Sitka Planning Commission considers Halibut Point Road rezone

Six residentially zoned lots along Halibut Point Road and Kimsham Street are proposed for commercial rezoning, a change that could affect neighbors along one of Sitka's main road corridors. The City and Borough of Sitka Planning Commission held a public hearing on the request June 17 at 7 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall.

Five property owners are asking the commission to rezone 1004, 1006, 1008, 1100, and 1104 Halibut Point Road and 205 Kimsham Street from R-1 single-family and duplex residential to C-2 general commercial mobile home district. Applicants Trudy Prewitt, Nicholas Brewer, Derek Bowen, Scott Calhoun, and Nathan Swearingen own the parcels through the Prewitt Family Trust and individually. The June 17 agenda materials included DOT traffic counts and public comment attachments as part of the record for the rezone request.

The commission's next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, July 1, at 7 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall. The July 1 agenda lists approval of the June 17 meeting minutes and a separate public hearing on a minor zoning variance at 2013 and 2015 Sawmill Creek Road. The Halibut Point Road rezone does not appear on that agenda. No applicant rationale or public testimony from the June 17 hearing is available in the source material.

The commission acts in an advisory role on zoning map amendments. Any recommendation goes to the Sitka Assembly for a binding decision. The commission holds hearings on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall.

Residents along Halibut Point Road and Kimsham Street are the neighbors most directly affected and are invited to weigh in. Public testimony at commission meetings is limited to three minutes per individual unless the chair sets other limits. Written comments can be emailed to [email protected] or dropped off at the Planning Office in City Hall. Questions can be directed to the Planning Office at (907) 747-1814.