Zoning amendment allows condos past cemetery

The borough assembly has approved a zoning amendment that opens the possibility for condominiums past the cemetery out to the end of city water and sewer services.

The amendment adds condominiums as an allowable conditional use in the Rural Residential 1 zoning district, if municipal water and sewer service is available to ensure environmental controls over waste disposal from the multiple housing units.

The change “provides another development option,” Carol Rushmore, Wrangell’s zoning administrator, wrote in her presentation for the Aug. 24 assembly meeting, where members approved the change.

“Roadhouse Condominiums has been a successful venture such that additional similar developments could be appropriate,” wrote Rushmore, who also serves as Wrangell’s economic development director. The Roadhouse units are the only condos in town, she said.

“There have been a couple of basic inquiries over the years about what it would take to construct condos.”

The borough planning and zoning commission had recommended the change in Wrangell’s zoning laws.

Condominiums are multi-unit housing developments where residents own their own unit and the condo association usually owns the land and common areas, such as driveways.

“Any proposal, if the condominium use is approved, would be reviewed on its own merit looking at lot size, number of units, parking, storage and other shared spaces as designated within the application,” Rushmore explained in her presentation for the assembly.

A conditional-use permit requires public notice and a hearing by the planning and zoning commission.

The zoning change meets the community’s comprehensive plan objectives of supporting “a range of housing types/living arrangements over time in Wrangell, south of town along Zimovia Highway.”

Though the zoning change allows condominiums as far south as McCormack Creek, the requirement of city water and sewer services stops the option at about 6-Mile, unless the utility lines are extended.

Land south of the cemetery to McCormack Creek primarily is zoned RR1. There are no other Rural Residential 1 lands in Wrangell, Rushmore said.