Skagway planning commission weighs setbacks, triplex rules and code update to ease housing shortage

The Skagway Planning and Zoning Commission met in a May 4, 2026 work session to review a proposed ordinance that would relax setbacks and allow certain residential uses, including triplexes and smaller accessory housing units, as commissioners and public presenters pressed for tools to expand in-town housing.

The discussion opened with the Chair saying the commission convened to revisit a draft originally presented April 9 and to consider whether to recommend the assembly adopt a newer International Building Code. "We are here to look at the proposed amendment, which is an ordinance to revising the setbacks and allowing certain residential uses," the Chair said. Commissioner Hillis argued adopting a more recent IBC would "free up a lot of stuff" and allow modern building options such as tiny homes and container conversions.

Two community presenters detailed housing pressures. Josh Hunter said he and a co-author produced suggested changes after "persistent calls from the community" and warned that relying on temporary RV dwelling is risky: "I feel that path is a slippery slope." Mike Healy, who introduced himself for the record, echoed Hunter's concerns and said the goal is to see action that expands housing supply.

Commissioners spent much of the session debating whether language in the draft that treats intermodal freight containers, RVs, trailers and vans as prohibited long-term storage should remain. Several members favored removing containers from this ordinance or clarifying the definition of "long-term or permanent storage," arguing that a painted container used as building material differs from a rundown trailer. One commissioner said the phrase "other markings detracting from its appearance" is subjective and should be narrowed to "commercial markings" to be enforceable.

On setbacks and accessory housing, commissioners discussed reducing minimum accessory-unit sizes from the draft—90 square feet to 160 or even 120 square feet, noting that newer building codes accommodate smaller, code-built units. Hillis and another commissioner urged adopting a modern IBC (they cited 2024 as a target) because the current local code dates to 2006 and limits options for tiny homes, ship-container conversions and other small-footprint dwellings.

The commission also debated whether triplexes should be permitted broadly or remain subject to conditional-use review in some zones. Commissioners noted zone-specific impacts — shared private roads, septic and well setbacks, view and neighborhood character — and discussed limiting triplexes in Residential Conservation and similar areas while allowing them in other zones. Several members said the conditional-use process can provide transparency and neighborhood protections; others warned that perceived uncertainty around conditional permits can deter investment.

Panelists raised broader housing-strategy points, including the future of Garden City and whether a dedicated trailer/RV park or a contractor-hired planner could provide interim or long-term relief for seasonal and workforce housing needs. Commissioners broadly supported pursuing a contract planner or firm to synthesize past work and provide implementable recommendations, and to ask municipal staff and the city attorney for follow-up analysis on public-works impacts, septic setbacks and occupancy limits.

No formal ordinance vote was taken at the work session. The commission closed by asking staff for clarifications and by signaling intent to prepare a formal recommendation to the assembly on building-code adoption and to conduct further zone-by-zone work sessions. The commission adjourned after a unanimous procedural motion to end the meeting.

Quotes used in this article come from participants who spoke during the May 4, 2026 Planning and Zoning Commission work session. The commission did not adopt any ordinance at this session; follow-up items were requested of municipal staff and the city attorney.