Planning commission approves variance for multifamily housing on corner lot

The Kenai Planning and Zoning Commission approved a variance May 13 allowing two new multifamily structures to be built with a 10-foot setback along Cacnew Way on a 0.46-acre corner lot. The vote was 5-0. The standard front-yard requirement is 20 feet.

The variance permits the property owner to treat the north side of the lot as a side yard rather than a front yard. The property has double frontage along Candlelight Drive and Cacnew Way. It is zoned suburban residential. Under the approved plan, the sole entry to the property will be from Candlelight Drive. The secondary access point on Cacnew Way will be eliminated.

The planning director presented the staff recommendation. She said the variance meets all five criteria in municipal code. The double frontage predates current ownership. Eliminating the secondary access will reduce traffic conflict points. The building will be placed in the northwest corner with a 20-foot east setback to ensure clear visibility at the intersection. The north side will function as a side yard with a 10-foot setback exceeding the 5-foot minimum required for the zone.

The planning director said special conditions are present which are peculiar to the land involved and not applicable to other lands in the same zoning district. She said the property currently has double frontage access. With the proposed build, the double frontage will be eliminated, eliminating a secondary traffic conflict point.

Property owner Jonathan Coates said trees already obstruct the view within 10 feet of the road. He said removing those trees and complying with city landscaping requirements will address visibility concerns.

Nathan Valentine, who lives at 212 Baker Street, testified against the variance. He said the area already has a three-unit multifamily dwelling across Candlelight Drive. He said children play frequently at the corner of Candlelight and Cacnew.

Valentine said the entirety of Cacnew from the junior high to the end of the road where he lives has a lot of raw land and abandoned houses. He said he would like to see more single-unit dwellings and families living there. He said the concentration of multifamily dwelling units is a concern to him.

Katie Way, a realtor who sold the land, testified that the city zoned the property for multifamily use because of community need. She said the buildings will not be closer to the road than the existing trees.

Commissioners said eliminating the Cacnew Way access will improve safety by reducing driveway conflict points. One commissioner noted the 60-foot road right-of-way already provides separation. The commissioner said the variance will open up visibility at the intersection. Another commissioner said the area is zoned for multifamily housing. The commissioner said demand for lower-cost housing makes multifamily development more feasible than single-family construction.