The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly enacted an ordinance amending borough code related to material sites as they have not been substantially amended in over ten years. A subcommittee was formed to review and discuss proposed amendments regarding site permits, applications, conditions, and procedures. Some of those changes include adding the definition of ‘aggrieved party’, removing the term ‘impartial’, clarifying the well-monitoring timeline, defining ‘quarterly’, and adding a ‘definitions’ section.
Senior Manager Samantha Lopez tells the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly:
“So, this is kind of a quick fix ordinance that we need as staff to be able to function with the gravel pit codes that we currently have. These have been issues that we’ve identified that have come up in appeals lately that, while we know we have another one up for introduction tonight and there’s a process going on, that could get delayed, it might not pass, things like that. These are issues that we thought were relatively non-contentious that were things that could help us right now. Defining what quarterly means. Defining what impartial and independent are. Putting a definitions section in there and adding a definition for an agreed party, so changing who can appeal, when you actually are an agreed party, when you’re not, taking the borough off as being considered an agreed party, that’s the gist of it.”
The Material Site Assembly Subcommittee met last in April and scheduling conflicts have postponed further meetings until September. Though recent public hearings have been held at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission meetings, staff have identified specific areas of code within borough code that would benefit from clarification, allowing for improved implementation of these chapters.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission, at its regular June meeting, recommended enactment by unanimous consent.
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