Anchorage

What to watch at Tuesday's Anchorage Assembly meeting

The Anchorage Assembly meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday on the ground floor of the Loussac Library.

Highlights include two proposed city land-use changes. One deals with the storage of hazardous materials at the Port of Anchorage; the other allows a new type of subdivision that city officials say could spur more affordable housing development.

Here's a rundown of the agenda.

Smaller lots for housing construction

The administration of Mayor Ethan Berkowitz wants to allow developers to divide property into smaller pieces than allowed now. Called unit lots, developers could build and sell homes on those parcels.

Other states, like Washington and California, have used that subdividing method to encourage affordable housing infill projects, said city developer director Chris Schutte. Right now, to get financing for condo projects, developers have to secure at least 50 percent preownership, Schutte said.

Without the proposed change, Schutte said, it's easier and cheaper to build duplexes and fourplexes in Anchorage even if a property's zoning would allow denser housing.

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[Read the proposal outlining how the new form of subdivision would work] 

Hazardous material storage at the Port of Anchorage

The Berkowitz administration also wants Assembly approval to make it easier for the Port of Anchorage to waive land-use laws governing storage of hazardous materials.

The administration said it's trying to fix an "unintended consequence" of the drawn-out overhaul of city land-use laws that ended with approval of "Title 21" in 2013.

[Read a memo from the city describing the proposed ordinance]

But the hazardous materials change is strongly opposed by the Government Hill Community Council, the closest residential neighborhood to the port. The community council sent a letter citing concern for public safety.

Ernie Turner Center project

The Assembly will examine a request to re-zone a property on Eklutna Lake Road for the future home of a new incarnation of the Ernie Turner Center, a local addiction treatment program.

[Read the project packet for the new Ernie Turner Center]

Assembly youth representative

A proposal from former Assemblyman Patrick Flynn to create a nonvoting youth representative on the Assembly is slated to finally get a vote.

Marijuana retail licenses

A batch of commercial marijuana licenses are up for Assembly approval. They include two retail stores: Hillside Natural Wellness, located at 8639 Toloff St. in the Abbott Loop area, and AK Frost, located at 5200 A St. in the Taku-Campbell area.

Devin Kelly

Devin Kelly was an ADN staff reporter.

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