Anchorage commenter urges PZC to push housing ordinances further

A South Anchorage resident submitted written comments to the Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission on June 8 regarding two pending ordinances. One ordinance, Case 2026-0034, addresses self-storage and parking review in the B-3 district. The other, Case 2026-0035, aims to expand residential uses in commercial zones. Both cases are part of a Title 21 zoning overhaul tied to the city's goal of 10,000 homes in 10 years.

Jason Norris submitted comments on both cases. On the housing ordinance, he asked the commission to extend multifamily housing allowances beyond B-3 zones into B-1A, B-1B, and RO districts, and to reclassify townhouses in RO from Administrative Site Plan Review to permitted use. He called for repealing the municipal code provision setting a default minimum lot size of roughly 2,700 square feet. "This is an archaic and needless restriction on development that presents a default minimum lot size of approximately 2,700 square feet," he said. He also proposed raising the B-3 height cap from 60 feet to 75 feet.

On the parking ordinance, Norris outlined a three-tier parking review system to replace the current single threshold of roughly 50 spaces. He argued the same framework should extend to the I-1 district, where he said commercial uses occupy scarce light industrial land under relaxed parking rules.

Planning staff have framed related reforms, including a Missing Middle Housing Opportunity Overlay considered at a June Assembly worksession, as opt-in changes proposing a maximum height of 40 feet in most zones.

The Planning and Zoning Commission factsheet for both cases is dated July 13. Its recommendations go to the Anchorage Municipal Assembly for final action.