City council resolution directs comprehensive zoning review; planning commission discusses third‑party assistance

The planning commission considered a resolution from the city council directing a comprehensive zoning review and discussed how to scope and carry out the work.

City manager said council members Barber and Coleman sponsored a resolution (presented Feb. 23) directing the commission to complete a comprehensive zoning review. She told the commission the last such review occurred in 2006 and council members expressed unanimous support. "Since that time, economic drivers and land‑use needs have evolved," she said, citing increased tourism and a need for housing clarity.

Commissioners asked whether the effort would mean rewriting the zoning map from scratch or conducting a targeted review. The manager and several commissioners suggested targeted approaches that focus first on the land‑use and housing pillars, consider overlay districts where needed, and identify near‑term revisions such as accessory dwelling unit definitions or overlay protections for sensitive natural areas.

The manager proposed asking the Alaska Municipal League (AML) or another third party for a scope of work and cost estimate. Commissioners agreed that a proposal from AML would provide options and that the commission could then recommend a budget appropriation to the council if the cost and scope made the approach feasible.

The group also discussed bringing communication‑tower regulatory language into the review: a current permit involving additional equipment on an existing tower highlighted gaps in local code. Commissioners asked staff to add communication infrastructure and ADU work to the zoning‑review list for future action.

No final decision on funding or contractor selection was made at the meeting; staff will request proposals and report back to the commission.