Tonight the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission will hear additional elements of the Ciechanski local option zoning petitions.
Recently in an interview with KSRM, local business owner and Ciechanski property owner Sean Cude detailed the timeline of the ordeal of petitions to rezone the area into residential.
After his purchase of the 19 acre parcel, most of which was covered by an existing and poorly maintained gravel pit, Cude began filling in the old gravel pit above and beyond what is expected by state requirements and borough ordinances according to one document.
Although he requested to not be recorded, Cude provided documents showing that he applied for a conditional land use permit to the Planning Commission on July 25, 2014.
The CLUP was in order to use the last remaining four acres of gravel located on one end of a 19 acre gravel pit that has been in the area for over 20 years.
That permit was denied by the commission for four reasons on August 25, despite recommendations from borough administration to accept the application.
After the permit denial, the borough’s deputy attorney and planning director both attested: “The proposed material site meets these standards with the imposition of the conditions required of all material sites set forth” by borough code.
Cude appealed the decision and the Board of Adjustment is now set to review the appeal in January.
During the appeal process, local homeowners whom had known the previous gravel pit owner were informed they could attempt to use the Local Option Zoning as a way to prevent parcels in the area from becoming additional gravel pits but would have to take the issue to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly.
When taken to the assembly, members heard nearly two hours of public testimony regarding the existing gravel pit and fears about more gravel pits being opened in the area but ultimately the assembly postponed the rezoning request until March in order to have sufficient time to digest whatever decision the Board of Adjustment decides.
Tonight the Borough Planning Commission will hear more on the local option zoning at 7:30 at the Borough Assembly Chambers.