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Planning and Zoning Commission approves 3,500‑square‑foot mural with Coca‑Cola branding on Chamber building
Summary
The commission approved variances for a 3,500 sq ft mural and limited Coca‑Cola branding on the Anchorage Chamber building, subject to conditions in the staff report; staff said this is the first assigned sign variance since the urban design commission was sunsetted.
The Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission voted July 13 to approve variances allowing a 3,500‑square‑foot mural and associated signage on the west façade of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce building, subject to the conditions listed on page 4 of the staff report.
The vote followed a staff presentation that said the planning department found the variance approval criteria were met. Planning staff described the request as an assigned sign variance — the first the commission has reviewed since the Urban Design Commission was eliminated.
Kathleen McCardle, president and CEO of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, told the commission that the mural is part of Coca‑Cola’s America‑250 initiative and that the company’s program requires inclusion of some form of the Coca‑Cola logo. “This is sort of a nontraditional request for Anchorage, and we’re excited to have the opportunity to present on it,” McCardle said. Adrian Velasquez, marketing manager for the local Coca‑Cola bottler (an Odom Corporation subsidiary), said the program aims to showcase local artists and enliven downtown: “We want to see beautiful murals for tourists and for people who live here.”
Commissioners asked staff about a DOT comment in the packet and an Alaska statute that restricts outdoor advertising within 660 feet of certain highways. Staff said they had not reached out to DOT about the comment and that they were unsure whether nearby streets would be classified under that statute. Commissioner Sherry McKee noted an existing 144‑square‑foot sign on the building that predates current sign regulations; staff confirmed that the older sign is a preexisting condition.
Commissioner McKee moved to approve the variances (citing AMC 21.47.030B and AMC 21.47.060A) with the conditions recommended by staff; the motion, seconded by Commissioner Ama Abaza, passed. The approval permits the mural as shown on the submitted elevation plan and incorporates the staff‑recommended conditions.
Under the public‑testimony rules read at the start of the meeting, a party of interest wishing to appeal must file a written notice of intent to the planning director within seven days of the commission’s decision; additional appeal steps and deadlines are set out in Title 21 and in the staff report.
The petitioner, project representatives and planning staff will implement the conditions in the staff report before installation moves forward.
