Planning commission approves third seasonal bunkhouse for Major Marine Tours

The Seward Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve Resolution 2026-009, granting Major Marine Tours LLC a conditional-use permit to construct a third seasonal employee bunkhouse at 1804 Leer Road in the Leer Industrial Subdivision.

City staff told the commission the proposed building would be about 20 feet tall, include 16 sleeping rooms and have a maximum occupancy of 32 residents. Danny from community development said the bunkhouse is allowed in the industrial zoning district through the CUP process and that ‘‘this will be the 3rd bunkhouse on the site,’’ adding that water, sewer, electricity, road access, police and fire services are available and that the facility incorporates fire-detection and suppression measures.

Applicant Colby Lawrence, one of Major Marine Tours’ owners, described the development as employer-provided seasonal housing and said it has improved crew morale and retention: ‘‘we have since we started building these housing units, we have about a 80% return rate on our deckhands and staff,’’ he said. Lawrence also said each unit includes a private restroom and that kitchens on each floor reduce overcrowding in shared cooking spaces.

Staff noted the site plan provides 37 parking spaces to serve the three bunkhouses (roughly one space per three residents across all units) and recommended conditions addressing parking ratios, utility coordination, 9‑1‑1 addressing, landscaping and bear‑resistant refuse storage. Commission discussion included setbacks and dust-buffering, and staff confirmed the project complies with a carve‑out in the development table for the Leer Industrial Subdivision.

The clerk recorded a roll-call vote approving the resolution; the chair declared the resolution approved.