Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission Rezone Recommendation and Commission Business - August 13, 2025
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Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - August 13, 2025
The Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission met on August 13, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. All commissioners were present except Commissioner Metroca (excused), with Commissioners Vetis and Wade participating by phone. The commission approved minutes from prior meetings, held a public hearing on a proposed rezone for 1800 Richardson Highway, and voted unanimously to recommend the rezone to the City Council. Commission business included a code enforcement referral and scheduling updates.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes from the July 9, 2025, and July 23, 2025, meetings without objection.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments from the floor on non-agenda items.
- During the public hearing on Rezone 25-02, applicant Brad Barnett stated that Bill Harris is selling Harr Sand and Gravel, and that he (Barnett) and Harris are working on a potential Ace Hardware store at the site, though nothing is finalized. Commissioner Goodrow expressed strong support for keeping Ace Hardware in the area, saying, "If we lose that Ace Hardware store out there, it's gonna bust us."
Discussion Items
- Rezone 25-02 (1800 Richardson Highway): The public hearing was opened and closed with only the applicant testifying. The commission then considered a motion to recommend the rezone to the City Council. Commissioner Raditic noted that the property's elevation had been raised significantly by previous owners, correcting the record. The Community Development Director clarified that the rezone to General Commercial (G) would permit all allowable uses under that district, regardless of specific future plans.
Key Outcomes
- Vote on Rezone Recommendation: Motion by Commissioner Goodrow, seconded by Commissioner Moulton. The vote was 6 in favor, 0 opposed, with Commissioner Metroca absent. The motion carried. The commission recommends that the City Council authorize the rezone of Lot 2, A.S.L.S. 78-139, Plat 98-2 (1800 Richardson Highway) to General Commercial (G).
Commission Business from Floor
- Commissioner Raditic reported that a long-standing RV/trailer at 135 Hanaguita had been removed, leaving debris. He requested code enforcement action to prevent similar extended stays in the future. The Community Development Director agreed to refer the matter to code enforcement.
- Commissioner Vidas (Vetis) noted that the fall semester begins August 25 and that he will be able to attend meetings in person.
Meeting Transcript
All right. We'd like to call this meeting of the Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission for Wednesday, August 13th to order. Let the record show that everyone is present with the exception of Commissioner Metroca, who is excused, and Commissioners Vetis and Wade are on the phone. We move right on to approval of the minutes. Does anybody have any additions or comments on the July 9th meeting? I might throw it in look good. All right. I think I was at that one, so it really looked good. Looked great. How about July 23rd? That one looked good also. With no objections, the minutes are approved. Public business from the floor is for anyone in the audience to address us on a non-agenda item. Seeing none, we move right on to our public hearing. The first public hearing is for a proposed rezone number 25-02 for 1800 Richardson Highway Lot 2 ASLS 78139, plat 98-2 General Commercial. We're on a hearing right now first. So we only have one audience member who is the applicant. If you'd like to say something now, you may or stand by if somebody did show up. It's up to you. All right, then we'll we'll close the public hearing and move on to the action item, which is the approval of rezone 25-02. A recommendation to the city council to authorize the rezone of lot two ASLS 78-139 plat 98-2, 1800 Richardson Highway to general commercial. Now I'll entertain a motion. You only say it once. Moved by Commissioner Goodrow. And second by Commissioner Moulton. All right. Any comments on this? I do have a question. I noticed it said a construction of building materials for storage and a retail building. I'm just wondering if there's a like what retail. What does that mean? Is that a question I can add? You may. If you if you want to address us on that, you can. You don't have to if it's you know it's not if you're not ready to go public with it. You gotta press the button so the red light goes on, and then you're okay. Um state your name. Brad Barnett. Um I can't really go into it in real detail, but possible retail is uh I think the word's kind of gotten out around town at this point, but um Bill Harris is uh you know in the process of selling hair sand and gravel, and there's different things happening out there, and me and him are working on the ace store uh doing something with that. So it's it's not in ink, but that's yeah, what's the potential goal there? The hardware store. Yeah, okay, thank you. Thank you. Yeah, any other questions or comments? And then just to be clear for the record, so you know this is just a rezone action, so the allowable uses within the general commercial district um would all be allowed in the future. So if that plan doesn't take shape, you know, there's there's a variety of retail uses that are allowed in that district. Yeah, sorry. Okay, that's all right. Yeah, the only comment that I have is Brad, thank you. If we lose that Ace Hardware store out there, it's gonna bust us.
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