Planning and Zoning Commission recommends rezoning 28 parcels along Kenai Spur Highway

The City of Kenai Planning and Zoning Commission voted April 23 to recommend that the City Council rezone 28 parcels near the Kenai Spur Highway and Wildwood Drive from suburban residential to general commercial.

Planning director Buettner told the commission the rezoning request would allow commercial uses along a stretch of the Spur Highway that is classified as a principal arterial by the Alaska Department of Transportation and carries higher traffic volumes. Buettner said most of the parcels front the highway, that one parcel (KPB Parcel 03902122) is currently split zoned, and that the staff report required a slight correction to add a small number of parcels that were omitted in an earlier draft.

Buettner said the change would make the corridor more cohesive with nearby commercial development and act as a buffer between the highway and suburban residential subdivisions farther from the road. He also said the city mailed notices to property owners within 300 feet of affected parcels and that staff had received no written objections; a small number of mailed notices to trust-held parcels were returned because of incorrect mailing addresses.

Property owner Alex David, who said he owns multiple parcels included in the request, told the commission many local owners signed supporting letters and that some lots are already being marketed as commercial despite their current residential zoning. "A lot of these people believe that they are commercial and are wanting to market them commercially, but technically, it's not. So this helps clean that up," David said.

A resident who called in, identified as Jalen Rogers, said she had recently purchased property near Windflower and said she was not yet decided on whether to support the change. Commissioners asked staff to confirm the map legend and parcel locations; Commissioner Fikes said she had been confused by the colors on the packet map but Buettner pointed to the proposed map page for clarification.

Commissioner Woodard moved to recommend approval of PZ 2025-14; a second was recorded and the motion passed on a recorded roll call with five votes in favor and one against. Commissioner Reveal voted no. Commissioner Krauss was absent. The commission's recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for final consideration and any subsequent site-plan review if commercial development is proposed.

The planning director also noted that, should commercial projects be proposed adjacent to remaining residential lots, the city’s site-plan and landscaping review processes would provide opportunities for additional public notice and comment.