Wasilla attorneys and planners outline major changes in Title 16 draft rewrite; specific use criteria and short‑term rental rules revised

City Attorney Holly Wells and City Planner Wellman used the Jan. 14 Planning Commission meeting to summarize the proposed rewrite of Wasilla Municipal Code Title 16 (Land Development Code), outlining organization changes and key substantive revisions that will be discussed across upcoming meetings.

Wells said the rewrite reorganizes zoning district uses and pulls specific use criteria out of a single, long zoning chapter into dedicated sections so users can find rules for particular uses more easily. The draft separates accessory uses and home occupations into clearer provisions, retains and clarifies existing specific use criteria for higher‑concern uses, and creates a planner discretion rule allowing the planner to find an unlisted use similar to a listed use — subject to commission confirmation at the next regular meeting.

Short‑term rentals: The draft reduces some of the previous regulatory burden while preserving safety and local contact requirements. The packet and Wells’ presentation describe a complementary, separate registration ordinance (no fee) to capture the existing…