02/25/2024
Assembly
NEW: The Assembly has published a 2024 Goals & 2023 Progress report with a summary of accomplishments from last year and plans for 2024. Some interesting highlights:
“Assume snow plowing and funding of all state roads except Glenn, Minnesota and New Seward”
“Increase investment in safe streets, road maintenance, and non-motorized modes”
“Revive the Stormwater Utility plan and identify sources for infrastructure funding"
“Secure local control of 5th/6th Avenues”
“Finalize HOME Initiative to simplify residential zoning”
“Review of code for community councils for procedures of operation to ensure a system that adds value”
“Establish Anchorage Metropolitan Area Projects program for sales tax (w/ AEDC)”
Land Use
NEW: “Unintended Effects” & “Unforeseen Challenges” from recently-adopted design rules: Last year AO 2023-50 established a new set of standards for a new set of “urban context” overlays in a few central areas of the Bowl (although a floor edit by the Assembly simplified the overlays back to existing zoning districts). From an urban design perspective, the intent of the rules was good, as they were intended to limit how expansive driveways could be and how much parking area could be located between a building and the street. However, as the 2024 building season approaches, it seems that the new standards made things a bit more complicated than anyone expected, resulting in some scrambling to undo what was done. One response is AO 2024-23 (item 14.L), the Assembly’s version to walk AO 2023-50 back in one way, the other is AO 2024-24 (item 10.G) the Planning department’s version to walk it back in another (compare section 21.07.010E.3 in both versions for the biggest contradictions). To make things more complicated, this Assembly memo suggests there might even be another version coming out at some point in the future. Overall it's hard to say which is the more concerning issue here: the poor coordination in finding a solution, or lack of anticipation of the "unintended effects" and "unforeseen challenges" from the new rules in the first place.
NEW: Another rezone with more Special Limitations. AO 2024-12 (item 14.I) is a rezone to expand special limitations on a complicated B-3 lot in Spenard with some tall TV towers (and the towers are unlikely to ever go away, so it's tricky to use this property differently than it's used currently). Ever watchful of letting anything progress too easily, the Planning Department thought up a new Special Limitation to apply design standards from the R-3 zone. Special Limitations are a strange quirk of Anchorage zoning that look suspiciously like spot zoning; in general they make regulation less transparent and redevelopment more complicated.
BACK ON THE AGENDA: The Short Term Rental Regulation is back before the Assembly. AO 023-110(S) (item 13.A). Assembly Memo. A few prominent points from the ordinance:
An owner or Responsible Manager must be able to respond to complaints or concerns, or direct someone to respond, on at least a daily basis, in person or by phone, e-mail or other means.
The purposes of the fees for an STR Unit license are restricted to funding the administrative and enforcement costs for the program, including data collection, analysis, and market research of STRs in the Municipality.
Removes limits on overnight occupancy.
Establishes a general fine for any violation of new Chapter 10.90, graduated from a warning for the first offense, to a $100 fine for the second, and $300 for third and subsequent offenses.
BACK ON THE AGENDA: Allowing 3rd party plan review for commercial permits: AO 2023-136 (Item 13.B). From the memo: “Currently in the building permit process in Title 23 of the Anchorage Municipal Code, this plan review function is performed by the Municipality’s Development Services Department under supervision of the Building Official. This ordinance allows that function for commercial structural plan reviews and all plans for three-family buildings to instead be performed by an independent reviewing professional at the option of the building permit applicant.”
BACK ON THE AGENDA: Changing open space requirements for housing near schools and parks: AO-2024-16 (Item 14.A). From the memo, this proposal would remove the open space requirement for small multifamily and “Residential development within one-quarter mile of a public school or dedicated parkland.”
BACK ON THE AGENDA: Removing penalties for redeveloping old buildings: AO 2024-15 (item 14.J) would change the existing requirements that renovation projects pay a tithe for fixing up an old building if the property has some aspects that aren’t in compliance with current zoning and building codes (regardless of whether or not the building is safe and functional as is). Cook Inlet Housing and the Anchorage Community Land Trust both sent letters requesting repeal or modification of these rules, as they often hamper adaptive reuse.
Transportation
NEW: AMATS Community Advisory Committee Special Meeting: February 27th, 3-5pm: The agenda shows discussion of route R for People Mover in Eagle River, TIP amendment #2 comments, and the Seward Glenn PEL.
NEW: AMATS Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Special Meeting: February 27, 4-5pm to discuss the Seward to Glenn Connection Planning and Environmental Linkages Study, with a focus on non-motorized facilities in the proposed design alternatives. Please note this appears to be a double booking!
NEW: Allocating funding for bike lane pilots: AR 2024-67. The memo states: “The attached Assembly Resolution appropriates $165,000 in grant funds from the State of Alaska, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (SOA DOT& PF). The funds are from the Federal Highway Administration, granted through the SOA DOT & PF, and awarded to the Municipality of Anchorage in the form of a Memorandum of Agreement for continued funding for the Pilot Study of Protected Bike Lanes, within the Traffic Engineering Department.” At the February 27th Assembly regular meeting.
PAST: AMATS Policy Committee and Technical Advisory Committee Special Meeting: The committees reviewed the draft AMATS Safety Plan on February 21. The plan will allow Anchorage to be eligible for (potentially millions of dollars of) Safe Streets for All grants and identifies system-wide strategies as well as countermeasures at priority locations for improving safety. It will be finalized in March and updated every few years.
ONGOING: Municipality of Anchorage Long Range Transportation Priorities Survey: Share your perspective on the future of transportation infrastructure investments in Anchorage. A public open house will be held in the Beluga Room of the Loussac Library on Monday, February 26 from 4:00 to 7:30 pm.
ONGOING: AKDOT has released concepts for the Seward/Glenn Highway Connector (PEL) project: Open house materials available here or here. News item here.
Events
ONGOING: Sponsors of the HOME initiative zoning reform are hosting a webinar on March 4th at 6pm. From the description: “A complex, prescriptive rulebook stands in the way of the diverse, abundant housing that Anchorage badly needs. Simplifying these rules, and giving property owners more flexibility to build and renovate housing that suits their needs, is a critical step to address our housing shortage.” More project information on HOME can be found here, and additional materials here.