Planning Commission recommends denial of rezoning for Powerhouse Road tourism site

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Planning Commission on Feb. 11 voted to recommend denial of a rezoning request that would have changed four adjoining lots at the end of Powerhouse Road from low-density residential (RL) to general commercial (CG).

Planning staff presented the case, telling commissioners the four parcels in question (Lots 12 and 3, subdivision of Lot 81, U.S. Survey 2403, and Lot 113, U.S. Survey 3385) had attracted informal tourist use at the right-of-way terminus and that the applicant sought a formal commercial designation to allow parking, public restrooms and other tourism-supporting facilities. "All of this activity that goes on in the right of way is illegal," Aletha Johnson, planning staff, told commissioners, summarizing correspondence with the Alaska Department of Transportation and noting the borough does not control state rights of way.

The applicant, property owner Nils Ledderback, described a long-running pattern of visitors and tour vans using the cul-de-sac area to view wildlife and said rezoning would allow…