An overhead diagram of city tidelands proposed for purchase by a pair of property owners shows how close the boundaries come to the state ferry terminal. Planning and Zoning recommended decreasing the size of the lots the city might sell in order to avoid conflicting with the ferry's right of way.
The Planning and Zoning Commission moved forward several developments of properties neighboring the ferry terminal at its monthly meeting last week.
It signed off on a conditional use permit for the corner property at Church Street and Evergreen Road, which had been purchased from the Stough Family Trust by Tidewater Investments LLC in October. Owners Benn Curtis and Shirley Wimberley wanted to continue using the undeveloped lot for outdoor storage.
Under the commission's recommendations, conditions on the property's use would include taking steps to minimize glare and noise to neighboring properties. Sightliness would be another priority, with the new owners asked to minimize clutter and keep the yard presentable. This would include regular monitoring of the property to ensure items are not being abandoned there.
Speaking for the family, son Roland Wimberley explained Tidewater Investments planned to put up security fencing around the yard. Work would likely begin sometime next spring, in coordination with the neighboring property owner, Brett Woodbury.
"We don't have plans for development or anything," Wimberley explained.
The property's purchase had been incidental to another purchase Tidewater had been negotiating with the Stoughs, that of the Kadin Building on Front Street. As the two properties were bundled together in the offer, he explained the opportunity to purchase the yard had presented itself. For now the family intends to store boats and like objects at the yard.
Tidewater also requested purchase of the waterside lot, Lot 15, just west of its new property running parallel to the ferry terminal dock. The half-acre of unsubdivided tidelands is currently owned by the City and Borough of Wrangell, and historically had been used by the Stough Family Trust for barge landings during its ownership of the adjacent lot. In the meeting's packet notes, city staff noted that particular section of tidelands had been privately filled without authorization during the early 1990s.
The strip had been a sticking point in another ongoing request by Woodbury to purchase outlying tidelands adjacent to his lot. Also an item for Planning and Zoning's consideration, his proposed use would involve extension of rock fill and a platform dock for improving the property's water access, which effectively would cut off that access to Lot 15.
Since Tidewater has no interest in using its lot for barging, that issue has since become unimportant. However, the tidelands adjacent to both properties are close enough to the ferry terminal where development could pose a right-of-way issue to the state.
City development director Carol Rushmore explained some conflicts may exist until a proper survey has been conducted to establish corners. Because the tidal parcels are undivided, such a survey is required before their sale.
Her recommendation to Planning and Zoning was to approve sale of both properties, or rather recommend their sale to the Borough Assembly, which has final say over the request. The bounds of Lot 15 requested by Tidewater are more clear-cut than that being requested by Woodbury, Rushmore advised, due to its distance from the terminal and intended use. For Woodbury, she recommended sale of a reduced tideland area than requested to provide the state right-of-way sufficient space, angled sharply toward land from the northern corner of the neighboring lot's fill area. The final sale area would need to be verified by survey and coordinated with the state's marine terminal operations management. Any barge docking built there would need to be angled parallel to the ferry terminal to minimize obstruction, and barges moored there would need to sit offshore during ferry arrival and departure.
With these recommendations in mind, commissioners approved both items. These will move forward to the assembly, which if approved will prompt the surveying process prior to final sale.
During the meeting, board officers were elected, with Terri Henson and Don McConachie retaining their seats as chair and vice-chair, respectively. The seven-person commission still has two seats available. Those interested in serving are invited to contact the clerk at City Hall.
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