers. You know, it's bill that Sku do U.S. Thank you. I lived in the closest unit to the bluff that we're talking about. Dash walks But this up before for single-family dwellings. And that was either whatever happened. But Bill Jones and D*** Pope with my neighbors. And we all built. At the same time we bought the units for men called on I don't know if he was a partner of Mr. Ashlock or he was working for him. We bought the units they were promised nothing be built in front of us. When I first built by unit was 40 years ago in 1984, started building. It. I could a bounce QB and all of downtown Wilson said the vegetation is going up. We had a little problem settling with our 4 units, the building's tore units. And we had a temper ation our driveway. So we all we feel the driveways. Since then, more vegetation is going up back there. And that's has stabilized that that area. And it just seems to me that that area, if at one time was wetland and it has sometimes I think it still is because I used to be worried about a big back there. But green back there. And the stream kind of runs back there. That area to me should be more and more like a green belt or a wetlands area because the moves come down from the mountains when snow is deep and we get most of backyards all the time. It's just the same look like a fitting place to put it. And like I said, we were promised we built there. Nothing that would be built on property. All the people I'm talking about all past now, I'm probably the only existing person on the bluff. That's a real honor. But I'm just against this. This thing going through because we were against it before. And the engineering department said it wasn't that ago. It was unsafe. I don't know what's changed. But anyway, that's what I have to say about that. I see no questions. >> Commissioner, plus, have you read the GEO Tech reports in the packet? I could. I can't read right now. Okay. I can pick up use out. Magnified glass watching my Ok? Well, yeah, it's a very thing. I don't know. We had some engineers back and put pope and believe and Jones word. general contractors and they what? And at that time fought it. I'm sure there's documentation. somewhere back archives about what happened back in that time, just saying that you know, there's a whole lot of people they put that crazy about him for different reasons. But I just don't think that land, especially when you look at the density, what they're talking about, putting more. More people and that that peaceful and all of Woodside East. Which is probably twice the size. That's more question >> what's does anyone know like the s****? But you guys are talking about like percentage wise is a 2 to 1, 3, to one. What are we talking about? The slow? do. I do about the steepest grade. In fact. >> I had to cut the top of fight often some people go by. They return might pick it up. Now they're grabbing a hold pulling the whole offense back. It's that close to the thing to that. We were the last 4 units built in Woodside and we all bought of the 3 of us with we all ourselves. We got into sticks up in whole inside the duct. Another one on the on the floor and was a doctor. And I don't know he probably had his contract that out. But I mean, it's it's it's pretty steep if you would walk by my house. Back behind my place. It's pretty tempting not to grab the fence. It's not close. And note, but but if they get it, we don't know. It's it's let's put it this way. Like I said, it's much sturdier than it used to be. >> Because started. Recess From the driveways But now it's about a quarter of an inch that's probably just wreckage. Thank you. Thank you for your time. Seeing no further questions. I'm sorry. Yeah. Anybody else wishing to testify, please step forward. State your name for the record. >> Diana Bertsch be you AR Ch. I just want to make it kind of clear. I heard and some of the earlier comments that there hadn't been any maybe written comments to the commissioners about this property. I live at 20 to 11 sort us, which is overlooking. That's right in the middle overlooking this bluff. And I have lived here since 1950, and I've lived in Woodside East since 2017 and they're we did have a home owner's meeting. We had a little group get together, probably 15 of us attended the Community Council meeting and we have, although I don't think our H.O.A. president could make it tonight. It's important to note that there were several of us that have met to talk and worry about this rezoning and the fact that there's standing water always at the bottom of this blog and kinda kind of threw out their spots where there's been little medium-sized ponds that he's just standing water. And that blast is not very stable. We certainly don't wander down there. And one of the units I know she has had. The bluff right next to her where the Green Belt part is that has sloughed off into crawl space. So there's real concern for the stability of the ground if they start building and re doing big things down there and the density, of course, from 24th onto Lake Otis. It's hard imagine how that would work. And I know there are a couple of dot. Highway transitions spots in the works. Part of the What is it? Seward Highway the Chester Creek, Alternative Highway. That's one of those options. Is kinda right through that area. Again. So and there are several people that are concerned and that we have met about it and talked and I'm sorry, we weren't all here in force tonight. Thanks for your time. >> Anybody else wishing testify, please step forward. My name is Terry Jackson. I love twenty-twenty or 2075. Some pretty drive. I'm a neighbor of Mr. Penny Sayre there for 20 years or more. My concern is the traffic I've been down there in that area and 20th Street recreated down there in the bike around. >> Since this came up, I trapped the property just a little bit to see what's going on. >> It stood as a quarter of that. 24th there he called us watching the cars whipping by looking at the sidewalk in, course, gone up and down an lake Otis to for years and the winner. And it turns into you lose half a lien with the snow. Every winter when sound there that sidewalk, it's buried every time it snows you're putting hundreds units down there. Were the kids going to get to school? going to go up to when we're in the elementary school up there. It's going to require bus. bus is going after now. Lake Otis make a left turn in a spot. There's no left turn Harry to go. It's gonna go down that street. That dead-ends. It's got to make a U-turn the end of a dead-end street and come out. Things here. Not impossible to fix, but a little bit difficult. It seems to me that we should fix the infrastructure first before you rezone it for Lea mobile units. So it is proper sidewalks, proper Trent leans things of that nature and make this development a whole lot easier. And more practical. So I do. sidewalk the properties. I don't know if any of the staff members walked the property and looked at it or not. But anyway, that's my concern that precious time. Anybody else wishing to testify, please step forward. coming down to. >> Final call here. that's it for case 20, it >> Take your rebuttal. Again. We're not planning on developing right now. We have no idea what will be developed >> some of the concerns with regard to Gio Gio Tech is done on every Urschel project. If this is a commercial multifamily and your tech will be done again. To see what it at the present time. But haven't some real trouble over the years with homeless in that area lighting fires. I think that would be even worse than what we're talking about. I think we've been able to try to get that cleaned up. We're over there. The owner is over there cleaning that up at times anyway, at the end of the day, we've tried to meet what title 21 said to do with this property. The owner would like to proceed with meeting the title. 21 requirements that are in front of them. He feels like he's put together a package and worked with people over the years we met with traffic. We met with everyone and in the municipality, obviously with my background being up the municipality for 25 years. I know a lot of the same things. I heard the concerns. Building has happened in a lot of places that the exact same concerns of happened. Things turn out very nice. We don't know what the finish. The finished product will be here. That will be up to someone else. But we believe that we've done everything to me. What title 21 says to do a proper rezone, piece of property to what we feel is meeting intent of total 20 one's rezoning process and also the need for the municipality 2 out and meet the housing needs are going on. And being broadcast through the mayor's office as well as throughout and about most public meetings the housing is what they consider crisis? We believe that as well in the industry. Most of the people that are working in it, therefore, we believe this follows all the guidelines that were in front of us. We believe all of the guidelines were met. I appreciate released the cause saying that the special limitations are no longer allowed trying. I think this city and the municipalities trying to not have spots spot zoning things like that. So I think that's a good idea to not have special limitations. But there's plenty of other opportunity for this. They'll be proper to nutty up to assembly for the rezone because once it goes from here goes the the assembly and then that will be another public hearing as well as the possibility. Whatever someone does in the development, if any of that development needs a public process, they'll be more of those things. But at the time, you know, we want to stick to the rezone rules and the rules that applied and we feel that we meet all of the criteria that's in front of us. So. Hopefully without the help answer all questions that we had in our position. Thank you very much. Commissioner strike. As a question. >> Thank you to the chair and thank you for that. Thank you from the petitioner. But the current properly property is split on. You've got an R one and R 2. And you chosen to go to our 3, which obviously higher density of both of those prior current zoning was any consideration to rezone too fully are one or fully to our to him. >> Yeah, we talked to the municipality and it is not in the 2040 plan. We're moving toward exactly what they would like this to own a house and the 2040 land use plan. So the plan is to me what the 2040 plan That's what the 2040 land use plan is all about if we rezone you rezoned toward or you can apply for amendment. But an amendment is trying to move away from what the municipality wants. So we're moving toward what they really want this property to be. And that's the feedback. I got all my meetings with the municipality and we proceeded down that Thank you. >> I had a question. You mentioned meeting with traffic. We heard a lot about. Traffic. I imagine if up project. Of 207 units, Erwin 96 or anywhere in those range that we've heard talked about. Would trigger some sort of traffic review. What has traffic indicated? It's can thoughts are on the intersection. Traffic is not >> voiced any concern at all with the intersection. It's all based upon traffic counts and but the point in time they probably wouldn't make a comment until such time. They see a development. So we're not developing. It were not answering that. So we can't really we didn't ask him that question. But they have no concern. This is the zoning that has been met to be for that property. And we're just moving toward what is in front of us and what's in the rules with regard to tile. 21 of the present time. >> Any further questions for the petitioner? I see none. We'll close the public hearing. Is the rule of the body. Commissioner Would you like to stay motion? >> Yes, I move to approve a request to rezone from our to a mixed residential and R one single-family residential districts, 2 or 3 mixed residential district. That seconded by Commissioner Ron commissioner polls. Would you like to speak your motion? I would love I intend to support the motion. It meets the approval criteria for rezone as noted in the staff analysis. That's just the rezone it needs the comprehensive Plan zone designation. It's are 3 in the comprehensive plan there. No negative agency review comments, including the Moe traffic regarding traffic 100 trips triggers a TIA. So if they develop 200, it's definitely going to trigger TIA turn lanes could be added lots of stuff to be done. If it goes that route. Opposition to the project, mostly based on issues of develop ability. But sub middle has proven its possible in complaints about Lake Otis, which will be addressed by the it also supports the current, pushing them away to increase housing availability across across municipality. Leave it at that. Thank you. Anybody else wishing to speak to the motion. Seeing none. Move called for the vote. Motion passes. >> All right. Moving on to. Case 2025 Dash 0, 0, 8, 7, item. Has been postponed. So case 2025 0, 0, 8, 7, has been postponed. So we'll move on to case 2025. Dash 0, 0, 8, 9, May be please have staff presentation. Thank you. Chair now. I. The Alaska Department of Tempest. But there's but they shun and public facilities. >> He's asking for a review of the 35%. A design study forward for improvements to the grain highway in Highland ruled interchange the planning Zoning Commission initially revealed project as an information item for the first step of the process. We are currently in the second that and then context, sensitive Transportation Project review process, half of rent, a review of the project by the Planning Zoning Commission. The project will go before the Urban Design Commission to complete to the 3rd and finest that we fund the municipality. The proposed project will make short-term improvements. The Highland Road interchange, which was built in 1975. To address traffic issues, improve safety and reduce congestion. The plan aims to optimize and land uses. Traffic queues and improve efficiency for all access points. It is also seeks to improve conditions for both drivers and no motorized uses. One person event is the same breach structure. The perfect designs ease alternative for out some nose the verge about. Design was chosen for each safety and operational benefits, including a significant addition and vehicle conflicts point. Plan requires land acquisition and the new traffic Potter. It is the most cost solution. These are tentative also avoid the costly relocation of major guests, man and power lines. The public as being involved in the process early 2025 2 opens the House and meetings with the community groups. Maintenance for the new interchange, primarily snow removal will be managed by the state Alaska in coordination with them in its pilot think reach. That 13 topics, areas to be included, but not limited. 2 in the commission's the liberation, the topic areas, Isaacson condition, design standards. I will turn compliance with 32 in one long-term and short-term impacts for land. Use right away acquisition. Utility any for structuring facts. Streets nation maintenance environment, constraints number lives, access to Olbermann and cost. Based on the 13th topic areas, information included in the DSA. The Planning Department staff is recommending approval of the preferred 10 to 2 for diverge about subject to condition wanted to be in the staff report. The Alaska State of the District, a shunt in public facilities. Representative did out is new tonight, a presentable in the project and to questions. Thank you. And debt concludes the summary of Mise staff report. >> Do we have a? >> Is there any questions for staff? Seeing none? With the petitioner like to speak. All right. We're in business. Good evening. My name is Gavin Jones. And with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and the project manager. >> I'm here with Kelly Kilpatrick, who's with Dal, the contractor hired by the department to design the project. Ok? So we're here to talk about the Glen Highland Interchange, just some quick, a background and project area slide. So this first one you can see. >> The dashed blue line is where the interchange is. This is up also known as the South Eagle River informally exit. But it ties in with Eagle River Loop Road here and Highland Road is close by. Looks like there's some issues with the slide. You can't see it very well. But I'll do my best to the West. We have the Anchorage Regional Landfill and to the Northeast, we have Eagle River High school off of will then drive and to the South. We have the weigh station. There's some other. Elements there as well. But for Time's move on. So the project purpose and objectives. >> So >> the department intends to. Improve operations capacity and safety for non motorized users and motor as users at the interchange. The objectives are to a. Mitigate queuing issues in the morning. Peak enhance highway merging for the southbound on rent on Glenn Highway and to preserve the bridge and extend its service life. So that will require some maintenance activities on the bridge. So just a quick. An interesting story about the interchange. We like to call it a little interchange that could because it was originally only built to accommodate Highland Road that tied directly into the interchange back in the 70's. And also this dead-end road, which was Hester Berg Road. And it is now called VFW. But back then it was just a dead. And so these are both that in roads. And so it wasn't built to accommodate very much traffic and then in the 1990's, it was tied into the connection with Eagle River called Eagle River Loop Road. And that carries quite substantially more traffic than the small amounts of traffic that it was originally accommodating. The moral of the story there is that the interchange has not been modified. Besides just adding one additional. Westbound lane. Since it was originally built. So just looking at the right of way, real quick of the property ownership we to the West with the landfill. The Grey is all federal government's OJ, their land to the Northeast. We have away street maintenance station and we the green is the Alaska mental Health Trust authority. Talking about the existing bridge and how the project will propose. Preservation activities to maintain that bridge and extend its life. It was originally built. Bridges are typically built a 75 year. Design life. So has about 25 years left. So this project will maintain that existing bridge. And because it inspection reports show it's in good condition and it's already been widened once and our bridge engineers say that it. Wouldn't be feasible to widen it again. At this time. So next, I'm going to show a series of 4 photos that. Basically show the issues with the interchange and notice that every photo there are substantially long queues vehicle cues that extend up to 1.2 miles towards river to the east. On this slide. I just wanted to highlight that. The southbound merge is near capacity at the moment. It's also built in an older style, which is called the tape or merge tapered merge. That just kind of should you right on to the high freeway nowadays? All. On ramps are designed as a parallel emerge that actually give you time to run parallel with the traffic and then find a gap to enter and merge onto the highway. So this project will. Transition that merge into the contemporary type of urge the parallel merge. On this next one. You can see in the morning. So all these slides are in the morning. So between 7 and 09:00AM and you'll see this traffic queue. Because of this Q, it's just a constant, constant que. Traffic on both sides of the interchange. Vfw road, the northbound ramps and the southbound ramps. They can't get in. So you're basically all the vehicles are waiting here. And the only way that they can really get in is with what's called a courtesy gap. Most of you probably experience that where somebody will waive u N I know personally, I don't ever feel comfortable taking that. But that's what people are forced to do, which increase safety risk. Again, you can see this. Que extends close to 1.2 miles on a regular basis. But we have heard anecdotally that it can stretch all the way to the brakes, bridge or even to Walmart on certain days. Also notice that there's poor lane utilization. So there are 2 eastbound lanes. All the traffic stacks up in the inside lane. And that is one of the major issues causing the long queues because there's only one left town turn lane. Onto the Glenn Highway. On-ramp. So the project aims to maintain or improve existing pedestrian facilities and transit facility is that exist at the bridge? There's currently a parking right of the northeast corner along with a people mover bus stop. And then this is the primary connection. For non motorized users to get from Eagle River along the Fw road. So that bike path and people that can walk that way. And then they cross the bridge here at you, go over road and then they can access the Glenn Highway Trail. So it's really important that we maintain or improve connection on this bridge. is. As mentioned by staff. Major utilities, a 20 inch gas line. And I'm going to pass it off for the alternatives over Unocal. Thanks, Kaylyn. Thanks, everybody. >> I'll try to make this quick. Both are often interview. Okay. make this real quick alternative constraints. I won't make it to lock Alun went through most of it, but it's it preserve that existing bridge. We don't want to replace it. Won at whatever alternative, be choosing to make sure it maintains whatever we do. We also want to make sure we maintain or enhance pedestrian facilities and the transit facilities. The solution must address each of those operations and capacity issues that we're seeing out there. And Dylan went through in those 4. All right. So when we start, we want to look at what with the traffic be in the future. Design your our design years, 2050. So we took the existing traffic, grew it out here where fact forecasting just under one percent annually in growth out there. So looking at these numbers, sorry, you can't see that white streets, but that apps in the D R All not meeting capacity in the few 2 years. we don't do any improvements, obviously it's going to get Everything else does operate in now and in the future year at Level C or better. But it's these movements that we're focusing on within the interchange. So looking at our alternatives, the first thing we want to do is we kind of one that we wanted to take that incremental approach. What's the least amount of permits we can do and get the biggest biggest improvements given. This is a one movement that's causing the whole issue with an interchange. So firstly looked at okay, let's make sure. I'm folks are using both lanes. So we said, OK, let's convert that through late Let's convert that through lane right Adding a So let's see if we'll get and using both lanes. Then we would get them on the ramp and merge onto the highway overhead signage. Do everything we can do to try to get people using those 2 lanes. What it doesn't do is it doesn't fix operational deficiencies at the rest of the interchange. We can get them through faster, but that doesn't open allow cats at the rest of the interchange forward. Really looking at just here. Many go on to the loop. We looked at a loop ramp. So instead of making that slow left turns still to land. We looked at can we get them going faster with the Lou Grant? We can get them past or through the loop ramp. But the Q is so long that it still does not getting them through faster. More traffic still does not allow for vehicles to get through the rest of the interchange. That Q is still It also has major utility impacts. We put a pedestrian tunnel to separate the pedestrians from that free-flowing movement. The potential acquisition well acquisition from Jay Bear, which would be delayed schedule higher cost. So we said we need to go bigger and better but still keep our improvement impacts low and try to see if get lower cost. So we looked at the divergent diverging diamond with roundabouts. So similar to But it's around about sunset of signals that doesn't warrant signals out here and what this does is it allows those gaps in the roundabout which roundabouts typically do. only lanes through the roundabout that are double our that left turn movements. So they still have the free left. Get some of the other side to have the free left onto the southbound ramp. it does not have the high cost utility impacts. It has some. So we're going to be working with a row to make sure we're not any too much material on the ramp recruitments. We don't think we are. They stop. >> I that through all 3 alternatives. Is there any other alternatives we should know about before finish? Any questions for the petitioner? Commissioner on. Thank chair. I heard the words maintain or improve non-motorized connectivity. >> And yet they didn't hear any design details to back up how you'll achieve that goal. If I look at one of the design graphics on Page 50 of the staff packet, 36 of your report. 8, potential bike PED vehicle points of interaction which I haven't written or walked current conditions, but don't think it's 8. So talk to me about those crossing points are the great separate What what's the plan for actually achieving the goal of maintaining or enhancing? Yet through the chair? Thank you for the question. Those crossings are all one direction crossings. So whereas before a pedestrian would have to look both ways and then cross both directions of travel vehicles at the same time. >> What this does is it puts pedestrian refuges in the middle of each direction of crime at each roundabout leg. So when a pedestrian was across the only have to look one direction they can then get into the refuge. Look, both, look the other direction to see if there's a vehicle coming. If there is they have a safe place. 2 hold up. Intel. The vehicle passes, going the other direction and then crossed that link. So they only have to cross one direction of travel time and now they've been history and wreckage is. >> Also designed for slower movements for the peoples. So are slower vehicles. >> But in the mike, please, if you can, the night. >> I was sorry this I was just saying that it's the roundabout is also designed for slower vehicles. reduce the speed of vehicles going to the roundabout would which allows for the safer pedestrian crossings. >> Thanks sponsor. Appreciate sharing information out understand what summit designed thoughts are. When I hear the playing on you just use a pedestrian refuge. I Tim Bresnan storage. So not so much of a refuge for most of the year. curious about interaction with stakeholders on this point of pedestrians and bikes Page 2.70 That's tough stuff back that says project team is meeting with other key stakeholders, solid services bike Anchorage. What's happened with like Anchorage, how they feel about this alternative. Yeah, thanks for the question to the chair. >> The pastor refuges will be maintained throughout the winter. And we've met with Mike encourage multiple times. We've included them in our interchange workshops and had numerous interactions with them and they have no objections or concerns with the proposed design. >> Thank you. I see no one else in the queue. And you have no time for rebuttal. We will asked for any public testimony. Anybody from the public wishing to testify, please step up. Seeing and hearing none. >> We will close public hearing. And we have proposed motion on table for anyone willing to move. Okay. The motion is made by commissioner pull a second by commissioner. When just are Commissioner Polis, would you like state motion? >> Yeah. Move to approve the context. Sensitive solutions. Css Transportation Project Review Dsr for Glenn Highway in Highland Road interchange improvements. State project number C F H w y 0, 0, 9, 1, All right. That's seconded by Commissioner Winchester Commissioner Post. Would you like to speak your motion? >> Yeah. Intend to support the motion. I appreciate the highly detailed the U.S. are. You guys turned in its one of the better ones. I think we've seen in a while. The traffic analysis completed supports the proposed alternative number 4 Pei effort seemed more than adequate generally. Overall public support is for out for all 4 addresses issues on both sides of the highway rather than just one. And I saw in the packet that bike Anchorage has been coordinating, confirm they're satisfied with the pet improvements. It was in there somewhere with the 300 pages. >> Thank Commissioner Uber. >> just want to say that I intend to support motion. However, Im concerned about the pedestrian safety as a frequent user of that trail in Ohio. >> I mean, well, I know all about it. >> As far as traffic and pedestrian safety. But and just can surprise that bike encourage OK crossings Snow. So that's at articulating that. I think that it's. Going to be interesting with pedestrian traffic. So still some and tend to support it. hope that there could be future. Work on that section of it. >> Commissioner Thank you. Mister Chair. I intend to support the motion as well. I think my prior concerns were well voiced. Repeat them with respect the motion for the record would like to ensure that were including the department recommendation numbers. One through 3 and pitches 9.10 a step back and commissioner Can you can Anybody else wishing to speak to the motion. During seeing none. We'll call for vote. That motion passes. >> we will move on to case 2025. 0, 0, 8, 3. May we please have staff presentation? >> Thank you, Mr. Chair the Girdwood Board of Supervisors supports increasing opportunities for commercial development in the Girdwood commercial 10 district. It's the Upper Alyeska Highway Commercial zoning District. On April. 21st 2025 G B O S voted to request this text amendment to that girdwood zoning regulations. G O S resolution can be found on pages. 12, 13 your packet. This text amendment will allow office uses and most retail uses and the GC 10 District currently most of these uses are prohibited. The GC 10 District is only 3 tracks of land, all of which are low kid on the South side. The Alyeska highway between Timberline Drive and Glacier Creek. The northern 2 tracks are already developed with the grid, which Apple Kurd would bring company the 3rd tract is privately owned and his undeveloped. With regard to the approval criteria for a Code amendment, a text amendment. Appropriate area. One, the department finds that the criteria criterion is Matt. This text amendment proposed promotes the general welfare of residents occurred would and the municipality overall the purpose of the text amendment is to provide economic development opportunities in Girdwood. There's a small amount of land available for office retail uses and this tax money will expand the potential for those uses the text Amendment makes 2 changes to the zoning regulations. First, it deletes one word from the intense statement of the GC 10 District. The intense statement says that the district is intended for non retail commercial uses, but the amendment is to eliminate that word non retail since this amendment would be adding making those out. Second, the text amendment changes the table of allowed uses to permit all office uses and most retail uses. Fueling stations and seafood meat processing will continue to be prohibited. The change would permit buildings less than 2000 square feet by right buildings up to 4,000 Square feet will require Ministry of site Plan Review and buildings up to 20,000 Square feet require public hearing major site plan review buildings over 20,000 are prohibited. With this change business or professional office uses, I could have larger buildings and code currently allow is in the GC 10. The current limit is to 10,000 Square feet changing that. 3 with a circle. table to 4 as requested by Girdwood allows business and professional be larger overall. Potentially. Approval criteria. It too at the proposed text amendment is consistent with the Girdwood Comprehensive plan which identifies the area and GC 10 has mixed use. Mixed uses are already permitted by right in the GC 10 District. The proposed text amendment will allow office more retail uses. There is no change the rest of that table full uses. Approval criteria. 3, it's also met the need for more economic development has grown since the assembly enacted. The zoning regulations for Girdwood in 2005. State municipal reviewing agencies have no objection. There have been no public comments on the Reza on the the case tonight, the department's recommending approval to make office and retail uses allowed in GC 10 district in closes a draft assembly ordinance. That begins on Page 3 of your packet. I'll point out or I have to apologize. I 2 mistakes in the draft ordinance and I'd like to tell you how to correct that. So on Page 5 Page 6, your packet. If you turn to Page 6 and then turn sideways you know, and drafting this. I made the air leaving it blank where the GC 10 call on crosses a liquor store that should be for circle around it. As well the line directly below it, lumber yards, building material stores should be a 4 with a circle around it. Everything out stays the same. So those were 2 mistakes they made again, I'm sorry for my air. I hope in approving or recommending approval to the assembly, this ordinance that you owe correct that there's also a supplemental package. Hear additional comments for your review. happy to answer questions. Thank you very much. Commissioner strike. Thank you chair and thank you for that presentation on just for clarification. The 3 properties that are. Currently zone GC 10 on that right side of the road on this side of the road. One is an occupied to buy the church when 3 by the brewery, the retail element that you mention, does this now get those 3 sites in compliance with the retail? Allowance with that change that you're making on the retail. Potentially Mr. Strike. Potentially. So let me let me rephrase is the breweries own currently to do retail. So at. This is awkward because we've discussed this before good discussion about 5 years ago. the department finds that the brewery is in compliance. However, you are correct that that time retail uses with the exceptions of that the 2 that I mentioned will permitted are allowed in zoning district. I just want to go on the record. They will now be allowed. This was first brought up about 5 years ago. And we had the petitioner at that time with the brewery coming here and stipulate that nearly 40% of their revenue came from retail. At that time. So I just want to go on the record. We're just now cleaning this up. Over 5 years later. And that's that's my only point. I want to make. I'm glad we're cleaning it up. But this was put forth before is an issue. Some some time ago. It should have been cleaned up a long time ago. And there was no enforcement. There was no hand slapping. There was nothing done at the brewery level at the enforcement level when it became known to the city. What should be done? And with that, I'll get off my soapbox. Commissioner Garner. Thank was hoping to get a little clarification on. The comments from long range planning and what recommendation from Planning Department is with respect to those. >> Comments. And I guess also just I guess that's general question more specifically much are understood the common number 2 for the use table correction. ♪ To the chair. The long-range planning comments are kind of looking at big picture on some some very specific. So their numbers, some the number 2 at the time they were submitted. There was a error in the table that was taken correct that error. >> The other things are generally that the gorilla community just finished a comprehensive plan. They spent 5 years on it and it seems likely that's going to take them a while to. Implemented right? So we're looking at this from a longer perspective and thinking if if you're gonna make a change like this, that you're going through the entire process, you doing nation, there seems to be up to their to have some efficiency and actually start to implement the plan the intended and some of the things the plan that was just adopted says is increased commercial office space provide space for light industrial. You know their support for this kind of thing and change some of the uses other uses, encourage mixed use and also encourage expansion of childcare facility. So long belongings perspective is looking at that and think about if you're if you're going to change that, you save on, you're going to go through the process. It seems like a good opportunity to. Also potentially implement the plan. That was up, just adopted thinking that, you know, the plan, made all these decisions, but a lot of time on it. So the need is there. And this is the chance to take care of that just because to do the other thing is DC 10 is about 3, 8, 3 properties, 3 or 4 properties. So this is a lot of work for only 3 properties when there might be a whole range of other zoning districts that could benefit from the same thing in the plan. Guidance is here. Potential to support that or maybe it's not. But so are coming was really just that. If we're gonna go through this process, you know, while we're there, we might as well think about is there another way years and something else group can do to implement their plan now rather than waiting, you know, might take several years for them to do it. So it's really about just the efficiency of the process and think about revenues table. So maybe this is a chance to fulfill some of the other directives from comforts of plant. Thanks. And guess I would just say I think I share your general sense. Maybe is this a follow-up question? Is? >> Given where we are in the process now for this one. Is that something that stuff it'll make sense is their recommendation from the planning department as to whether at this we take a further look and adding to this amendment. >> Threw the chair. I think that that is a decision that we would like to leave up to the planning and Zoning Commission. We have recommended approval of and this recommendation from long range is maybe something to consider as we move forward on any changes for for Girdwood. just trying to step back and take longer view. We do have you as a commission have several options. You can approve this or recommend this to for approval to the assembly as is or you can postpone and we could bring something else back that has more changes that would implement that would further implement the comp plan or whatever the commission desires. >> Any other questions for staff? Seeing none. Open the public hearing. Anyone from the public wishing to testify on case. 2025. Test 0, 0, 8, 3 >> I my kids. Eat and I'm good surprises. I'm not going to take for a long talking about this. I guess we kind of petition. The 20 to touch on a few things have been discussing as planning as mentioned. Good has gone through a long process. I think I heard 5 visits depending how you count its between the possibly between 9 and 14 years of rewriting a comprehensive plan. There were a couple of things which were already in the pipeline for small changes, which we had identified before we do the major work that's required to update Chuck Tonight, which will come from the comprehensive plan. This was one of the There was also another change to commercial zoning. As you see by this being cool GC actually 10 but at least 10 commercial zones in good, which is sort of ridiculous for the community size. It is. There's a lot of rationalization needs to be done in the future. This is really just a very small, targeted specific fix, too, to fix an issue that's lying down potential short-term projects, meeting projects. We still want to do bigger project would like to get support from both this body and planning to do that. And I look forward to maybe in a couple of years bringing forward to an update. Check tonight. I called and I couldn't I was unable to catch everything else was said earlier in the questioning. But I will just don't know. And there any further questions have to take them? Thank you. Thank you. new questions. Anybody else wishing to testify. >> We will close the public hearing. What is the real about That motion is made by Commissioner Strike Commissioner strike. Would you like to state your motion? >> And this motion is to approving review and recommendation by planning and Zoning Commission of an ordinance of the increase municipal Assembly, amending Anchorage Municipal Code Tiny. 21 chapter non not 0, 4, 0, and table. 21 got 0, 9 dash 2 to allow office and most retail uses in the GC Dash 10 Upper Elliott's Go Highway Commercial District found on Page 2 of the staff report with 2 corrections on Page 6 of the table liquor store in lumber supply, needing a 4 with a circle. Thank you. And that's seconded by Commissioner Garner. Would you like to speak your motion? intend to support this motion it's well overdue. And I think it's working to clean up the. Current. Allowed uses that are in this area. And this is a great step forward. I will further note that there was no public testimony for or against on this. Public testimony done to tonight. Commissioner Gardner. Thank I tend to support the motion as well. Just know we received some comments from long range planning about. >> Using this opportunity to maybe make some broader changes to implement the recently adopted comprehensive plan for Girdwood. took the comments from the Carter Board of Supervisors that we heard to ask for this as a timely and targeted. Process, understanding that there will be a larger effort need in the future to fully implement the new plan. >> Anybody else wishing to speak to the motion. Herring, seeing none call for the vote. The motion passes. That brings us to. I case of the 9 2025 Dash 0, 0, 9, 6, and we please have stepped presentation. Thank you, Mr. this is a rezone requests initiated by the means by that people are on Kuzma to court. >> 21 point 0, 3.1, 6, to amend the up for approximately 1.0 One 14 point to eke has a plan from R one single-family residential our to him Mixed residential districts too. Br Bucks in the creation of District. That includes 24 D land use plan plenty closet phase the sorting properties with the land use designation off buck national media and the owners and implementing zoning district. Approval of this rezoning would align the zoning district of these parcels with the land use classification described by and crucially for the land use. The 24 to land use plan. Plus a phase. These toting talkies with the land use designation of Parker The planning Department provided publish notice on. To present day to Colin's going councils in accordance with Christmas book Cold. 21 Point will treat point tool H feet. As of this writing the planning Department has received no public comments. Other Regency comments Attachment E includes all comments received by the planning Department and original format, Stephen Municipal to viewing agencies have no objection to the rezone. The Steve, the off Alaska Department Transportation and public facilities DOT NBA of had advisory regarding the 2 projects in along the border ago site. Read that to me and by the subject, parcels and hope to concede collaboration and communication with to the visibility. The employee parts of the crucial department supported the rezone as unified zoning would help them in management of the box. Implementation off projects and maintenance off spaces for public use. Watershed management services commented that portions of the properties. I was in the flood Hazard District. Him to 2.1, 6, dot for approval criteria. The planning and Zoning Commission made a comment approval and you may to approve rezoning of the rezoning needs all of following criteria. It on. the comprehensive plan. That's creating on is met the proposed amendment to the zoning up would rezone the propose lots to be our FOX of the creation of district which is in alignment with increased. 24 at the line. He's been land use classification off. Barker National media that he's also implements action. 8 Dash 4 off. Thank Richard for the land use been to conduct housekeeping, zones of dedicated box to be our district. Writing on the it would not result in an objective to the health of state help to help the safety this created on is also met. The proposed amendment a phase. The zoning of 7 lot with consistent use historical use as box with traditional activities under the PR district, according to the college from the family box and a crucial district. The department to this would help in the matter to the box. It limits additional projects and maintenance spaces for public use, which may see an increase in levels of public health. Craig, don't see it does not conflict with municipal state or federal relations and ordinances. That's correct. Leon is again met. This amendment, does not conflict with other municipal state, difficult emissions and ordinances. The department finds that the proposed his own rezoning meets all to approval criteria. The department defer up, Rick, was that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for this proposed rezoning from R one single-family residential are 2 and a nod to mix. Just district's to be our FOX Regional district. I can also in the questions of the board may have. >> Are there any questions for staff? strike? Thank you. And threw the chair. Help me understand. I mean, heard one case already this evening we're taking properties from R One R 02:00AM going to our 3 under the pretext that we need more residential housing density. We have been in a meeting here earlier today that talks about the need for residential land area. And we've taken 14 acres right in the heart of Midtown Anchorage. And that is already zoned R One and R 02:00AM and we're going to convert it to park. Years ago. We did us preview of the total Park area within the Anchorage area to include the schools and so forth. And it's actually quite extensive. How does this rezoning this? Taking into the part? How is that gonna fit and to the need to requirements for the residential housing. Elements that we're looking at in the 2040 plan and beyond what type of impact we're going to see on that plan. Lisa bat. >> Threw the chair to commissioner strike. That's an excellent question. And I understand your concern, especially considering the housing crisis and and what appears to be an effort to take those properties offline for residential. However, this specific property is under a conservation easement at the moment, which is in perpetuity. And so there's no chance that this would be developed for housing or anything else in the future. And it is currently functioning as a purchase. jury. So if this effort is more of the House cleaning effort in order to get the zoning to align more closely with the actual function of that property. >> Thank you for that explanation. Chair. Fine me. I believe long-range also has on comment regarding comment on this project. >> March Arafat May. >> But go ahead and falling from the director. Just wanted to say in the 2040 plan ActionAid forces conduct housekeeping rezone dedicated parks. And this is a dedicated park to the PR to zone in its last appeal. Iso. You're absolutely right. We've been talking about we need housing needed housing land, but another big piece of the plans is also land used for parks. We want to dedicated as parks and then we can think about using the other land sort of more efficiently, maybe. And I also just want to make one final kind of know a K dot is comment. 8, they say project teams are working designs. It will try to minimize impacts to the sanctuary. But some impacts may be unavoidable. Just is that in design, you know, the purpose of good design is too avoid the things that are unavoidable or deal with what seems unavoidable and find a way to mitigate it. So this is something that's been a priority for the municipality evidence by its and one of explicit action plans in 2040, people want these parks protected. And so the comment from a K dot that there might be unavoidable impacts. It might maybe not be recognizing that this is actually a pretty big priority for the community as evidence by it's been used as uses a park. It's called out in the plans and was recently designated like last year by the assembly as dedicated Parkland. So there's not much any municipality can do to say this is important land for park use. I just want to call that out that, you know, something that says may be unavoidable in the design stage. Nothing has really unavoidable. So thank you. All right. I see no further questions. We will go ahead and open the public hearing. Anyone from the public wishing to testify. >> case 2025 Dash 0, 0, 9, 6, please step forward. Hearing and seeing none. We'll close the public. Hearing. What is the will of the body? Motion by Commissioner Ron seconded by Commissioner Garner Commission run. Would you like to state and speak to your motion? >> Thank you, Mr. I move in. Case 2025 to 0, 0, 9, 6, to approve a request to rezone 13 parcels of land from R one single-family residential. >> Our 2 women are 3 mixed residential districts to PR parks and recreation district. I intend support the motion. I concur with staff's findings with respect to the 3 approval criteria. A few additional note said like to commend long-range planning and the department in total for the comment with respect to DOT is written comments and would like to echo those as well. Dot, please recognize the importance of this park lands for what it is and seek to avoid. Not just minimize impacts to those things that are important to our community. This park has received a lot of recent stresses human caused and institutional and project based as well. Perhaps the future. I just spoke to that with respect the DOT projects potentially in the queue human stressors as community. We're all aware of them. So I think housekeeping is an interesting term when it comes to this and what we're doing here, perhaps not just on paper housekeeping, community enabling us to better manage the Parkland's that we have. So with that, I'll stop talking reiterate and support the motion. Thank you. Anyone else wishing speak to the motion. Here and seeing none. We'll call for the vote. That motion passes. >> Any reports or title. 21 discussion or commissioner comments. >> Hearing thing. None will move for the in German. Second, I hear no objections. Archer.