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Assembly rejects rezone for Herring Cove after hearing tourism, road and neighborhood concerns
Summary
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly voted 6-1 to defeat an ordinance that would have rezoned parcels at the end of Powerhouse Road from low-density residential to general commercial after public testimony and a planning staff presentation raised concerns about traffic, DOT right-of-way limits and the lack of a neighborhood study.
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly voted down an ordinance to rezone four parcels near Herring Cove at the terminus of Powerhouse Road, concluding a lengthy public hearing and staff presentation.
Frank Maloney, the borough planning director, told the assembly that staff and the planning commission had recommended denial because the borough lacks the traffic, infrastructure and neighborhood analysis needed to gauge impacts of a commercial rezone. “From our perspective, it’s really difficult to tell the community and the neighbors what are the ways of mitigating impacts when we don’t actually know what really the capacity of that road is right now,” Maloney said.
The issue drew multiple public speakers. Nils Utterback, the applicant and a local tour operator who owns the parcels, said he proposed the rezone to address parking, restrooms and trash at the popular wildlife viewing area. “There’s no…
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