The Kenai City Council heard discussion on an ordinance for introduction, which would amend municipal code to clarify roles and responsibilities of applicants, the planning director, and the planning commission in the conditional use process. It also would make housekeeping changes.
Normally, ordinances for introduction get passed through consent agenda, but Vice Mayor Bob Molloy said:
“The why for this is really public comments made over time regarding the code procedures for conditional use permits and comments by the planning and zoning commission members and then, also, by the council sitting as a board of adjustment and the recent appeals that we’ve heard. I had made some comments about some concerns to the city attorney, and he said that he and the planner also had some concerns and issues to look into improvements and clarifications on rules and responsibilities. I said, ‘Great, I’d like to work with you guys to come up with something to send to council and to planning and zoning and have a public process to get some comments and do some code improvements for our conditional use permit process.’ There was a collaboration of the city clerk, myself, the city attorney and the city planner and developing the draft that’s just here for introduction tonight.”
Molloy further explained:
“What my intent would be is if council introduces this is then to make a motion to postpone the ordinance to our next meeting and refer it to the planning and zoning for their meeting. You know, we have some time for this to develop because it’s my understanding that under our code it wouldn’t fall off our agenda unless we didn’t vote on it.”
KenaiOFI
Since the ordinance for introduction passed, a public hearing on Ordinance 3243-2021 will be considered on the Wednesday, September 15th Kenai City Council meeting.