Planning and Zoning Commission - Regular Meeting

Alright. I'd like to call this meeting of the Valdes Planning and Zoning Commission for Wednesday, March 25 to order. Let the record show that all commissioners are present with the exception of commissioners Feigerberg and Fidro, and commissioner Molten is here on the phone as well as director Huber. Approval of minutes. Our first meeting is an old one for 05/28/2025.

Does anyone have any comments or additions, corrections? Seeing none, that one is approved. And then minutes for the first meeting this year, 01/14/2026. Any comments? Seeing none, those minutes are approved for the 01/28/2026. That is approved. And finally, our last meeting, 02/11/2026. Any comments?

I did have send a correction for that. Somebody's name already. Did you get that, Jerry?

Yep. I got those.

Yep. Thanks.

Oh, you sent them in email? Okay. Great. Do we need to state that for the record?

You could. Change is?

Would you like to Yeah.

Change was just a a spelling of somebody who's from the public

Oh, okay. Company. Thanks. Good eye. Then public business from the floor is a chance for anyone in the audience to address us on a nonagended item. I don't see any. Alright. Then we move right into new business. Approval of temporary land use permit 26Dash06 for Valdez stay and play for an approximate 1,400 square foot portion of tract a Alaska State Land Survey seventy nine dash one one six, otherwise known as 1500 Airport Road. Get a motion to discuss this?

Motion to discuss. Second.

K. It's been moved by commissioner Wade, seconded by commissioner Braditich. Any comments? Questions?

My only question on it is just, it sounds like there's gonna be somebody on-site, like, all day, and I haven't been out there in a while. I don't know. Are there restroom facilities out there or porta potties out there in the summer? Don't

If you'd like to address us, please come to the mic. You don't have to, but we'd appreciate your your help.

Hit the button on the mic. Make it red.

So whether or not there are restroom facilities out there, I I don't know when we go out there. And we've we've never set this up as a business before out there like we're planning to. We do have access to our own porta potty if that needs to be something that needs to be addressed. But but, yeah, I I I couldn't tell you as to whether or not it's provided for there or not. I don't know. Because it's city land. I don't know if the city typically keeps one out there, especially with the amount of traffic that's out there at this point.

There hasn't been historically any outhouses, but it would be a great idea to have some out there.

That is a good idea.

My understanding is they get, vandalized, so that's why the city hasn't put them out there. But it could be something to be readdressed.

Is that something the staff has considered?

This is something that you could place a condition if you want them to place their porta potty. But as, Commissioner Matroka said, there's no restrooms that are standardly out there, and it's a good thing to think about for a staff person that's gonna

be there all day. So it could

be a condition that you place.

Anyone care to do so?

Chair Hayes, could I add a comment as well, please?

Yes, please.

Yeah. So the this is a discussion that's been ongoing for a number of years. So it's a it's a project for the city to put restrooms out there that has been considered. At this time, the public restrooms that would be available for staff for this business are the airport restrooms.

Okay. Does that seem adequate to the commission?

And I know there's several other companies that operate out there. They don't have a permanent structure, but they have staff out there all day. I think it would be, you know, unfair to require this business to do it because they're unhooking from their trailer. While other businesses stay hooked up to their trailers, so they don't need to use from it. So they don't have to deal with that. So I don't think it's necessary to require that for this planned use.

Alright. Thank you. Any other comments? I myself, I think this looks like a very good business idea, and I think it's good for the community. So I am in favor of it. I guess we'll take it to a vote. Chair Hayes? Yes. Commissioner Malton.

So I'm not opposed to this. I I have spoke to a couple well, I've spoken to one other operator in town about this. I don't you know, there's no penalty for the Christiansons to ask. Right? Because they they asked. It was kinda news to them. Now they're like, oh, I didn't even think that would be an option to leave stuff out there. You know, we invested in trailers to haul stuff back and forth. I think if and when this is approved, you're gonna see at least one or two other companies asking to do the same thing. And this is gonna set the precedent that, it is okay, and it's a land use that we're willing to give away.

So planning should plan for two to three more trailers out there for the summers.

Is that something you see as a concern? Like

It's a heavily it's a heavily used area. I mean, I remember twenty years ago when I worked for Anadyr, we were the first people out there doing guided trips, and we were the only ones out there, you know, with two to three kayaks. Now they run I think them alone run two trailers worth of boats, and then I think, Zach's company does stuff out there as well. So it's something to think about that you could end up with that parking area becoming a commercial storage lot. And if again, I'm not initially opposed to that. That's just, I think, a reality that you'll see people wanting to do that. And are we planning for that? And is there room for that? And and and you know?

Yeah. Yeah.

I would just say in response to that, all those companies already use that out there. They just leave at night, and so it would be the trailers aren't there at night, whereas with this, they will be, but night's not when it's being used. So I don't see that being an issue. Just based on the fact that, you know, Anadya is out there with one or two vehicles in a trailer. Last, a guy goes out there with the same thing, and they've all made it work. So what's

Oh, I'm not I'm not saying there's inherent conflict. I'm saying, at least one operator you talked to was like, oh, I didn't know that was an option. That would be a whole lot easier. I should look into that.

Yeah. I do think that this will increase interest, and that may lead to higher use even of that space. I don't see that being an issue. See that being a a way for more people to have easier access to guided tours and stuff out there and experience the lake. Yep.

It can also is that this is gonna happen. The point is that the flight department should be and, you know, make sure there's space and more of a plan than a one off request that we could see multiple requests and a growing request for the same treatment.

Yeah. That's all. Just considering. I'm glad you brought it up. The applicant had something to say.

Yeah. I I, like like Chris says, I don't think that that is an inherited issue. What I feel is that if there are gonna be additional ones, I I think it would be a welcome thing, and that might drive for additional permanent infrastructure to be built or to be implemented out there by the city as use continues to imp increase so that we can have improvements for those in the community to use it. So I think it would be I think it would be great.

Thank you.

I do have one comment. I'm know that, we get that once a year at least for flooding, or did we make sure that this area won't not be impacted by that when the water just cool up that comes every year and floods up away, you know, just for their

That's a good question for staff. Did you look at the the flood plan?

So that area is subject to the potential for glacier outburst, and we can be in communication and, you know, keep an eye out for when that outburst event will happen, which I'm sure you do anyway since you're recreating in the area and you're familiar

with it, but that is

a good thing to think about.

We'll put some floats

on the trailer.

Alright. It's been a very good discussion. Is there any other comments? Alright. Let's bring it to a vote. Oh, commissioner Moulton, are were you wanting to say something else, or you just forget to put your hand up?

No. No. I don't. I had raised it, but the icon came off. So I'm not controlling it at this point, I think.

Okay. Thank you. Just making sure before we vote. Yeah. Alright.

Calling the vote. So those online?

Aye.

And in the room? Aye. Aye.

Okay. Five yeas.

Two absent.

Two absent.

Motion passes.

Thank you very much. Congratulations. We'll move on to new business item number two. Thank you very much. Approval of a recommendation to city council for a lease with Coalville Inc. For an approximate 1.9 acre portion of Parcel A A T S 564 for 1940 Mineral Creek Loop Road owned by the city of Valdez. We get a motion on that one.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Been moved by commissioner Wade, and I believe commissioner Ratatich Bichu by a second. Any comments or discussion? Alright. I again, I think this is a good use of the property. It looks like they're just barely going off of their own property and and kinda being overkill, generous to even come to us and ask. I think most people would probably just drive across it and not even say anything. So I'm definitely in favor of this, and I thank them for bringing it up.

I excuse me. I appreciate working with with all you as well, and, really appreciate Valdez.

Thank you. Is that that was mister Christensen?

It is. Sorry about that.

Just making sure. Alright.

Can I just mention also that's really close to water and just, if if there's flooding danger for them, is that how does that monitor that or let them know? Or

I think the use they're asking for is just to be able to drive across without to park on it.

Right.

So it

would be a short term.

Well, they would see it, and it wouldn't be a danger to them.

I would hope. I Yeah. Yeah. I

mean, it's not like I think the glacier is a different this would this title. So

Yeah.

Yeah. And we've been in communication with the previous occupant Big State Logistics, and I think he had the the lots well, 1940 and the lots around it for twenty plus years. And I I think that it's flooded a couple of times, but there's there's a a a floodplain area that's adjacent to the property that is impacting. I don't think it really in twenty five years, I don't think it's it's ever impacted the the main gravel portion of that of those properties.

Thank you for that added history.

Yeah. I've just been out there before where there's, like, that big king tide. So like you said, it's just something to be aware of, but I'm I'm not

really Sure.

Absolutely. He's

aware. Alright. Anyone else? Alright. Go ahead and vote on new business item number two.

Alright. Those online?

Aye.

Those in the room? Aye. Aye.

Five yeas. Two absent. Motion carries.

Thank you. Moving on to item number three, approval of recommendation to city council to grant a 10 foot wide private waterline easement of the City Of Valdes owned property known as Parcel B, Northern Light Subdivision to Valdes Holdings LLC. Get a motion on this one.

Move to approve. Second.

It's been moved by commissioner Molten and seconded by commissioner Matroka. Just mix it up tonight. Any comments? I have one question, and that would be the staff. Why is this not a public easement so that if somebody wanted to run telephone and what whatnot through there, why is this a private easement? What what made the difference? Just out of curiosity.

Sure. This is Kate Huber, community development director on the line. The the reason for it being a private easement is that it really only provides access to that lot owned by KOA, and their desire is only to use it on a seasonal basis for their seasonal water service. And so through a process with the city manager and capital facilities and public works department, this was the solution that was preferred by the city and met the needs of the KOA campground making the request.

Okay. Thank you. And I didn't have any concerns with the the easement itself. I think it's pretty straightforward. Anyone else?

Alright. We'll go ahead and take this one to a vote. Item number three.

Those online? Aye.

Those in the room? Aye.

Five yeas. Two absent. Motion carries.

Thank you. And then we have our first report is a temporary land use permit as well, but it's one we don't have to approve. It's number twenty six dash zero two for the Valdes Adventure Alliance for a portion of 1500 Valdes Glacier Road, track a ASLS 79116, a portion of 1730 Homestead Road, Tract J Raven Subdivision, and 3351 Falcon Avenue, Lot 5, Block 9, Robe River Subdivision owned by the city of Valdez. This was all for a bat bike race, I believe. Any questions or comments on the report? How did the race go? Does anybody know? Is it successful?

I did not hear either way. Okay. Alright.

Well, that's concludes that report. We'll move on to Kate, community development director's report.

Thank you. I will keep it extra short tonight as I'm homesick today, but, I do have an update that the title 16 code will be on your next regular meeting agenda. So we weren't able to get it together to bring it forward tonight, but we will bring it to you at your next meeting for recommendation to city council.

Thank you. Any questions for the director? Alright. With that, we'll go to commission business from Florida.

Have

Oh, go ahead.

Yes. I do have a question. So I did notice in the public notice on the the website that something that came before the the zoning commission here about the lease for Knick At the time we approved the five year lease, and it's out in public notice for a twenty year lease. And I just had wanted to maybe understand that process or that that didn't come back to this body. It just, I guess, they, I guess, requested for a twenty year lease versus a five year lease, and that just goes straight to the city.

Miss, you have

I can speak to that.

Yes. So that the re the original request that came forward for that gravel lease for Kinnick Construction, the request was for twenty years. Staff recommended five years because of the 2,005 adopted land use procedures that recommend five year lease terms. And so that was the staff recommendation that was brought forward to planning and zoning for your recommendation to city council. And then when the lease went to city council for approval, they decided to grant the twenty year lease that the applicant requested. So that was up to city council's discretion, and they they chose to grant the twenty year lease.

Thank you. That seemed clear.

I'm just wondering why we do that, and it doesn't really matter, I guess. Why didn't we discuss it?

Well, we make a recommendation, and city council can do with it what they wish. They have the authority to waive those types of rules that we know.

Okay. I will just add on to that, chair Hayes, just to your point. Those the 2,005 adopted procedures that staff referred to in our recommendation, Those procedures are adopted by resolution to so to chair Hayes' point, it is up to city council, and they they passed the resolution approving the twenty year gravel lease, so through the same mechanism of the resolution.

Thank you. Alright. We'll start down at the end. Commissioner Mitroka?

I have nothing.

Alright. Commissioner Aditynch?

I have nothing further.

Commissioner Wade? I'm just gonna real quick since it came up again tonight, and it's come up years and years. And I I think it's something that we need to start talking about as we keep pushing, you know, Valdez tourism, come visit, come do whatever, is our restroom situation. I know we've talked about it out at Roe Blake for many years. Now the glaciers, it's getting busier and everything and stuff out there.

I never understood why we haven't put a restroom facility like over at Allison Point in those places. I know the porta potties, yes, they're quite subject to vandalism and, you know, burn or tipped over or shot up or whatever, but, you know, I people aren't running to the to the airport and stuff all the time or out there in different things. And I think I think having facilities at a couple of our key tourist spots and even even locals, Those get a lot of activity out of the glacier and the ice caves and all kinds of stuff. You know? There's all kinds of activity and stuff there in Robe Lake in the summertime and everything and stuff, and and I think we need to be trying to look at that and push forward with the the more substantial permanent restroom facility like at Allison Point.

Alright. Thank you. Miss Huber, is that something that planning and zoning could take up as a recommendation to councilor? Would that be more appropriate if you brought it to parks and rec?

That's a great question. This is feedback that we have received in the past from the planning and zoning commission, and I have passed it along in the past. But I will I will discuss that with the city clerk and the city manager and see what the best way to bring forward your recommendation will be, and I can report back to you at the next meeting.

I appreciate that. Thank you. Commissioner Bolton.

I was gonna mention that as well, seeing, you know, I don't know if it's monitored or the increase of activity out there, but, you know, year round in reality. On a different note, and this doesn't need to be discussed tonight, but I wanted to put it on the radar. I was gonna send you a message, Kate. I don't super swamp up here in Delta. I heard that there may be some issues in that metal scrap yard by the by Old Town there in that boat they're planning on bringing in.

We can't actually make it there and maybe some other issues with that. The stuff that's being stored there and the ability for them to get rid of it and sell it. I don't know if you've heard any of that or if it's gonna affect the the the permit we approved last year, but just something that I heard through the grapevine from the from the construction guy.

Miss Huber, would you address that? I think we approved the lease through the end of the summer. Was that what we did? And there was probably And they're about a cleanup if or a performance bond of some sort.

So, what I can say is that the the scrap metal barge that was going to come in this past fall was not able to come in. And so the plan is to collect, throughout this summer and then have the barge come in in the fall. I have not heard of any of the issues that commissioner Molten is speaking to. So I will touch base with the city manager and verify that that plan is still in place. So the yeah.

I have not heard any issues with removing all of the scrap, including that that the city is collecting and storing in the pipe yard and that you granted the lease for Alyeska to store theirs next to it. So I can try to get an update on that. But as far as I know, the plan is moving forward, and they'll be collecting more scrap through the summer and shipping out this year.

It was something to the effect of their I guess, original plan was to use Harris's landing craft launch and stuff there, and the company came and said, oh, there's no way we can get. But, you know, it's all hearsay. So I just wanted to get out there, though, and on the radar if that's true. But kinda there was a little bit of discussion during that meeting about, you know, making sure it's out of there and cleaned up properly in this and out.

Alright. Thank you.

That's that's all I have. Thank you.

Appreciate it. And I appreciate I would just like to mention, Jared, thank you for getting the minutes caught up. It's looking really good. And other than that, have nothing, so we'll go ahead and adjourn. Thank you for being here.