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Residents, assembly members back citizen-drafted zoning changes to boost housing in Skagway
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Summary
At a Jan. 21 Civic Affairs Committee meeting, residents urged code changes to allow triplexes and accessory dwelling units and the committee unanimously directed staff to format the citizen-submitted amendments to SMC 19.06 and forward them to Planning and Zoning for review.
At its Jan. 21 meeting, the Skagway Municipality Civic Affairs Committee heard sustained public support for citizen-drafted changes to SMC 19.06 that would allow triplexes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to increase housing options.
Jamie Bricker, a lifelong Skagway resident, told the committee the municipality and private developers face similar cost hurdles and that loosening code to allow denser, clustered housing would help projects pencil out. "I'm 100% in favor of the code changes that Mr. Healy and Mr. Hunter are proposing," Bricker said, citing the 2030 comprehensive plan's calls for Garden City redevelopment.
Borough Manager Emily Deach, speaking in her official capacity, suggested the committee consider the approach used in Juneau's multi-year zoning revision — simplifying code and reducing conditional-use requirements — as a model for Skagway. "They're trying to simplify the code to make it easier to get to yes," Deach said.
Committee members acknowledged trade-offs. Sherry Corrington, a resident, supported the proposals in principle but raised safety concerns about reduced front-yard setbacks at corners, noting she has witnessed accidents where sightlines are constrained. "When you're looking at intersections, ... it's really hard to see if vehicles are coming," she said, urging the committee to account for visibility, parking and lot-size implications before finalizing any changes.
Assembly member Dan Henry emphasized the need to pair code flexibility with making municipal land available for development, naming Garden City as a priority. "We need to get Garden City moving," Henry said, arguing that installing utilities and accelerating infrastructure should come first so homes can be built and supply increases.
After discussion, the committee voted unanimously to direct staff to format the potential amendments, prepare clarifying documentation, work with the chair and legal counsel, and forward the package to the Planning and Zoning Commission for formal review. Members requested that staff consult legal, fire-safety and traffic-safety experts as part of that preparation.
The Planning and Zoning Commission will next receive the formatted package and consider whether the proposed SMC 19.06 changes comply with public-safety standards and other code requirements.