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Commission approves conditional use for 30,000‑square‑foot carpentry training facility near Boundary Avenue
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use to allow a 30,000-square-foot vocational/trade school in the B-3 general business district on a vacant lot near Boundary Avenue and Boniface Parkway; the department found all required criteria met and attached two administrative conditions.
The Planning and Zoning Commission of the Anchorage Municipality approved a conditional use permit to allow a vocational or trade school in the B-3 general business district for a vacant lot near the intersection of Boundary Avenue and Boniface Parkway.
Planning Department staff told commissioners the application meets the nine criteria for a conditional use, including consistency with the municipality’s comprehensive plan (the 2040 land use plan) and the B-3 district’s purpose. Staff recommended approval subject to two conditions in the staff report: filing a notice of zoning action with the state and receiving administrative relief from the planning director for the building’s window design.
The applicant, Mauricio Latona, director of real estate for the Western Council of Partners, told the commission the group seeks to build a 30,000‑square‑foot training facility for carpenters and said the community needs the facility. “We are in desperate need of a training facility, and we are very excited about a brand new 30,000 square foot facility,” Latona said.
Commissioners asked technical questions about site circulation and utilities. Staff noted that traffic engineering finds the driveway design meets requirements for a Boundary Avenue connection but said the State of Alaska must review and permit that driveway before construction. Commissioner Ron asked whether electric vehicle charging or EVSE had been considered; the applicant said power capacity exists at the site but that specific charging infrastructure had not been designed.
A member of the public, Eric Issar, spoke in support of the project and referenced the assembly’s earlier intent on related housing and land‑use work.
Commissioner Polis moved to approve the conditional use subject to the conditions in the staff report; Commissioner Gardner seconded. On roll call, Miss Eber and Mister Strieg recorded “yes” votes and the motion passed.
The approval allows the applicant to proceed toward building permits and state permitting for the driveway connection, subject to the conditions noted by staff.
