Wasilla council adopts rewritten Title 16 land-development code after months of amendments

The Wasilla City Council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance Serial Number 2514, repealing and reenacting Wasilla Municipal Code Title 16, after making multiple amendments to the draft code during a lengthy public meeting. The vote, taken by roll call, recorded yes votes from Council Members Crafton, Velock, Rubio, Cottle, Graham and Schmidt.

The ordinance replaces the existing land-development code to change permitted uses in zoning districts, review and permitting procedures, planned unit development rules, landscaping, parking, conditional use and variance procedures, and design standards citywide. Council members said the rewrite is intended as a phase 1 update, with additional refinements to come from the planning commission and staff.

Council discussion focused on a series of specific amendments recommended in the city attorney's memorandum and on council members' proposed edits. Major issues addressed on the floor included: removal or rewording of certain definitions (including changes to the definition of "landscaping bed" and adding "or pet" to the domestic-animal language); tree and landscaping minimums for residential lots; short-term rental provisions; and requirements that businesses pave the first portion of drive aisles and adjacent parking after a roadway is paved.

Council members debated the paving requirement at length. One amendment that failed would have removed the requirement entirely; instead council adopted a compromise amendment setting a limited paving obligation: "After a roadway is paved, the first 40 feet of the aisles and driveways adjacent to the roadway shall be paved or have concrete or another durable surface approved by the planner applied within 12 months of the date of pavement," with residential uses of fewer than five units and temporary uses exempted. Public works staff explained the 40-foot metric was chosen as approximately twice the length of a typical vehicle and said paving reduces sediment tracking into storm drains and airborne dust.

Other contested changes included landscaping and tree requirements. Council considered but rejected motions to delete a section requiring minimum tree plantings along residential streets and debated how to credit native trees; some amendments to counting rules for native trees and how they may be credited were approved.

Multiple amendments that the council described as formatting, non-substantive or clarifying were also adopted to let the city attorney and clerk finalize consistent numbering and wording. Short-term rental rules were amended in line with an attorney-proposed exhibit, with several exceptions noted on the record. Council members and staff repeatedly said this rewrite is an intermediate step: the council approved the ordinance as a framework to be refined further by the planning commission and administration.

No members of the public testified during the official public hearing on Ordinance 2514; the hearing was opened and closed without public speakers. The mayor and multiple council members thanked staff and the planning commission for drafting and reviewing the code updates.

The ordinance as amended passed by roll call vote with all present council members recorded in favor. The council directed staff and the planning commission to continue follow-up work on detailed sections of the code and to bring back further refinements for public review and additional council action.