Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting – September 24, 2025
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Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting – September 24, 2025
The Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission met on September 24, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included discussion and approval of two major items: the final plat for Spruce Tree Subdivision and a recommendation to the City Council to rezone 1001 Airport Road to Heavy Industrial. Minutes from prior meetings were tabled for correction. The commission also received reports on temporary land use permits and an update on the housing needs assessment.
Approval of Minutes
- Minutes from the June 14, 2023 and May 24, 2023 meetings were reviewed. Commissioner Goodrow noted a discrepancy: a phrase in the May 24 minutes indicated he "expressed concerns" during a public hearing, but he stated he only asked questions. The commission agreed to edit the minutes and bring back a revised draft for final approval at a future meeting. The minutes were not approved.
Public Hearings
- Public Hearing for Rezone of 1001 Airport Road (Tract C-1) to Heavy Industrial (HI): No members of the public were present to speak. The hearing was closed, and the item moved to new business.
New Business
- Approval of Final Plat for Spruce Tree Subdivision: The subdivision creates Lots 2A, 2B, and 2C. Commissioner Goodrow moved to approve, seconded by Commissioner Radetic. Discussion noted that lot dimensions and road widths exceed minimums, and lots will be required to connect to city water and provide septic systems. The motion passed unanimously (6-0, Commissioner Wade absent).
- Approval of Recommendation to City Council to Rezone 1001 Airport Road to Heavy Industrial: Commissioner Goodrow moved, seconded by Commissioner Radetic. Community Development Director Kate provided context: the property is currently split-zoned (public lands north, heavy industrial south). The applicant, Connect Construction (successor to Harris Sand and Gravel), plans to continue gravel extraction and bring an asphalt batch plant, which is a conditional use in heavy industrial. Staff noted that the rezone aligns with the comprehensive plan's future land use map. Commissioners expressed support, citing the historic industrial use, adjacent heavy industrial zoning, and suitability of roads. The motion passed unanimously (6-0, Commissioner Wade absent).
Reports
- Temporary Land Use Permit 25-10 (Valdez Convention & Visitors Bureau – Oktoberfest): Issued for events at 161, 310, and 180 Galena Drive. Commissioner commented it was a fun activity.
- Temporary Land Use Permit 25-11 (Seward Sauna, LLC): Issued for use of a 300-square-foot portion of ASLS 79-117 (1300 West Egan Drive). No further discussion.
- Community Development Director’s Report: Director Kate announced a housing needs assessment workshop on Monday, September 29, 2025, at noon at the Civic Center, part of the Business Builder Workshop. The consultants will present results from the community survey and workforce questionnaire, followed by a listening session with small business owners. The housing needs assessment is on track for completion by November, and Title 16 (subdivision) and Title 15 (building) code revisions are expected by year-end.
Commission Business from the Floor
- Commissioner Moulton inquired about the new housing development on Shoop Lane (ACA development). She noted shingled roofs and close spacing, questioning snow retention. Director Kate clarified that the roof design was approved by an engineer and includes on-site snow storage areas as part of the planned unit development. Commissioner Goodrow added that the roofs are designed to hold snow to prevent sliding. The development is a private property with a homeowners' association responsible for snow removal.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes from June 14 and May 24, 2023 were not approved; they will be revised and brought back for final approval.
- Final Plat for Spruce Tree Subdivision approved unanimously (6-0).
- Recommendation to rezone 1001 Airport Road to Heavy Industrial approved unanimously (6-0); will be forwarded to City Council.
- No action taken on temporary land use permits; reports were informational.
- Housing needs assessment workshop scheduled for September 29, 2025 at noon.
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to call this meeting of the Valdece Planning and Zoning Commission for Wednesday, September 24th to order. Let the record show that all commissioners are present with the exception of Commissioner Wade. And we have Commissioners Moulton and Beatus on the phone. Approval of minutes. Does anyone have any comments on the minutes from the meeting of June 4th or 14th, 2023? I have it looked fine to me, but I wasn't at that one. So quite a ways back. We're catching up quickly. All right. Seeing no objections, that one is approved. About the uh meeting of May 24th, same year 2023. Yeah, I've read it. It'll look good to me. I had uh one change I'd like to point out, and that's the discussion during the public hearing. Um it it said that there were questions about possible storage on those lots. That was uh Harold Glen. I went back and watched the video today, not myself. And then it says expressed concerns about, and I didn't express any concerns, I asked questions. I think it's important that during the public hearing we were not discussing it, we were just questioning, asking questions. That's good point. So I went back and watched through the video. I would not recommend it. It's very awkward watching myself. Yeah, I I felt kind of silly. And then we'll we will make those corrections. That's under uh item four one, and then under item five one under the discussion. Commissioner member Goodrow echoed concerns brought up during the public hearing. I would change that to expressed concerns and then it's dropped the part about the public hearing. Just for clarity. Other than that, everything looks good, and I am so glad to see these things getting caught up. Thank you. Great. We will make those changes. All right. Well, I think that I wonder if we want to put that because it was the originally approved for a thousand square feet and went down to 750, is what I remember. Wasn't that for those tripods? The size of the track boxes just was decreasing. I don't know if that needs to be in there or not. Because um, but that was the factual part of it. I remember that too. Yeah, they were scheduled for a thousand. Because when you say when you just say a broad um about the size of them, it's it's more that they were they were approved at 1,000 and changed to 750. Yeah. If that would be more just factual, yep. Is that clear enough for you guys? I believe so, but just because the changes are more in-depth, I propose that we bring back another draft after edited, just for a final approval. That would be fine. It's a little a little more complex than just a simple correction. Yep. All right.
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