Zoning commission grants permit, vacates right of way

The Wrangell Planning and Zoning commission voted 4-0 to grant a conditional use permit to Christie and Bruce Jamieson at a Nov. 14 meeting.

The Jamiesons told commissioners they plan to operate a bed and breakfast out of their house at 612 Zimovia Highway, for one tourism season from approximately May 2014 until the end of September 2014. They plan to host as many as four people, and provide bicycles for tourists to travel around town, they said.

“Our home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, so we have two empty bedrooms with one bathroom to share,” Christie Jamieson told commissioners. “So we thought, what the heck?”

Their plan after the bed and breakfast concludes?

“We’re gonna become snow birds,” Bruce Jamieson quipped.

The Jamiesons’ joint presentation of their request introduced a brief moment of levity when they recited their address in unison, to applause from the assembled onlookers.

The board also granted an alley vacation to the Whites of 115 Third Street. The alley was owned by William Tommila, though he has since relocated to an assisted living facility, according to a correspondence from Tommila’s power of attorney representative and daughter-in-law, Karen Benedetti. The commission voted 4-0 to approve the vacation, on the condition that the city be allowed to maintain a utility and access easement for the use of the borough’s public works department, as recommended by public works director Carl Johnson.

In other business, the board also voted 4-0 to provide a corner setback for a lot in the City Subdivision for Frank and Karen Gunderson.

Commissioners briefly discussed the possibility of rewriting borough ordinances to allow corner lots, which must be approved by the planning and zoning commission by routine.

“You know, every time we deal with a corner lot, we have these added extensions on them,” said Commissioner Don McConachie. “Is there any way that we could come up with some sort of explanation” to prevent a zoning variance request every time.

The ordinance had originally been up for review before complications arose, Economic Development Officer Carol Rushmore said later.