Video Clips

Quoted moments from Alaska public meetings, hearings, and press conferences.

Clips from Anchorage Zoning Board of Examiners and AppealsClear

Christopher Schutte “I move in Case 2026-0076 to recommend to the Planning and Zoning Commission approval of the amendment to AMC 21.03.120, the minor modifications, and Chapter 21.03.240, variances, to update the review criteria for dimensional variances and increase the threshold for director approval of minor modifications.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - September 10, 2026 - 2026-09-10 18:30:00 · Sep 11, 2026

Christopher Schutte “the new language seems to imply that if there's a minor modification that goes to the director and that he or she does not approve, the director then has to— has to request that it go through the normal public variance process, not automatically goes back through the process. Is that correct?”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - September 10, 2026 - 2026-09-10 18:30:00 · Sep 11, 2026

Christopher Schutte “I do think that the way it's drafted now where it has the automatic process that kicks it back to ZBA is adequate. So I would suggest that we recommend removal of that addition.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - September 10, 2026 - 2026-09-10 18:30:00 · Sep 11, 2026

Christopher Schutte “As long as they reflect our two amendments and Planning and Zoning agrees with them.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - September 10, 2026 - 2026-09-10 18:30:00 · Sep 11, 2026

Christopher Schutte “I move in case 2026-0108 to approve a variance from AMC 21.06.020, Table 21.06-1, and the Table of Dimensional Standards for Residential Districts to allow a single-family residence to encroach 1. 3 Feet into the required 5-foot side setback, subject to the conditions shown on page 4 of our staff report.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - September 10, 2026 - 2026-09-10 18:30:00 · Sep 11, 2026

Christopher Schutte “I think based on the discussion that we have all had and looking at the existing code and process that these changes are going to be positive for the process and for the community.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - September 10, 2026 - 2026-09-10 18:30:00 · Sep 11, 2026

“Okay, it's unanimous.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - September 10, 2026 - 2026-09-10 18:30:00 · Sep 11, 2026

Christopher Schutte “Even though it is a very unique property, it's clear that all of the standards have been met for approval. And I'm— I recommend that we do.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - September 10, 2026 - 2026-09-10 18:30:00 · Sep 11, 2026

Nyle Williams

“denying the applicant his accommodation would create a significant impact to not just the applicant but the entire neighborhood.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - September 10, 2026 - 2026-09-10 18:30:00 · Sep 11, 2026

Jason Norris “I just wanted to quickly ask about the public comment you did receive. Is there any merit to what was received there other than we just don't like the way it looks?”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - September 10, 2026 - 2026-09-10 18:30:00 · Sep 11, 2026

Nyle Williams

“each individual private property owner deserves the right to be able to develop that land as they see fit.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - September 10, 2026 - 2026-09-10 18:30:00 · Sep 11, 2026

Nyle Williams

“to require the applicant to change his property now after over a quarter of a century, it would be a great shame. To force that on this applicant. Um, it would create a hardship for him and for the neighborhood and a bad precedent to not grant his exemption or application.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - September 10, 2026 - 2026-09-10 18:30:00 · Sep 11, 2026

Jonathan Lang “in, uh, the approval criteria, criteria A, it says, uh, physical circumstances such as uniquely lot geometry, surveying errors, and those other circumstances. Um, would staff be willing to accept an amendment to say surveying and construction errors? As a surveyor, I find errors that the builders make all the time, like not following the stakes that I set or building without getting a survey, and then the survey discovers the errors... I think adding in surveying or construction errors would give us a little more flexibility also in understanding the nature of the situation.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - September 10, 2026 - 2026-09-10 18:30:00 · Sep 11, 2026

Ellen McKay “There are 7 votes in the affirmative, no votes in the negative, and the variance is granted.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiers and Appeals - July 9, 2026 - 2026-07-09 18:30:00 · Jul 10, 2026

Jason Norris “I did send an email, a follow-up email to staff asking them to take a look at the dimensional standards, because if we're going to look at what is reasonable for a minor modification, I felt it was reasonable for us to look at the dimensional standards themselves and see if they were still applicable and still serving us well.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiers and Appeals - July 9, 2026 - 2026-07-09 18:30:00 · Jul 10, 2026

Jason Norris “if you have to reduce it so small to fit it within it that it's not going to be developed, then that doesn't feel like the minimum. That feels like below the minimum.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiers and Appeals - July 9, 2026 - 2026-07-09 18:30:00 · Jul 10, 2026

Jason Norris “if we're saying that, well, they could just redesign it to have a smaller floor plate, then I think that that's going to force a lot of redesign, and they may not be able to actually make it commercially viable. And the applicant is saying they're going to have 3 units of commercial with 3 units of residential on top. I don't think that we can just flippantly say that this would be perfectly fine if you just take that 8-foot chunk out.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiers and Appeals - July 9, 2026 - 2026-07-09 18:30:00 · Jul 10, 2026

Jason Norris “I think it does revolve all around the proposed footprint of the building itself, but it does beg the question of what is minimally needed to— is this the minimum variance required, right?”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiers and Appeals - July 9, 2026 - 2026-07-09 18:30:00 · Jul 10, 2026

Elizabeth Appleby “this would be a future public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Planning and Zoning Commission would make a recommendation to the Assembly as to the adoption of the AO.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - June 11, 2026 - 2026-06-11 18:30:00 · Jun 12, 2026

“Case 2026-0076 is postponed to a date uncertain.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - June 11, 2026 - 2026-06-11 18:30:00 · Jun 12, 2026

Elizabeth Appleby “if you're a single-family owner, it's $710 to come for a public hearing here”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - June 11, 2026 - 2026-06-11 18:30:00 · Jun 12, 2026

Jason Norris “I'm also trying to find what is, what is the threshold that really matters? Where, where is it worth the time and effort to bring it before the body? And, and the money, you know, is significant for a lot of people.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - June 11, 2026 - 2026-06-11 18:30:00 · Jun 12, 2026

Jason Norris “I was wondering, in B1, the increase from 5% to 10%, what was the logic behind that? Is it because you saw a large number of potential minor modifications that would have been approved if it was 10%? Or was it that you felt that that was reasonable to ask for in one bite?”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - June 11, 2026 - 2026-06-11 18:30:00 · Jun 12, 2026

Elizabeth Appleby “I'm almost leaning towards wanting to just respond to the questions on the data and bring back a revised draft where I know I've gotten at least some kind of legal counsel as well so that I can more accurately depict what I think is possible for changing this or or what our advice from them is.”

Anchorage Assembly: Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals - June 11, 2026 - 2026-06-11 18:30:00 · Jun 12, 2026