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Commission pauses proposed B‑3 zoning changes on self‑storage and parking, orders a work session
Summary
Facing questions about policy trade‑offs — encouraging housing versus preserving industrial/commercial uses — the Planning and Zoning Commission postponed two linked B‑3 zoning amendments on self‑storage, parking and mixed‑use definitions and directed staff to schedule a joined work session for more data and policy guidance.
The Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission on April 13 voted to postpone two Assembly‑sponsored code amendments affecting the B‑3 zoning district and directed staff to hold a joint work session. The items under review would (1) make some uses — such as self‑storage, storage yards and large parking lots — conditional in B‑3 and (2) expand permitted housing forms and clarify the mixed‑use definition.
Staff said the proposals were intended to favor housing development and limit certain vehicle‑oriented and storage uses in B‑3 corridors. Commissioners debated the policy tradeoffs at length: several members expressed support for encouraging housing but asked for more data on how the changes would affect industrial land supply, soft industrial businesses and the feasibility of commercial projects.
A land‑use planner from DOWL urged the commission not to require conditional use permits for parking structures or surface parking over 50 spaces, arguing that conditional review adds significant time and cost and that shared or district parking strategies are not yet in place. The planner said parking structures can be necessary for campus‑like settings and downtown redevelopment and that conditional status could impede certain projects.
Commissioner Christian moved, and Commissioner Gardner seconded, to postpone both items (PC cases 2026‑0034 and 2026‑0035) and direct staff to schedule a joint work session. The motion passed. Commissioners asked staff to prepare specific information for the work session: a clear statement of B‑3 goals and priority uses; data on how many existing parcels would be affected; potential impacts to industrial land and soft industrial businesses; clarification of definitions distinguishing self‑storage from warehousing or active business uses; and scenarios showing where parking structures might be required or appropriate.
Staff said it will prepare the requested analyses and schedule the work session so the commission can give more informed recommendations to the Assembly.
