After a public hearing and much discussion Tuesday evening, the Wrangell City and Borough Assembly approved a contract zone for light
industrial use for a transportation office, storage and maintenance area requested by Wrangell Cooperative Association.
The item had been
approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission in December with several
stipulations, including its review of a final site plan, the addition of unobtrusive
lighting, exclusively indoor storage on site, and a 50-foot buffer along shared boundary lines.
The property, the seven-acre remainder of Lot A-2 of the Torgramsen-Smith subdivision, is zoned single family residential and owned by Lisa Torgramsen.
Speaking at the meeting,
Jim Shoemaker – a partner in the prospective sale and a
sitting commissioner on Planning and Zoning – pointed out he had to this point abstained from all discussions of the item so there would be no misconceptions of impropriety on his part. Now that the
proposal had reached the Assembly he explained he felt comfortable making his views known, and recommended sticking to the 25-foot buffer required by ordinance for adjacent light industrial and residential zones.
The buffer’s extra width was initially approved by the
commission in order to assuage concerns from neighbors
that the potential facility’s activities could prove
disruptive. Shoemaker went on to say the 50-foot buffer originally approved by Planning and Zoning would, when taken with other easements required for the property, reduce the
buildable land area to the
extent where the proposed office site would be unworkable.
“If it’s enacted I think it will kill the sale,” he said.
Shoemaker pointed out
that the zoning commission had at its meeting earlier this month been willing to reconsider
the extra-wide buffer after
taking in testimony from Torgramsen, but had
instead submitted the proposal as it was in the interest of saving time. The public hearing process would have otherwise had to be repeated, which could further delay any sale by some months.
Economic development director Carol Rushmore had recommended that P&Z forward to the Assembly the proposal with its stipulations and connected correspondence, and on Tuesday explained to Assembly members it was
within their purview to alter the stipulations as they saw
fit. WCA had already
agreed that it would bring a site plan to the commission for
further approval before anything could be built.
The Assembly was
sympathetic to the different perspectives, and deliberated at great length on its options.
“I think the Borough Assembly is trying to be as
supportive of this as we
possibly can, while also respecting Bruce Smith’s property,” explained Stephen Prysunka.
“We want to get this right,” Dave Powell added.
Daniel Blake moved to amend the proposal, removing the requirement for indoor storage as being “too vague” and reducing the buffer from 50 to 25 feet. The Assembly further amended the amendment to make the 25-foot buffer contingent on the zoning commission’s approval of the site plan. Commissioners would have the option to add an additional 25 feet along Smith’s property line if they saw fit, but the Assembly would have final approval over that, with the option to adjust any decision.
The Assembly approved the purchase two pieces of diagnostic equipment from Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics by Wrangell Medical Center for no more than $160,000. The hospital is obligated to seek the city’s permission before making capital purchases in excess of $25,000.
Rather than having the hospital lease the equipment as requested, Prysunka recommended the Assembly permit it to make the purchase outright. The Assembly last summer approved a $500,000 emergency account for WMC’s use, and members reasoned an outright purchase would save the 5.9 percent interest, or around $21,500.
The Assembly also approved $44,000 of grant funds to be spent on float procurement for the city’s dock, with the contract going to Island Contractors LLC. It also approved entering an agreement with ComputerWorks NFP for accounting software, in the estimated annual amount of $30,297.
In other business, Mayor David Jack appointed Rolland Howell to the Planning and Zoning Commission and Economic Development Committee. Howell had submitted letters of interest for serving on each, which expire in October 2018.
An unexpired zoning seat ending in 2017, an economic development seat ending in 2018, and two seats on the Nolan/Museum Board ending in 2018 remain vacant. Those interested in stepping in for any position can contact Kim Lane at City Hall.
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