The Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission met on March 10, 2026, to consider several agenda items including a combined land use plan amendment and rezone for 23 parcels, a proposal to sunset the Urban Design Commission, and a text amendment for the Girdwood Airport. The commission also handled disclosures, reordered the agenda, and approved a consent agenda. Key votes included recommendations to the Assembly on all three main items.
Combined Cases 2026-0025 (Land Use Plan Amendment) and 2026-0024 (Rezone): Staff planner Luke Bertram presented the proposal to amend the Anchorage 2040 Land Use Plan map for three parcels (changing from community facility/institution and town center to light industrial/commercial) and to rezone 23 parcels across four areas (Sand Lake, Huffman/Seward, Totem Theater/Muldoon, and Airport Heights) from legacy D2, B4, and TR districts to modern R1, R2M, R3, B3, and I1 districts. The purpose was to clean up the zoning map more than a decade after Title 21 was rewritten. Staff noted 91 acres of outdated zoning remain. The Anchorage School District expressed no concerns. An open house had one attendee. The commission asked clarifying questions about the history, land use changes, and impacts on existing mobile homes. Following testimony, Commissioner Ron moved to approve the land use amendment (seconded, passed), and Commissioner Krishna moved to approve the rezone (seconded, passed).
Case 2026-0010 – Sunset Urban Design Commission (UDC): Staff planner Daniel Kanfoush presented a draft ordinance to sunset the UDC. In 2025, the UDC heard 7 cases, costing $28,000 in staff time and 350 volunteer hours. The commission had held a work session discussing absorbing UDC functions. No public testimony was offered. Commissioner McKee, current UDC chair, moved to approve the sunset, citing staff efficiency and volunteer demands. The motion passed with thanks to former UDC members.
Case 2026-0042 – Text Amendment to Title 21, Chapter 9 (Girdwood Airport): Staff presented a corresponding text amendment to align with the previously approved Girdwood Airport rezone (case 2026-0015). Changes included deleting a duplicate governmental services listing and adding a new governmental services use. The Girdwood Board of Supervisors passed Resolution 202601 in support. No objections from reviewing agencies. Commissioner Krishna moved to approve (seconded), and the motion passed.
Okay. We're gonna call the March 9th meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission to order. May we please have the roll call? Andre Spinelli. Here. Radica Krishna. Here, Jeff Ron. Here. Ama Baza. Here. Megan Mills. Here. Edith McKee. Here. Jared Gardner, Scott Pullis, and Brandy Eber. Excuse. You have a quorum. Thank you. Thank you. Next is special order of business. Are there any disclosures? Commissioner Mills. I will abstain from voting on the consent agenda as I was not yet seated on the commission then. Thank you. I was absent from the February 9th meeting, but since then I have listened to the audio of case 2016-0015, and I can vote on resolution 2026-014. Thank you for listening. And anyone else? Commissioner McKee. Um I need to disclose that I will be abstaining from voting on the consent agenda as I was not yet seated on the commission. And I also need to disclose with regard to case two zero two six-zero zero one zero that I serve on the Urban Design Commission. Uh thank you for that disclosure. Um is it your intent to participate in tonight's uh case? Um it is if I am directed to by the board. Okay. Um I guess I'd entertain a motion to direct Commissioner McKee to participate. Commissioner Krishna, would you like to state your motion? Sure. I move to direct Commissioner McKee to participate in case 2026-0010. Is there a second? Seconded by Commissioner Abaza. Commissioner Krishna, would you like to speak to your motion? Yes, we're hearing this case in our um legislative or advisory capacity, and I believe that your experience on the Urban Design Commission makes you um perhaps the most qualified to participate in this case. Um so I direct you to do so. Anyone else wish you to speak to the motion? Any objection? Hearing none, motion passes. Um next we'll be looking for a motion to reorder the agenda to hear the consent agenda after public hearings and to combine cases 2026-0025 and 2026-0024. Commissioner Ron, would you like to state your motion? I move to reorder the agenda to hear the consent agenda after the public hearings and to combine cases 2026-0025 and 2026-0024. Thank you.