Kodiak Borough set to rezone Ouzinkie parcel for tsunami shelter and government offices

A proposed rezone that would allow use of an existing building in Ouzinkie as a tsunami shelter and government offices is scheduled for a public hearing and vote at the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly's July 16 meeting. The land-use change is a direct public-safety matter for a village on Spruce Island accessible only by boat or small aircraft.

The parcel, Ouzinkie Tract C, Block 1, Lot 2 Remainder of USS 4871, was once part of the old Ouzinkie Airport. Borough staff noted that the borough's 2008 comprehensive plan still designated the property as industrial, a classification that no longer reflects reality. Ordinance No. FY2027-03 corrects that by rezoning the lot from R-1 Single Family to Public Use Land and updating the future land use map accordingly.

The Native Village of Ouzinkie and the City of Ouzinkie filed the application jointly. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-0 on May 20 to recommend approval, formalizing that recommendation in Resolution No. FY2026-21, with two commissioners absent and one seat vacant. The Assembly advanced the ordinance to public hearing unanimously among members present on July 2.

The rezone does not take effect immediately even if the Assembly adopts it. The ordinance is conditioned on the filing and recording of the final plat for preliminary subdivision S26-016, which created the subject lot and extends the G Street right-of-way.

The public hearing begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16, immediately following a 6 p.m. special work session, in Borough Assembly Chambers at 710 Mill Bay Road, Kodiak. The meeting will be broadcast on KMXT 100.1 FM and the borough's YouTube channel. Residents can call in during the public hearing at (907) 486-3231 or toll-free (855) 492-9202, or submit written comments by noon that day by emailing [email protected] or mailing comments to 710 Mill Bay Rd, Room 234, Kodiak, AK 99615.