The Wrangell Planning and Zoning Commission had a short meeting last Thursday and one of the main things they discussed in the meeting was a variance request for a front yard setback reduction, by Greg and Anne Duncan. According to the agenda packet for the meeting, the Duncans own a 1.06 acre parcel of land on Shoemaker Bay Loop road. They are wanting to build a 2,400 square foot house and a 1,440 square foot shop/garage which will sit approximately three feet from the front yard property line. Lots of land that is zoned for residential use are required to have 20-foot setbacks for front and back yards, and 15-foot setbacks for side yards. In their application for a variance, the Duncans explained that a creek runs along the north side of their property, then juts southward into their land. The variance they are requesting is designed to avoid disturbing the creek.
"We wanted to do the project in a way that would have no negative impact on the neighbors," said Greg Duncan. "We also contacted the state of Alaska, and they gave us information and said it was no problem whatsoever. They have no plans to develop that right of way. We also contacted the Army Corps of Engineers early on and made sure there were no problems, whatsoever, with the plan. We've tried to do everything we could to reach out to any affected parties and there were no objections."
After a brief discussion, the variance request was approved unanimously by the commission.
The commission also received a request for a conditional use permit from Steve and Yvonne Powers, to allow them to rent a residence they own as a short-term vacation home. The residence is located on Webber Street, and according to the Powers' application, could house up to eight people at a time, but would only be used as a rental part-time. There was some discussion around how allowing the residence to be used as a vacation rental would affect traffic in the area. Webber Street is a one-way road, and is also narrow. Some commissioners stated concerns that having too many cars parked around the residence could lead to the road being bottlenecked. However, it was pointed out in the agenda packet that many renters will not have vehicles with them, and any increase in traffic on Webber Street was likely to be minimal. It was decided that negative impacts to people living on or near Webber Street were unlikely and, at worst, minimal. The request was approved unanimously.
During the meeting, the commission also reviewed a letter to Loretto Jones requiring the need for a conditional use permit for her to rent rooms out of her home, and also received an update on the ongoing land swap between the Forest Service and Alaska Mental Health Trust.
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