Planning commission backs Town Center designation and B‑3 rezone for two Abbott Road parcels

The Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission voted Feb. 2 to recommend the Anchorage Assembly approve a comprehensive-plan amendment to change a parcel’s land-use designation to Town Center and to rezone two adjacent parcels from ROSL/R‑5 to B‑3, the general business district.

Planning Department staff told the commission that they had found all required review criteria for both the amendment (five criteria) and the rezone (nine criteria) were met, noting the parcels’ proximity to Abbott Road and nearby rezones. Staff said required development conditions would include L2 perimeter landscaping along the north and west property lines where those parcels abut R‑5 zoning. “L2 landscaping would be required, which is an average width of 15 feet,” staff said during the presentation.

Kate Sove, the petitioner’s representative, told the commission the proposals met location and zoning criteria for Town Center and B‑3 and that Lot 20 already operates under a residential‑office zoning. “Both cases meet all the approval criteria, including the location criteria for both Town Center and B‑3,” Sove said.

Resident Erin Basha testified in opposition, arguing the smallest lot would not meet driveway‑access requirements and would create unsafe egress and neighborhood traffic impacts. “The lot is only 60 feet long…adding a commercial driveway less than a 110 feet clearance from Abbott creates unsafe egress,” Basha said, urging denial unless constraints on access and lighting are required.

Sove responded that driveway spacing is a subdivision standard and noted both lots already have driveways; she said combining lots would trigger site‑plan and subdivision review. Planning staff had also distributed a late public comment and confirmed no reviewing agencies objected to the actions; the Abbott Loop Community Council did not object.

Commissioners discussed traffic standards and the status of the TISDO (traffic impact standard), with staff noting the TISDO was paused by the Assembly and no TISDO decision was pending. Commissioners emphasized that future development would be reviewed for access, landscaping and development standards.

Commissioner Polis moved to recommend Assembly approval of the comprehensive‑plan amendment (2026‑0006) with the caveat of striking the packet’s last sentence; Commissioner Krishna seconded. The motion passed. Commissioner Gardner then moved to recommend Assembly approval of the rezone to B‑3 (2026‑0007); Commissioner Polis seconded and that motion also passed. Both items will proceed to the Anchorage Assembly, which will hold public hearings and make the final decisions.

Next steps: the items are recommendations to the Anchorage Assembly; the Assembly will schedule its public hearings and has final authority to approve, modify or deny the proposals.