Planning and Zoning Commission Hearing on PZC Case No. 2026-0102

The Municipality of Anchorage is proposing an ordinance (PZC Case No. 2026-0102) to amend AMC Chapter 21.05, which governs use regulations in the city. The primary goal is to bring existing uses at Centennial Park and Russian Jack Park into conformity with the PR (Parks and Recreation) zoning district. These parks were previously excluded from a broader rezone (AO No. 2026-48) because their current operations—specifically a campground and a greenhouse—were not permitted under PR zoning. The proposed amendments would reclassify "Camper park" as a conditional use within the PR district. Additionally, the ordinance expands accessory uses for "Parks and Open Areas" to include child care programming, greenhouses, and the temporary sale of products grown on-site. These changes are intended to support ongoing municipal programming, such as the sale of tree plugs at the Mann Leiser Memorial Greenhouse and operations at the 84-site Centennial Campground. Planning staff developed the proposal following consultation with the Parks and Recreation Department. The draft language was refined after receiving feedback from the Rabbit Creek Community Council, which requested that "child care" be specified as "child care programming" to prevent the construction of permanent child care facilities in park spaces. Multiple municipal departments, including Traffic Engineering and Watershed Management Services, have reviewed the proposal and offered no objections.