Planning and Zoning Commission - Regular Meeting

We'll go ahead and call this meeting to order the Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission for Wednesday, October 22. Let the record show that all commissioners are present with the exception of commissioner Mitroka who is excused, and commissioner Wade is on the phone. Public business from the floor. We have one staff member. Did you come to speak to us on a nonagended item? I didn't think so.

I just need to keep doing something.

Alright. So we'll go right to new business, approval of a recommendation to city council for release with Central Environmental Inc for an approximately two acre portion of USS 439, the pipe yard owned by the city of Valdez.

I move.

Moved by commissioner Goodrose, seconded by commissioner Biedis. Any discussion on this?

I took a ride around there to today. And then there's a lot of material there. And I guess my question is, and I'm sure it wasn't happened, but did anybody grab any soil samples before they put stuff down? And then could we grab them again just to make sure that there isn't a bunch of stuff, residue from transformers and other miscellaneous stuff that might be there.

Yeah. I'm happy to speak to the required process and what has happened. And then, Sean Holland, representation for that applicant is on the line, and he can add some more detail. But I'll just speak generally about the process. And I do just wanna mention for context for everyone that's in the agenda statement, but this use, as as commissioner Goodreau referenced, is already in progress, and that's because this project was the the scrap metal associated with the storage at this site was intended to go out on the barge this fall.

And because the city of Valdez was doing that project and we were working to gather enough material to get a full barge to be able to complete that project this fall, we strongly encourage the applicant that to, you know, to pursue the temporary land use permit and that we wanted to move that material out in the fall. Unfortunately, the barge was not able to get in as planned due to multiple factors. And so this is an unexpected delay, which means that the the materials do need to be stored there over the winter. So staff really encouraged the temporary land use process initially, but also understood, from the applicant that there was a potential need for longer term storage. So with the lease process, there is a requirement that a phase one environmental assessment is done for any lease of city land that's zoned either light industrial or heavy industrial.

So that will be completed along with the standard appraisal for the fair rental value with this associated with this lease. But prior to the temporary land use permit being issued, the applicant did a lot of work for documentation of the existing site conditions before they, moved the materials there because this is, you know, this has been used as a lay down yard and for various other things. And so that documentation has been provided to our department and will be something that can be utilized during the phase one environmental assessment process and establishes a good baseline of the conditions before the material is moved to the site. So, Sean, if you or if the commission would like to hear from him, can add anything else.

Yes. Feel free to chime in if you'd like to, but don't feel obligated to.

Yeah. So this is Sean. Yeah. I mean, she pretty well summarized the the course of events there, but we did take a whole site characteristic characterization, which include all sampling preutilization. We will follow that up with a post. I know that's not necessarily a requirement for you guys. It's just good practice for us. And, of course, all that information will be shared across the board. Just so you know, there absolutely are no transformers and nothing with POLs, petroleum oil, lubricants still on the on the metal components is stored there.

Very good. Thank you. Does that satisfy your concerns?

Yeah. It does. Especially, you can save that. They'll grab samples once all the materials left there Yes. Before and now. Alright. Thank you.

Any other concerns or questions?

I

had one question. This at what point does this become a salvage yard where we need to have fences? And is is this a permitted use for long term just to cover you know, just to put it on the record?

Sure. So, this is the use is considered storage for shipment and barging at this site. So they're not processing the scrap metal at the site. It's not a facility designed to do that. All of the processing of the other material associated with the separate city project to get a scrap barge out is happening at either the Baylor site or at the landfill site. So that's all, you know, unrelated and happening at other places. This this use is just for storage of freight being ready to shipped out to ship out. And so that's something that is identified as a separate and permitted use in the zoning code. Alright. Thank you.

I figured you'd thought of it, but just wanted to make sure it was on the record.

One other item, if I may, just to note, is that there is an existing lease at this site for the Valdes Motorsports Club, and so that was also part of the process of establishing the exact location of, the temporary land use permit and now the the lease site to make sure that they can coexist. So the Motorsports Club is aware of this use, and we've reached out to them to let them know that it's going to extend through the winter. So they don't have any concerns about the location, but it is something that we'll make sure stays that there's awareness about, and it's well marked so that there isn't a conflict with the recreation that's occurring out there as well.

Very good. Thank you. Anything else? All right. Let's go ahead and have a vote.

Okay. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.

Commissioner Wade, I I didn't hear

you. Aye. Aye.

Thank you. All those opposed, please say nay. With that, we have six yeas, one absent. Commissioner Mitroca, motion carries.

Thank you very much. Reports. Community director has a verbal report.

Yeah. I just have a couple of items for you. Similarly to my more recent updates, we're continuing to work on the title 16 draft subdivision code. So it's now gone through legal review and, city manager and public works director review as well as the staff team working on the project. So the draft is back with the consultants, and I expect to get, a draft from them next week.

And then we'll work on preparing that for public review. And, you can expect it to be brought to the commission at, one of your meetings in November. Additionally, we are working on a couple of lease applications, so there will be agenda items for the November meetings related to that as well. And then the other thing that I don't believe I've brought up before is that, commission terms for this commission end at the November. So the clerk's office should have already reached out to the three commissioners who have terms ending to talk about the application process, and I can get with you offline to make sure.

But if you would like to serve again, please make sure you reapply. Or if there's anyone else in the community that you think would be great on the commission, the clerks will start advertising or taking applications here probably, if not this week, next week, because they just completed their last batch for the Parks and Rec Commission. So, that is coming, and then the, new or returning commissioners will join us for the first meeting in December.

Thank you. Anyone have questions for the director? Okay. Commission business from the floor. We'll start down on the end. Commissioner Walton?

I have not had commissioner Davis.

I do have something, and thank you, Kate. So next year, I'll be busy with my PhD. I'll be doing my comprehensive exams, and I'll be traveling quite a bit for that. And I'll have class on Mondays and Thursdays. I have to work late on Tuesdays. That means there'll be commission on Wednesdays, and that's a lot. So I've been thinking that I I I just can't make it work next year or the following year with my PhD. So sorry. We have a couple more meetings, but so I've thinking about it.

But we appreciate you being on here and for getting right in and speaking at all the meetings. You've been a good help. Commissioner Aditya?

Yeah. I have nothing to add. Commissioner Goudreaux?

Nothing at this time.

And I have nothing, so we will have a short meeting tonight. We are adjourned.