Kodiak Island Borough planning commission approves preliminary subdivision and forwards rezone to allow tsunami shelter

The Kodiak Island Borough Planning and Zoning Commission on May 20 approved a preliminary subdivision plat to create a lot and extend G Street and unanimously forwarded a related rezoning request from R‑1 (single-family residential) to PL (Public Use Lands) so the site can be used as a tsunami shelter.

Staff recommended approval, and commissioners voted 4-0 on both items. The commission took the actions after a staff presentation that described an updated plat dated May 14, 2026 and four conditions of approval tied to the subdivision and rezone.

Chris, the borough planning director who presented the staff reports, told the commission the Native Village of Uzinki submitted the subdivision and rezone applications and that the revised plat corrects the right-of-way alignment discussed at a recent work session. "This plat has been updated since the May 13 work session to address the right of way location issue," Chris said, and staff "recommend[ed] that the commission approve the preliminary subdivision plat as requested by the applicant, based on the findings and support as well as the proposed conditions of approval." Chris also said that the subdivision includes a requirement that the rezone to the PL Public Use Lands District be approved by the assembly and that a zoning compliance permit for the tsunami shelter be approved prior to final plat submittal.

Commissioners asked technical clarifications about ownership and the location of the right-of-way on the revised plat. Staff explained that the city signed the applications because a deed cannot be executed until the lot is created, and said there is an agreement for the city to transfer about 1.5 acres encompassing the tsunami shelter structure to the Native Village of Uzinki after final platting and related approvals.

There were no members of the public on the phone during the public hearings for either item. On the roll calls the commission recorded unanimous approval for both actions; the clerk announced the vote as "motion passes 4-0." For the subdivision the commission approved the preliminary plat subject to the conditions outlined in the staff report; for the rezoning the commission adopted the resolution and will send its recommendation to the borough assembly for final action.

Next steps: the subdivision's final plat cannot be submitted for recordation until the assembly approves the PL rezoning and the required zoning compliance permit for the tsunami shelter is issued, per conditions noted in the staff report. The planning director said staff will bring related materials back to the commission as those steps proceed.

The commission also signed a case result letter for S26-015 and heard director comments on the draft Plan 2045 comprehensive plan and upcoming work-session review of future land-use map issues.