Planning Commission asks staff to draft PUD ordinance, adds snow-storage requirement

The Haines Borough Planning Commission voted on March 19 to recommend the assembly direct staff to draft a Planned Unit Development (PUD) ordinance for introduction and to include language addressing snow-storage requirements.

Planner Chen Lou said the draft PUD is primarily administrative and "no substantial change to the current PUD regulation," and emphasized the draft is intended to clarify procedures and required materials for applicants. Commissioners flagged open questions about fee schedules, buffers, dwelling densities and the manager's authority to approve minor versus substantial changes to approved plans.

Commissioner Erica Merklin moved the recommendation and Jerry Lapp seconded. Commissioners amended the motion to require that the draft ordinance return to the planning commission for final review before moving to the assembly. The chair called the motion carried; the audio record shows the commission approved the motion as amended.

Commissioners asked staff to ensure the PUD draft explicitly addresses snow storage, clarifies which types of post-approval changes require planning-commission review (for instance, large percentage changes, setbacks or building height increases), and aligns any buffer or landscaping requirements with existing Title 18 standards. Planner Chen said the draft will retain rural-context features and rely on current zoning charts where density is governed by other provisions.

Next steps: staff will prepare a draft ordinance for the commission to review and the body expects the draft to be forwarded to the assembly for introduction and public hearings after this local review.