Wrangell's Planning and Zoning Commission met last Tuesday evening, March 17, to hold a series of public hearings on several permit requests and agreement modifications.
The first hearing was on a conditional use permit request for agricultural development. This request came from Laura and Dwane Ballou of Oceanview Gardens. They recently purchased Lots 14A and 14B of USS 2589, in an area more commonly known as Sealy's Mt. The Ballous propose to use the land for raised beds, orchards, greenhouses, and high tunnels. The commission approved of this permit request, on the condition that a buffer of trees along the state right-of-way remain intact, light pollution is minimized, access to the property will be solely from the north end of the lot, and all other local, state, and federal requirements for agricultural use of the land be obtained.
Second on the commission's agenda was a hearing over a proposed modification to a contract zone agreement. In 2016, the meeting's agenda packet reads, Don Glasner received an agreement to change the zone of Lot C in the Torgramsen-Glasner subdivision from "Single Family Residential" to "Light Industrial," to allow him to construct a storage unit. Later that year he received a modification to the agreement, allowing him to construct a second building. This newest request is meant to modify the agreement further, to let him build a third storage unit. The third building, according to the agenda packet, will have a footprint of 60' by 38', with four garage-style units. The commission approved of the agreement modification, upon several conditions: There will be a site-obscuring buffer of vegetation, lighting at the facility will be positioned so as to not disturb adjacent properties, hours of operation will be limited from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and that the driveway entrance to the storage unit be widened.
The commission then held a hearing over a variance permit request by Brooke Reynolds. Reynolds is looking to have a side yard on her property set back two feet from the property line, located at the corner of Reid and St. Michael's Street, to construct a fence. However, all lot lines are supposed to require a 20-foot setback. The commission decided that, given the physical characteristics of Reynolds' property, strictly following the 20-foot guideline would cause unnecessary hardship, the exception would not result in any prejudice to others, and the variance would not break any other guidelines, the variance request was approved.
Finally, the commission considered a conditional use permit for a temporary use of a trailer on Lot 8, Block 6, USS 2127. This request came from Greg and Tammy Meissner. They are wanting to have a trailer home on their property at Forth Avenue for a period of 18 months, while a permanent home is being constructed. The commission approved of this request, so long as the trailer is to no longer be used as an onsite living facility once construction is complete, and the Meissners have utilities for the trailer hooked up before moving in. Should they need to stay in the trailer beyond their 18 month period, the commission said they would have to come back to them for a modification.
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