Kenai council rezones parcels along Redoubt Avenue to allow higher-density urban residential development

Kenai — The Kenai City Council enacted Ordinance 3494-2025 on Nov. 19, rezoning seven lots and one tract along Redoubt Avenue to urban residential and two tracts to suburban residential.

City Manager Kevin Eubank and planning staff explained the practical effects: urban residential zoning allows higher-density housing (examples discussed included six-plexes and eight-plexes by right) while rural residential is more restrictive (limiting to smaller multiunit structures). The rezoning aims to align the parcels with surrounding uses, reduce the need for conditional-use permits, and facilitate future utility extensions and subdivision development.

Eubank said the rezone was requested by a property owner and agreed to by neighboring owners; it would eliminate several conditional-use permits currently allowing larger multiunit structures in rural-residential zones and instead allow those uses by right in urban residential. City staff noted that lot-size minimums could still be larger at the owner’s choice and that subdivision layout would remain flexible to developer proposals.

Council members asked about the city-owned parcel to the west and whether city staff had a paper plat or plan for roads and utilities; Eubank said staff has had conversations, is leading a community development block grant application with the Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiative (KPHI) to extend utilities, and has done preliminary drawings. KPHI was identified as a nonprofit developer with experience building low-income and senior housing in the borough.

The clerk called the roll and recorded seven yes votes; the ordinance was enacted.

Next steps: Planning and public-works staff will coordinate on utility extensions and any developer proposals; the change will remove a need for several conditional-use permits in that neighborhood.