Commissioners recommend rezoning Government Hill tract owned by Don Young Port of Alaska to parks

The Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission on July 6 voted to recommend that the Assembly rezone a 7.9-acre tract near Government Hill from I-2 (Heavy Industrial) to PR (Parks and Recreation).

Planning Department staff told the commission the rezone request was initiated by the Don Young Port of Alaska and that the planning board previously approved a plat for the parcel (Case S12879). "The department finds that the proposed rezoning meets all three approval criteria and recommends approval of this proposed rezone subject to the recording of a suitable replat," Planning Department staff said during the presentation.

Staff also reported that reviewing state and municipal agencies had no objection to the rezone, but the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT) objected until replat issues involving rights of way identified in the Official Streets and Highways plan were resolved. Planning staff said those right-of-way concerns will be addressed through the plat process before the rezone becomes final.

Petitioner representative Mike Krasinski of PTS said the planning board recommended a 30-foot right-of-way dedication along East Bluff and that the petitioner will add a plat note designating a floating right-of-way for future Knik Arm Bridge alignment. "We are going to dedicate 30 foot right of way along East Bluff, and we're also gonna put a plat note on the plat that designates a floating right of way for future development of the Knik Arm Bridge right of way," Krasinski said.

Commissioner McKee moved to recommend approval to the Assembly, saying the three approval criteria were met and that the proposal "conforms to the Anchorage 2040 land use plan and the Government Hill neighborhood plan" and "would not result in an objective risk to health or safety." Commissioner Polis seconded and added that commissioners heard no public opposition and that the forthcoming replat will resolve DOT's comments. The motion passed; the commission's recommendation will now go to the Anchorage Assembly, which is the decision-making body for rezonings. The rezone, staff said, will be subject to recording a suitable replat before it takes effect.

Action and next steps: The commission forwarded a recommendation of approval to the Assembly; the Assembly must act on the rezoning ordinance and the rezone will be finalized after the required replat is recorded.