Planning commission recommends lease of borough parcel for Narrows apartment access

The Petersburg Borough Planning Commission voted to recommend that the borough assembly approve a lease of borough-owned land adjacent to the Narrows apartment to Nordic Real Estate LLC.

The recommendation stems from an application by Nordic Real Estate LLC co-owner Sarah Holmgren to lease a 30-foot-wide, platted borough parcel south of 1107 South Nordic Drive to provide driveway access and maintenance room for the Narrows building. Holmgren said she and her husband bought the Narrows apartments on Jan. 15 of this year and have begun rehabilitation work, including gutting nine rooms and restoring units to occupancy.

Holmgren told the commission that limited south-side access has prevented contractors from reaching the building’s foundation and that a leased access would allow installation of a driveway and other needed work. “One of the issues is the foundation. The lot line is quite close to the property, and in order to have the contractor be able to get back there sufficiently as well as for future maintenance items…that’s why we’re asking for a lease,” Holmgren said. She said she paid a surveyor $1,200 to establish the south property line before applying.

Neighbors raised concerns about the parcel’s width and safety. Mike Schwartz, who owns property immediately behind the Narrows, said taking the entire 30-foot parcel would put the new access within about 5 feet of the back of his house and could create a fall hazard because of an approximately 8–9 foot drop at the rear of the lot. Dean Rountree, who lives south of the property, said he and his neighbors have used a sidewalk and shed on the platted parcel for decades and expressed interest in possibly buying portions of the land if it becomes available in the future.

Planning staff clarified that the parcel is a remnant from an old right-of-way vacation and is a platted piece of land, not a dedicated roadway. Staff also noted the borough’s standard lease practice: Holmgren requested a five-year lease with three five-year renewal options; staff said borough policy allows leases up to a 55-year maximum. Commissioners and staff discussed the practical difficulty of subdividing the 30-foot parcel into narrower pieces given its dimensions.

Commissioners expressed support for the rehabilitation work and for addressing hazardous trees that overhang the building. One commissioner said privately addressing dangerous trees as part of rehabilitation could be less costly for the borough than removing them later.

Motion and vote: After public comment and discussion, a commissioner moved that the planning commission recommend the assembly approve the lease and associated findings as presented in the packet; the motion was seconded and approved on roll call. Commissioners Chris, Jim, Donald and John voted yes.

Next steps: The commission’s action is a recommendation to the borough assembly; final approval and any subdivision or sale decisions remain subject to assembly review. The item will return to the assembly for a final decision.