The Wasilla Planning Commission on June 24 recommended approval of RZ 2501 (resolution serial number 2504), a proposal to rezone 16 parcels totaling about 9.79 acres in the Coring Subdivision from rural residential to commercial.

Acting City Planner Nygaard told commissioners the applicant’s proposal meets applicable Title 16 criteria and recommended approval. The commission moved to approve the resolution with the added condition that the Central Mat‑Su Fire Department fire marshal review and not object to the plan; the motion passed on a roll call vote, four in favor and one opposed.

The rezoning affects land east of North Lucille Street and south of East Aspen Avenue, an area the planner described as already having commercial uses to the north and south. Nygaard said the application was initiated by a petition signed by owners representing at least 51% of the property area within the proposed rezone and that the request is consistent with the city’s future land‑use designation for commercial uses. "We do recommend approval of the rezoning request," Nygaard said.

Kim Kalmbach, an owner and the HOA secretary who is listed as the applicant, told the commission she used the CitizenServe portal to file the application and spoke in favor of the rezoning. "I speak in support of passage of this," Kalmbach said. Several other property owners and business operators from the subdivision, including a carpet‑cleaning business owner and a garage‑door tenant, also addressed the commission in support of the change.

Commission discussion focused on infrastructure and property‑use concerns. Commissioners and members of the public raised questions about water and sewer availability, parking and landscaping requirements for commercial uses, and whether existing uses on some lots may already be inconsistent with rural‑residential standards. The planner and the applicant said the parcels are served by a community water system now and that city water and sewer are available along Lucille Street; the applicant said bringing city water and sewer to the subdivision would be a later step if development occurs.

City Attorney Wells advised commissioners the rezone is a legislative action guided by the city’s comprehensive plan and Title 16 criteria rather than a quasi‑judicial review of individual parcels. Several commissioners emphasized that rezoning to commercial does not remove code requirements and that property owners must follow city code regardless of district.

Public notice for the rezone included mailed notices to 179 property owners within a 1,200‑foot radius, distribution to 32 review agencies and an advertisement in the Frontiersman on June 6. The planner said 11 of the 16 parcels’ owners signed the petition; the applicant reported that the signed parcels represented approximately 71% of the subdivision’s acreage.

Votes at a glance: RZ 2501 (Resolution serial number 2504) — Approved conditionally on fire marshal non‑objection. Roll call: Chairman Seals — Yes; Commissioner Langel — Yes; Commissioner DeYoung — Yes; Commissioner Stafford — Yes; Commissioner Brown — No. Outcome: approved (4–1).

The commission also adopted minor wording amendments to the resolution’s findings (typographical corrections and a revision to the finding about access), and recorded the fire‑marshal review as a required condition before the file will be forwarded to the city council for final action.

The commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to the Wasilla City Council, which has the final authority to enact the rezoning.