Urban Design Commission - December 10, 2025 - 2025-12-10 18:30:00

Good evening. It's 6:30 PM, December 10th, 2025, and the meeting of the Urban Design Commission will now come to order. May we please have a roll call? Monica Sullivan. Here.

Edith McKee. Here. Alison Lanning. Here. Julia Foland.

Here. Alexandra Nanello. Here. Trevor Strait.

Here. James Kolas. Here. You have a quorum. Thank you.

Thank you. May we get a motion to approve the minutes from September 24th, 2025?

It's been moved by Commissioner Lennig and seconded by Commissioner Calls. Are there any corrections to the minutes?

Are there any objections to the minutes being approved?

Hearing none, the minutes are approved.

Um, next we're moving on to the special order of business. Are there any disclosures this evening?

Nope. Okay, we'll move on. We— there is nothing on the consent agenda. We have no unfinished business. We will now move on to public hearings, and I will read the public process.

The procedure by which the public may speak to the Urban Design Commission at its meeting is: 1, after the staff presentation is completed on public hearing items, the chair will ask for public testimony on the issue. 2, Persons who wish to testify will follow the time limits established in the Urban Design Commission rules of procedure. Petitioners, including all his/her/their representatives, will have 10 minutes. Rebuttal by the petitioner may be allowed when time has been reserved. Representatives of groups, community councils, PTAs, etc., will have 5 minutes, and individuals will have 3 minutes.

3. When your testimony is complete, you may be asked questions by the Commission. You may only testify once on any issue unless questioned by the Commission. 4. Any party of interest wishing to appeal shall first file with the Planning Director within 7 days of the Commission's decision made on the record.

A written notice of intent to appeal in accordance with AMC 21.03.050A.4.A. Commission recommendations to the Anchorage Assembly are not appealable. Following approval of the written findings of fact, this call will be recorded. This call is no longer being recorded. Any party of interest may within 20 days file an appeal by filing a notice of appeal and paying the appeal fee and deposit in accordance with Section 21.03.050.

The notice of appeal must be filed with the planning director on a form prescribed by the municipality. If the appellant is not the applicant, the appellant's notice of appeal shall include proof of service on the applicant.

With respect to case 2025-0142, the petitioner is requesting major site plan review for 2026 Town Square Park improvements. May we please have staff's presentation? Thank you, Madam Chair. MOA Parks and Recreation has submitted major site plan review for improvements within Town Square Park in downtown Anchorage. Town Square Park is 5 individual lots with a portion of 20-foot alleyway bifurcating the north parcels from the south parcel.

The improvements are categorized into 2 phases and align with the 2019 Town Square Park Master Plan. The petitioner attended a pre-application conference with reviewing agencies on September 23rd. 2025 In accordance with AMC 2103080(c)(2). The petitioner met with the Downtown Community Council on May 7th, 2025 and September 3rd, 2025. That's found in Attachment 2 of the application, which includes the petitioner's affidavit of posting, community meeting summary, and application submittal to the Planning Department.

The Planning Department mailed 446 public hearing notices on November 18th, 2025. The department also provided notice to all community councils, the Rabbit Creek Root Community Council submitted written comments. There is one late comment from Diane Holmes, Item G1, Supplementary Item Number 1, that is in your packet. There were no other public comments received by the Planning Department. As for other agency comments, municipal reviewing agencies had no objection to this major site plan review for Town Square Park.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, DOTPF, provided comments regarding existing sidewalks along 5th and 6th Avenues and vendor encroachments within the DOT right-of-way. Municipality of Anchorage MOA Watershed Management provided comments regarding stormwater treatment of the site. Recommended conditions of approval for the major site plan review incorporate comments Attachment 3, included all comments received by the Planning Department in their original format. The Urban Design Commission may approve a major site plan review application if, in the judgment of the commission, all 4 criteria found in AMC 21 3, 180F have been met in all material matters. Planning staff has found that all 4 approval criteria, criteria for a major site plan review have been met, and all 5 use-specific standards for criteria number 2 have been met.

Therefore, staff recommends approval of this major site plan review subject to conditions 1, 2, and 3 found on page 5 of the staff report. There are also a few advisory comments, but those are not conditions that need to be approved. I can answer any questions that the Commission may have. And the petitioner and their representative are in attendance.

Thank you. Are there any questions of staff?

Are there any online? Okay, I'm not seeing any. Um, will the petitioner please come forward? Please state and spell your name for the record, and please let us know if you would like to reserve any of your 10 minutes.

Hello, Madam Chair, members of the commission. My name is Tonya Hong, H-O-N-G, and I am the project manager for the Municipality of Anchorage, and I would like to reserve at least 2 minutes for my rebuttal.

With me this evening is the Parks and Recreation Director as well as Superintendent and the design team members, Una Martin, our landscape architect, and Lauren Bisha, our project engineer with the Boutte Company, if there are any questions for them specifically. I did, um, prepare this PowerPoint for our Parks and Rec Commission, and I updated it before this meeting, and so I just wanted to go through it real quickly, just kind of give you an overview of the project. So some interesting tidbits of fact at Town Square Park: in 1965, Shirley Brundage and Avis Couples led an initiative to create Town Square Park, and it was dedicated by Anchorage Charter in 1984 and then constructed in '89. Um, there were upgrades to the East Street Pedestrian Plaza, the Ruth Moulton Plaza, in 2008. And then in 2019, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved the Town Square Park master plan after years in the making.

Here's just an overview aerial of downtown showing Town Square Park on Block 51 adjacent to Block 52, which is the PAC.

We did quite an extensive amount of public involvement for this project. As you can see, we met with many different stakeholders, a downtown stakeholder group, as well as a master plan working group, which was made up of individuals that actually worked on the master plan. And so we had several meetings throughout the course of our design so that we could.

Trees as well as selective relocation of several specimen trees.

There are walkways and entrances as shown in this depiction so that an individual, any individual, can sit on one side of the corner of the park and see all the way through. And so it creates some nice clear visibility through the park, which can help visitors orient themselves when they visit the park. The entrances are quite large, over 15 feet wide, and are designed for free movement and then clear widths so that they can be maintained by our parks maintenance easily.

The Plaza Flex area that is in the center is a great civic place and was well used this summer with many different summer concerts, and the surface will remain concrete, which will be easy for our maintenance staff to clear. And then because of the lower levels of everything at one level, it'll be easier for them not having to hand shovel a lot of things like they do currently.

We did incorporate several market spaces as well as food truck vendor areas. The biggest difference being along the F Street corridor, which is adjacent to the PAC, will be now what we call the F Street Plaza, so we can have areas where vendors and events can hold events in that area, as well as providing in the future, if approved by Planning and Zone Commission, access for the PAC.

The East Street Plaza will remain as well, which would be used during the morning and lunchtime, where the market space is kind of more an all-day type of area. And then we also did incorporate a fifth vendor area— excuse me, another— a third vendor area along Fifth Avenue on the north side. This is a cross-section depiction of the site, which you can see that it is quite a bit lower than it currently is, down like I mentioned, no taller than 42 inches in the center, and then kind of graze moving forward up the south and north lawns for viewing purposes.

There'll be seat walls and terraced— and in the terraced lawn, which will be used for passive recreation, for picnicking, for lunches. As well as areas that families can congregate during concerts and such.

As I mentioned previously, the plan is to have a comprehensive site lighting package, so not only pedestrian and flood lighting in this first phase, but also lighting anticipated for string lighting and other event lighting or vendor service lighting, um, electrics for future use.

One of the biggest features of Town Square Park is our flower beds, and so those are planned to remain. Horticulture grows these in our own very warehouse— greenhouses, and so the plan was to keep the square footage the same because that's what they can maintain currently.

We did really take a look at winter design. We met with our maintenance department and went through several iterations of the site plan to make sure that it was maintainable and that useful throughout the winter season. One of the contentious spots during the public process was the ice skating rink because it's really hard to maneuver around an ice skating rink. So we did keep it in the plan but kept it very small and maintainable. Also, one of the points was the holiday tree, and so the plan is to put the holiday tree right behind the community stage and have like a— we're currently, we have a tree well, so we could source some sort of local tree and then erect it during the winter.

Memorials and donor bricks. We are going to be adding at the northeast entrance plaques and memorial for Avis Couples and Shirley Brundage for their work with the Anchorage Garden Club when creating the Town Square Park. The donor bricks that are existing today will be removed, and the plan is to return them to the donors and then creating some sort of digital tribute online for those that, um, for their recognition for their previous donors, um, as well as putting on site some interpretive signage, um, to kind of commemorate that previously mentioned site lighting and additional lighting. So these are being planned for, um, but, um, we think they'll be great amenities in the future if we can find funding for it. There will be a nature play area in the center of the park that's more of a passive playful area where individuals, they'll be— they can sit and sit around it because there's several benches around the area.

And the plan is to have some sort of Alaska gravel bar beach theme. So driftwood and boulders and natural grasses and other native plantings. And then, as I mentioned, there is an idea to have some swing benches on site, which would be structures.

Two more minutes. One more minute. We've been working with the Indigenous Place Names Group as well as the Downtown Wayfinding Project. So we're going to be incorporating some of those elements into the park. Some of the grand ideas that we don't really have plans for are iconic lighted features throughout the park.

Um, we're hoping that we can get private funding, um, in order to, um, finance these uses.

This is the current funding, um, and project cost. So as I previously mentioned, um, we have a bond for $2.9 million from 2025, and we are planning to spend it, as I previously mentioned, on the demolition, the site improvements, electrical. Trees and whatnot. And then in the future, if we're able to gain funding, we do have a laundry list of items that we would like to see in the park. And with that, I'd have any questions.

I know that was really quick. So if you have any questions you want to ask for me to dive deeper, please just let me know.

Thank you. Are there any questions of the petitioner? Yeah, I just forgot where's my— okay, there you go. Commissioner Sullivan.

Hi. I think it's great. I think one of the biggest concerns, probably you went through a lot of meetings, was crime. And I think keeping good sight of vision and wide walkways, and I think that helps a lot. I'm just like, I'm just a little, you know, I'm trying to think out of the box of like, why would it make this park work in the winter.

And I don't know if there was any talk about like bringing business that they're year-round, like a coffee shop that you could go and sit down there, and then that will put eyes on the park. Or, I mean, I'm even thinking bigger, close 5th, 8th, and 6th and integrate into the plaza and bring chairs out. I mean, there was any talks of like a bigger vision Uh, when it comes to how this park could work in the winter and bring more business and more people. Yeah, so if you look on the site plan on the north, there's this third vendor area that I had mentioned, and, um, the idea would be that, um, through the park's cooperative use agreement program, um, that we could have vendors come and utilize spaces like that, that little space right there, and have a coffee hut and then they could bring their own picnic tables and chairs, and they could use that area as a standalone area and kind of incorporate the use into the park. Also, like with the COBUC, we do have an opening there with a pathway to the COBUC, so we can have an open use so they could be eyes on the park.

And also the plan would be that they would have a cooperative use agreement with Parks and Recreation to have seating in that area. We have opened up that F Street Plaza, F Street Market area. And if you see all those little boxes, those are tents. And so we can have things like we did this summer where we have that night market on Fridays, or different events that we could have. And then it would be in those areas.

And you can kind of see in some areas we have the vendors, which are those larger rectangles. And so those are vendor spots, and all those spots would have electrical for receptacles for their use. And so the idea would be that this whole corridor, in addition to some of these areas, and then even in the Ruth Moulton Plaza, there's existing areas for vendors that they can, through a cooperative use agreement or some sort of rental agreement, that they can be on the periphery of the park for Eyes on the Park. Yeah, that, that is great. I just feel that it's missing a little more than just that, that just for the summer.

I mean, this is great, and you don't have much money, right? But like, I just feel that all the business are across the street.

And when you're walking, it's very lonely. So it's like you, you don't even want to walk there in the winter. So I think with the, with the lighting that we're proposing, especially some of the string lighting, it kind of draws your eye into the park. And being that it's going to be lower level and not surrounded by those berms that kind of block your vision of what's in the park, that it'll be open. And so you can kind of see the light and then go towards the light.

Yeah, no, I'm sure that's helping a lot. And I really appreciate the whole plan. I mean, there's enough space. Space for— I mean, you know, there's some comments in the package that some people want to see like oasis and no vendors at all, but I feel that we need to bring people, and the way to bring in people is having vendors. You know, like, I know what I want is almost impossible, that it will be like year-round business where it's like a coffee shop that has windows to to the park where people sit and there's always someone watching.

But I think we are far— I mean, this is a big improvement, huge improvement. And, and I think it's going to feel a lot more safer than— I, I'm— one of my friends got stabbed by just decide to walk through and almost got killed, right? And, and it was very unfortunate. So it's always a worry, you know, that since that happened, I'm afraid of walking. So I'm glad that you guys are changing and putting lights, and I'm hoping that there's more activity and, and that the flowers don't disappear with the, you know, with, you know, they keep shrinking and disappearing, and that also brings tourists in the summer and the events.

But, but thank you, that was just my only comment.

Do I need to— do I request to speak?

Do I need to request to speak? No. Here we go.

Commissioner Lanning. Hi, um, thank you for the presentation. I feel like this is a great plan. Um, there's a lot of documentation here, and I can see that the public outreach was pretty extensive for this project, which I know is a lot of work, but it looks like a lot of things that were taken from some of the earlier meetings were implemented, which is really great to see. I had a couple questions.

I think there's kind of battling things to address in this park layout. I noticed one of the comments that came in kind of late was about some sound concerns with the busy streets on either side and kind of lowering that topography, and I, I totally think lowering it is appropriate, having walked through there this summer and been accosted by lots of people and had seen— and seeing some of the wellness checks happening, um, for individuals that were passed out on the sidewalk. And this was like middle of summer and just a quiet night. So I think the safety concerns definitely override a lot of things, but I was just curious if there was anything implemented to address some of that sound carry that's going to be a little bit different with the lower topography. Yeah, so you'll notice in our site plan that we have quite a bit of trees on the perimeter, and that's specifically for the sound aspect.

They should be able to deaden some of the sound. And then those areas are, like I meant, are slightly elevated up to— what is it, 3 feet about— in those center areas along the alley. Oops. And so that would be what we would— what we were kind of mitigating the sound for was just making sure we had a nice perimeter of trees that could help with that, while still being deciduous and see-through. Yeah, and so the intent with eliminating the evergreen trees was to— for the safety factor, was that correct?

Correct. Okay, so there's none of those planned from what I can see in the landscape, and the existing ones are quite girdled, and so they're not healthy enough to be saved. Those are big trees. Yeah, or they're at a certain elevation that it would be hard to—. Right, okay, completely perfect.

Thank you so much. That's all I had.

Commissioner Kaulitz. Well, I like the overall layout. Definitely seems like it would be easier maintenance, but just as far as like the garden beds are concerned, you have a lot more grass space now. Are you still trying to maintain all that garden bed space? Or would there be an overall reduction?

No, so we actually tried to be equal from what we currently have versus what we're proposed because we know that that's how much we can grow in our greenhouses, and so we purposefully tried to size them appropriately. We do have some smaller perennial areas around the tree bases, but again, that would be maintained by Horticulture, so they would obviously install things that they can maintain. Okay, yeah. The garden bed features are definitely like one of the highlights in my opinion, so trying to keep those around is definitely a priority.

Yeah, I believe the dahlia bed is going to be right in front of that community plaza area, community stage in the center, which is pretty popular.

Commissioner Sullivan.

A few more questions. Um, I think somewhere I read that there's potentials like for bike lockers that are a little more formal, or restrooms. There was any talk about restrooms? Because when you're there and you want to go to the bathroom, you've got to go all the way to your office if you have an office down there. So, um, through the chair, um, the park, um, we're proposing to put some porta-potties here along the East Street Plaza.

With screening around it. We did look at the potential for permanent restrooms. However, this is dictated by charter, Anchorage Charter, and the charter specifically prohibits any type of building, permanent building, and a restroom would be considered a permanent building. And so we aren't able to do something like that without a change to the charter, which is obviously a vote of the people. So that's not feasible at this time, but we do agree that this would be your year-round porta-potty park use.

And what was the other question? Oh, it was about, about a bike storage, but that will be more permanent too. I think those could be considered temporary because you would just bolt them in and take them out. We do have area— oops— we do have areas right now for bike racks, like right here in front of the CoBUC, and then Where's the other area? Up north.

Oh, right, yeah, right next to some of those swing benches. So we do have some standard loop bike racks planned. The bike locker comment was a little late for us, and so we're taking a look at if that's feasible or not. Bike lockers are a little tricky because they have to be completely flat to have a bike locker to actually use it. And so this grading plan was quite tricky to try to keep as much as existing as we possibly could for cost purposes.

So we are going to take a look at that and see if feasible with our budget. And then it's very unfortunate that you're going to put some porta-potties in. How are we going to control the use, it's not abuse, by the homeless? You know, that's such a— like, I don't even know, like, what could you do? So, because I feel that they're going to get removed the next month.

Because there's going to be a problem. So through the chair, the Parks Department does have a term contract with Rent-A-Can currently, and so they do the maintenance for us. So we just need to know if there's something wrong and then we dispatch them out to replace and whatnot. So it's really about maintenance because there's really not anything we can do about the other. I know, I know.

That's that. Well, thank you.

So I have a couple of questions for you. Um, so looking through the packet, it said that— I think somewhere in here it said 36, but then you just said 42. So in that range. Okay, I can't recall exactly. Una, if you recall what the highest we are right now.

Difficult, like the stage. We raised the stage by request. Hi, Una, O-O-N-A Martin, M-A-R-T-I-N. Just to speak to the change in height, through comments we heard that the stage in the community center could be higher, so we raised the stage to coincide with an existing electrical vault manhole that's also there. So that's why the 42 inches, it's higher.

And then, um, with flattening and some additional paved areas, um, what is the plan for managing the, the drainage? Oh, that's a great question. We actually have a rain garden planned, um, in this corner right here, as well as, as 3 landscape depressions, which are in the stormwater manual as use for stormwater control. And so with the rain garden and then the different landscape depressions, which would have a different type of material underneath to increase percolation into the subsurface. And so we're definitely taking that into consideration.

And then, um, so with this, is the string lighting— because I, I like water.

Walking, I like using this area. Is the string lighting permanent, or is it something that would be incorporated for events and seasonally? So it's not in the base bid, but it is in this Phase 2, um, 2026 bond amount to cover just the string lighting, um, and the plan would be that they would be permanent. Okay, but the pedestrian lighting and the flood lighting that's on the poles, that is part of Phase 1? That is Phase 1, correct.

Okay, great, thank you. And then I noticed that a lot of the comments were in relationship to the planting beds, and I agree that having the really large planting beds is really a showcase of downtown. I think a lot of people go down there specifically to enjoy it, um, and that, that might be lost with having multiple smaller beds versus having, you know, a So would love to see some consideration to maintaining, you know, at least one of the really large planting beds, because I go downtown just to see them because I think that they're quite spectacular. And I think that you lose some of that and how impressive it is when it's several small ones versus a large one. Um, so I did think that there were a lot of comments pertaining to the, the planting beds being preserved in, in their size.

Yeah, I think in previous iterations they were smaller. We have incorporated and kind of grouped a bunch of them together, but being— I think they're only 2,000 square feet that we currently have.

Our intent is to— this is Oona— our intent is to work with horticulture to take on whatever they're capable of manage. They can increase the size of the beds in those darker green areas that are shown on the plan as much as they'd like. So they can always expand towards— in those darker green areas. The lawn areas are the paler green areas. Does that make sense?

Yeah. Thank you. Um, and then some of the advisory comments that were received— I didn't— and these might be outside of the scope of the project, but just for clarification, the comments received by the Department of Transportation about 5th and 6th Avenue being repaired and upgraded to meet ADA requirements. I didn't know if that was part of the project or if it's outside the scope of the project. So this project is funded through a park bond, and park bonds aren't allowed to be spent in the rights-of-way.

Okay, so those are not planned. And so a perimeter is the property line, so since we're not actually touching the right-of-way, we're not required to improve them specifically. But I'm sure That's on our list as far as future funding opportunities arise. [Speaker:MICHELLE] And then, sorry, because I tabbed my packet, so it will take me a second to get to my questions, but— and I think you kind of answered a little bit of the question about the donor BRICS, because I had a comment about, is there any way that they could be incorporated into a vertical structure? I agree that they are— Having been at the PAC for a show in October, they are very hard to navigate.

They're pavers in a frost-heave climate. You know, I'm sad that they'll be going away. My— we bought one for my sister who passed away. But has there been any thought about being able to incorporate them into a vertical structure? We actually looked quite in depth of trying to figure out how we could do that in a vertical structure, but it really became a matter of there just— it would just be so large of a vertical element or horizontal element that it just would not be cost effective at all.

So we've kind of settled on a— some sort of a digital tribute to all those that have been donated, and then returning the actual donor bricks to their original owners, and then having some type of interpretive signage on site. I'm kind of in that north east corner of the site where we have some of the memorials and different kiosks. We're looking at doing some, um, write-up with some reference to the online digital format. And I do appreciate that you've incorporated bathrooms to the best that is possible. I would love to see a permanent bathroom, but I do know that it adds a lot of complexity.

And, you know, we do have unhoused folks that also need a place to use the restroom, and I think it's much better if we provide them a portable facility that can be maintained than having them use the green spaces. So I think it's, it's a necessary component, and I'm glad it's being considered.

One of the questions I had was about the memorial for the two ladies that started the park. There was a comment in here, and I'm trying to find it, about, you know, that they would really like it to be a green component. There was I think they're working with a family member and they thought it would be neat to have two trees or something that symbolized that it was two of them, but also something that's green. And I didn't know— I couldn't find what was being proposed in the plan to honor their participation. Yeah, they're at this northeast corner of the site.

So there will be plaques, boulders and plaques, just like with Ruth Moulton on the southeast corner. So there'll be boulders and plaques. For each of the ladies, um, as well as, um, we're looking at hopefully being able to transplant some of the flowering crabapples that are currently on site into that area in the corner. Nice. Okay.

Um, and then let me see here.

Uh, it was the, the decision between having a permanent Christmas tree like we have now that's like a living tree versus bringing something in annually. Is there any reconsideration of having it be permanent? I think it's a really neat feature of the park. Yeah, I think we kept going back and forth on different ideas as far as— because we have the existing tree well that we have used in years past where they locally source, or we have the existing tree which is quite sad right now, doesn't have a top. Um, so we're also looking at maybe potentially purchasing a tree, a pre-lit tree that we would have to install every year, but then again where would we store it, and then having to erect it every year.

So we know that we're going to have a holiday tree. We don't know exactly what we're going to do, but at least I think we're going to plan for doing that tree well so that we could have a real tree come and put on the site. And then just to confirm, the, the F Street area in front of the PAC, this area currently feels a little bit unsafe for walking. There's an awning there that is— seems like not super well illuminated and also potentially places where people could hang out. Are the tents— you have the tent structures plus the power sources for vendor trucks.

Those are not— are those permanent or are they— they're just reserved spaces where these things could happen? So otherwise it would be available as a walkway? Correct. And I didn't see a lot of proposed pedestrian lighting there, and I did see that there's quite a few comments associated with the lighting kind of in this particular area. So Could you kind of discuss what the team kind of did to address those lighting comments and concerns?

Yeah, so if you actually look, I believe we prepared a photometric in the plans that show that we have plenty of foot candles along that F Street area. And as you noted, those, those tent structures are not permanent, but we are proposing to be adding these wooden planters that are movable. I think you may have seen them maybe along— where are they— 7th, 7th, in front of the parking garage. There are these little wood planters that have trees in them. And so the idea would be, I think we have like 7 of them, and horticulture would fill them with some sort of planting plan, and then we would move them strategically throughout this area, you know, to prohibit things like unwanted vehicular access and things like that.

Um, so we've been, you know, thinking of different ideas of how we would do that, either removable bollards, but we kind of like the planter idea, um, to kind of keep it some green. Nice. Um, and then, sorry, and then, so I, I think this is a fabulous park plan. I love it. I think it will be a huge improvement.

You know, we use this space, we go down there for, you know, the New Year's events and other things that they have going on. I love being down there in the summer and in the winter. And I know that this area has— this is obviously planned for improvement. There's also the park on the other side of the Egan Center that's planned for improvement. Is there— are those two projects coordinating?

You know, is there for lighting? Just, I know that if we use a consistent style or look, I don't know, is there a plan to kind of create uniformity between these two park spaces, or reduce the potential difficulty in getting replacement structures or features if something is damaged, if they're utilizing the same, like, lighting styles through both park areas? Yeah, so we're actually proposing to use the standard downtown light, which is that 14-foot pole that has kind of the multi-circle on top that you can see when you're walking— oops— when you're walking along to the PAC, you see that same light. So that's what we're proposing. So it's a standard downtown light.

And then we're also looking at the standard downtown amenities as far as benches and whatnot. There'll be the, the wooden slats for the seat bench and then the silver metal.

Handholds on the benches, so they're standard downtown features.

And then, um, just for the clarification, it looks like there was some comments about COBUC having a dedicated park space that will be reserved for their seating. Could you provide a little clarification on what the intent is, or is that public space and I think you're mentioning they have— will have a cooperative agreement. Yeah, I think that's the idea right now, is that they would have a cooperative use agreement, which a lot of vendors do, and that they would bring in their own seating and chairs, and then they would remove them every, every day. So it would just be a passive daily use as they are using it. Okay.

But it would be nice, and, you know, it would be nice to get a coffee at the Cobock and then to come in here and sit down and watch your kids play at the nature play. I was just asking for clarification because the comment made it sound like they would get this dedicated space that nobody else would be able to use, and so I thought it would be a good opportunity to— Yeah, no, it would still be a public space. Okay, and then my last question is, when you have all the vendor trucks there, they do generate some noise and some fumes. Is there a plan to kind of mitigate how that happens? Because I know when they're on the perimeter, which DOT doesn't like.

You know, their fumes kind of mix with roadway fumes, but I feel like if they're potentially parked all along this F Street in front of— that kind of confines them there. And I just didn't know if there's been any discussion about, like, the impact of air quality on the park users if you've got several vendor trucks parked there running. They're electric. So there won't be gas. Awesome, problem solved.

Thank you for answering all my questions. I can see that a lot of thought and effort has gone into developing these plans, and I think that they're really well done. Thank you. I guess, are there any other questions? No.

Then we will now open the hearing to public testimony. Is there anyone wishing to testify?

Yeah, please come forward.

So I would like— please state and spell your name for the record, and then let us know whether you're testifying as an individual or as part of a group. And then there's a little button here that you gotta— till it turns red up here so that we can hear you. Perfect. Yeah, so my name is Chris Beck, C-H-R-I-S B-E-C-K, and I'm on one of the two advisory groups to this process and had an office kitty-corner to this for 15, almost 20 years there at the corner of 5th and E. And I guess In the end, I have one really fundamental concern about the plan as presented, but I do very much want to say thanks to these folks who've done an amazing job with a very challenging schedule, many competing voices, and I think a lot of momentum behind the old design. It's hard to change that.

If I was going to summarize the change, I think it needs to go from a park to a plaza. And the challenge is, I think there are two categories, and I believe this design meets one but not the second one. It needs to be safer, and so clear visibility, lowering that, has absolutely been attained, and I think that's great. And it still retains the things people like, the green space, the planters, places to sit. But I don't think it'll be successful, and I sort of hate— it's the Christmas season, one wants to be positive.

I don't like to be— contrarian, but I think the question that you folks need to ask, the city needs to ask, is will what's planned be sufficient to overcome what Member Sullivan talked about? Will it bring this place to life? I think if we're honest, it's dead 90% of the time. Events are wonderful. I've been there deliberately the last couple nights.

No one is there this time of year. It really needs to be lively. 365 Days of the year. I'll take 360. And I think the only way to do that was hinted at again by what Member Sullivan has said.

I think it is a very big space. I think it's bigger than the demand for use by 50%. I'd much rather be in a busy restaurant than one with a lot of echoing, quiet space. That creates the opportunity to do on the north side what This starts, but it doesn't really carry through. I think it's gonna require utilities that reach that area.

I think it must require a change in the charter to allow permanent buildings, and those need to front on from the north sunny side onto the site with year-round reasons to go there. And there just aren't year-round reasons to go there. And so, that's a disruptive thought, And I don't like to lean in that way, but I really want this to succeed. Anchorage downtown needs it. The town as a whole needs a successful space.

And I think the question for this group and everybody is, will this change that fundamental challenge of a place for which there aren't many reasons to go most every day? And I think the only way to do that— I think you've touched on it— enclosed, built, change the charter, places to get coffee, food, rentals, see people, be warm on a cold day, sit outside in a heated covered area with chairs during the rest of the year. So—. Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there anybody else?

Okay, would the petitioner like to use their remaining time for rebuttal? I think you had a minute left.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, just to speak to Mr. Beck's comments, I think we've done a good job of setting the stage for those types of uses. Um, as far as on the perimeter, I think that if there was a management, um, specific management that was focused solely on event planning, um, that that would be something that would be super helpful in getting the park activated. We spent a lot of time this summer, um, activating the park, and I think people really, um, spoke and enjoyed that. Um, but it would really take a dedicated individual or group of individuals, perhaps the Downtown Partnership where the park can have some sort of joint look at some sort of a plan where they could help us manage and create events for it.

But I think we've done a really good job of setting the base for the park so that things like those active things can take place. So I'll just leave it at that.

Are there any more questions? For the petitioner or staff.

Commissioner Sullivan.

Going back to the same comment, it's just, it's, it's bugging me that we don't have permanent buildings that are close to the park that will bring eyes to the park and will give me a reason to go in the winter. Do there was even a talk about this? Yeah, but it's, um, I mean, it's prohibitive. It's against the charter, so there's not really anything we can do as far as plan for it currently. Um, that would take an administrative action.

And what it takes to make that action, I mean, what's the process? I believe it's, um, some sort of petition administrative to the assembly and And then the assembly would have to put it as an item on the, on the vote to the people as an item.

But I think you'll find that the members like Brundages and the Couples and the Moultons would find that that is very against what the original charter plan for this park was, was not to have buildings. And I think there would be quite a contentious would be a contentious endeavor.

Thank you. Um, I have a question. I'm not sure if it's for the petitioner, or maybe it might be more for staff. Um, but with your site plan and hearing comments about the necessity maybe for semi-permanent or permanent structures that would be an attractant, um, and that requiring a change to the charter, when we laid out the hard space, so concrete pavement, is there some— was there some discussion about the ability, if the charter were changed, knowing that that takes a process that you have absolutely no control over and cannot be incorporated in the design that you're presenting to us, um, could some of the space be converted to have little kiosks like a coffee shop or a hot dog vendor or some of the other things that have been mentioned in the packet? I think, um.

Perhaps, but there would be— there would have to be a lot of other things that would have to happen. This parcel is made up of, I can't recall, 5 or 6 lots, and lots are legally owned and managed. So there would be some sort of— something would have to be in play to have something like that happen. There's a lot of issues with utilities because of there are lot lines, and through tariff, you're not allowed to cross property lines with utilities. And so we've run into that challenge specifically on the site, just because it's not possible to cross a property line.

You would have to do a whole resubdivision of an area and a vacation of the right-of-way, which is— could be a year-plus process. So there's a lot of different challenges that we ran up against. I'm sure it could be possible, but there would be a lot of challenges. Thank you.

Commissioner Sullivan.

You know, we just cannot move the motion because we need this improvement, but definitely it's missing something there, and it's the permanent structures, or whether closing the streets and integrating the business. I mean, there's like a bigger vision for downtown area. Um, it's just— I understand it's not that easy, and I really appreciate what you guys are doing, but, um, not sure what's the way to go to make something change so it becomes a winter space. But thank you.

Mr. Hatcher. Madam Chair, so Ms. Ong was talking about the utilities, is specifically water and sewer. So the, the alleyway is still there because the water line and the sewer line are still running east-west before they make a 45 and run south on F Street. And not all the lots, because they're not all platted as one lot, and they're not all fronted by water and sewer specifically. And so that's a tariff issue with AWWU for service.

And crossing property— you can't cross property lines with a service. You have to be fronted. So thank you for providing clarification.

Are there any more questions from the Commission for the petitioner or staff?

The public hearing is now closed. The matter now rests with the body. We will move and, and vote. May we have a motion to approve in case 2025-0142?

It was moved by Commissioner Lennig. Mover, would you please state your motion?

Uh, yes, I move in case 2025-0142 to approve the major site plan review for Town Square Park subject to conditions 1 through 3 as shown on page 5 of the staff report.

Well, that was seconded by Commissioner Kolas. Commissioner Lennig, would you please speak to your motion? Yes, um, I know it's been said already, but I do want to commend you guys for the amount of work that you've put into this project. I know there's always budget constraints and time constraints and all these other complicated site challenges with the charter and property ownership and all of that. But I think with what you have to work with, you've put together a really nice plan, and I intend to support this motion.

I will do findings of fact, but I just wanted to commend you guys on the work that you put in. I think it's a thoughtful plan. I do think there's some pieces that would help activate the space more, but I think those things are out of your control at this point, and I hope in the future hopefully somebody can implement some of that, or there's some partnerships that can take place to help implement some of that. But this looks like a more successful activation than what we have currently, and that's exciting. As far as findings of fact, major site plan review criteria— criteria 1, the site plan is consistent with any previously approved subdivision plat or planned development master plan.

This criteria is met. It is consistent with the 2019 Town Square Park Master Plan. As stated in staff's packet. Number 2, the site plan complies with applicable development and design standards in Title 21, including zoning districts, use regulations, dimensional standards and measurements, and development design standards. Um, this— the criteria is met for this.

The property meets the B-2A Downtown Core Central Business District intent and purpose, and also is an allowed use in that space. I'm not going to go through each one of these. I think they're pretty well defined, but, um, the dimensional standards are met for B-2A.

There's no parking proposed.

It meets the definition of a park, which is pretty important. Number 3, the site plan addresses any significant adverse impacts that could reasonably be anticipated to result from the use. Um, the criteria is met, and I think this is actually improving a lot of the site plan challenges that currently exist. I think you're improving safety, hopefully improving utilization. I think there— we're going to see some really good things there, and it's improving access to the site in general, visually and physically, which I think is really great.

Item 4, the development proposed in the site plan is consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the comprehensive plan. This criteria is met as well. It meets the Anchorage 2020 Anchorage Bowl Comprehensive Plan. It supports the goals of the Northern City Parks, Trails, Recreation meets the arts and culture, uh, goal there, the social environment, civic involvement, and safety, which I think obviously has been a key one there. Um, it also meets the Anchorage 2040 Land Use Plan and supports the policy, which I thought was important in the staff packet, that it ensures all neighborhoods and communities have access to nearby parks and recreational opportunities that support well-being, and this being a central park in the middle of downtown, it really meets that standard and is hopefully creating a space for everybody to use.

And those conclude my findings. Again, thank you for your time.

Thank you. Commissioner Kolas, would you like to speak to your second?

Yeah, I agree a lot with Commissioner Lennig amongst the similar findings and a lot of those statements made by, or conclusions made by staff. And just in the future, I think as far as like permanent structures go, maybe it's something worth chasing down to modify the charter but not call it like outright permanent buildings. Maybe get a carve-out for public sanitation facilities because there is water and sewer in the area. So there is definitely, uh, room to build the structures, but just not necessarily the foresight when the charter was made that it's nice to go to the bathroom every once in a while in public. So thank you.

Are there any other commissioners wishing to speak to the motion and/or add findings?

Do we have anybody online?

No. If there is no further discussion, may we have a vote on case 2025-0142?

Miss Daniello, how do you vote?

Um, I vote in favor. Yes.

That was a yes.

Yes, that's a yes. Thank you. Mr. Strait, how do you vote?

Yes. Ms. Folland?

Approve. Thank you.

Case 2025-0142 was approved with a yes vote of the 7, 0 no, and 0 abstaining.

Move on to the next item on the agenda. So we don't have any requests for appearances or reports, but for the— Commission does have some comments this evening. It has been shared with us that the.

The UDC may be sunsetting pending a vote by the assembly and would just like to thank the public. It's been great to have you come before us and share your concerns and approve your variances. I'd like to thank my fellow commissioners. This has been just a really— I'm going to get emotional. It's been a wonderful experience.

The former chair recruited me to serve on the UDC, and it's been one of the best experiences I've had. I'm a lifelong Alaskan. I was born and raised in Anchorage. And so this opportunity to serve you has been really meaningful to me. So, and then I will open it up to other commissioners that may have comments.

But it's just been such a rewarding experience to serve the community of Anchorage.

Uh, Miss Bob.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, Melissa Babb, Planning Director, for the record. If it is okay with the chair, I would like to just read formally into the record something that I wrote you all in an email recently on this topic. Again, the assembly has not made a vote. We don't know for certain one way or the other.

Whether or not, whether or not the UDC will sunset. But I wanted to say this regardless because this is how I feel about the UDC one way or the other. So I wanted to take a moment to extend my deepest gratitude to each of you for your dedicated service and thoughtful contributions throughout your tenure. Your commitment, insight, and collaboration have been instrumental in advancing and and supporting the goals and policies of the comprehensive plan and the municipality. The work you've done has laid a strong foundation for future efforts and is deeply appreciated by staff, leadership, and the community alike.

So thank you all very much for your service.

Thank you.

This is very sad. I have been here for about 12 years sitting. So it is sad and it is sad because I think the UDC brings a different perspective and a vision and it is a good board for the community. I believe people that serve the UDC have a different way of seeing things. So I hope it stays, but you know, it's not to me.

That's what I participate because I think we could sometimes make the difference in the city. Thank you.

Uh, Miss Bob— Bab, sorry.

Through the chair to the commission, um, I just wanted to add that we would truly appreciate any future service that you might be willing to take on, on any of the other boards and commissions. The review process that you currently are in charge of now will go to PCC, so, um, and there are some chairs open on PCC and Please, you know, consider maybe putting your name in the hat for either that Commission or some of the other Commissions that we have at the Planning Department. And thank you again.

Thank you. Commissioner Lanning? I just wanted to thank the rest of the Commission. I feel like this has been a really great experience for me as well. I was recruited by somebody that no longer works at the Planning Department, but I'm very grateful that he reached out when he did.

And I've been here for a few years too, and I just— it's been a really great group of people. And I agree with Commissioner Sullivan that the UDC kind of attracts people that really, I think, want to be involved in decisions being made in this community and try to improve some things with Title 21. And I just feel really grateful for the opportunity to serve, so, and to serve with you guys. So thank you guys.

Lori, is anyone else scheduled on the docket to speak? I just want to make sure I'm not interrupting somebody.

Through the chair.

Um, who, who's speaking? This is Commissioner Nanalo.

Oh, please go ahead.

Oh, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all. I've loved being on this commission, and it's been a really wonderful learning experience, and I'm so sorry I couldn't be there tonight, but thank you for allowing me to be part of this with all of you.

Thank you.

Okay, I believe this concludes, um, UDC's business for this evening. Uh, could I please get a motion to adjourn?

It's been moved by Commissioner Lennig and seconded by Commissioner Collis. Are there any objections?

Hearing none, the meeting is adjourned at 7:34 PM.

Thank you.

I finally cracked the gavel. Awesome. Thank you all so much. Good night. Good night.