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Urban Design Commission approves Diamond Parking variance for Sand Lake self-storage
Summary
The Anchorage Urban Design Commission on Feb. 12 approved a design variance allowing a self-storage facility on an 11.31-acre Diamond Parking site in the I-1 Light Industrial district, finding the proposed facility footprint meets code intent although the parcel exceeds the nominal 10-acre maximum.
The Anchorage Urban Design Commission on Feb. 12 approved a design variance allowing a self-storage facility to be sited on an 11.31-acre Diamond Parking property in the Sand Lake area.
Planning Department staff told the commission that “none of the state and municipal reviewing agencies object to the granting of this variance,” that 454 hearing notices were mailed on Jan. 24, 2025, and that the Sand Lake Community Council adopted a resolution supporting the variance. The department recommended approval subject to the conditions listed on page 4 of the commission packet, including recording a notice of zoning action with the State of Alaska District Recorder’s Office within one year and providing proof to the Planning Department.
The variance was necessary because Anchorage Municipal Code (AMC) 21.05.060.D limits the site area for self-storage uses to no more than 10 acres. Staff said the proposed self-storage footprint would be under 10 acres even though the parcel is 11.31 acres. Petitioner Scott Pulice, identified himself as a civil engineer with Loundsbury and said the project would use about 4 acres of the site. “We agree with planning staff, and their recommendations. We … we're basically proposing 4 acres on 11 acre site,” Pulice said.
Commissioner Julia Voland moved to approve the variance from AMC 21.05.060.D.4.B.i (size of site for self-storage) subject to the conditions on page 4; Commissioner Monica Sullivan seconded. Voland read the approval standards into the record and said the application met the criteria for alternatives to design standards, community benefit, and no adverse effect to adjacent uses. The motion passed 5-0-0.
Vote record: Commissioner Monica Sullivan — yes; Commissioner Edith McKee — yes; Commissioner Julia Voland — yes; Commissioner Ryan Lucas — yes; Commissioner James Coles — yes. The commission’s decision was recorded on the record as case 2025-0002.
Planning staff also noted there were no public comments submitted on the record and that the Sand Lake Community Council had forwarded a letter of support (packet page 66). The petitioner and staff confirmed outstanding permitting and construction notes remained part of the permitting process but that the variance was the final planning hurdle for the site.
The commission’s approval requires the applicant to meet the conditions listed in the packet, execute the recording of the notice of zoning action with the State of Alaska District Recorder’s Office within one year, and provide proof of recording to the Planning Department. The matter now proceeds to any subsequent building-permit and recording steps identified in the packet.
