Wasilla: Planning Commission Regular - 27 Oct 2026

All right, we ready? The October 27th, 2026 regular Planning Commission meeting is called to order. The time is 6:00 PM. Before we begin, commissioners, please put away cell phones. If you have personal business during the meeting, please move for a recess.

If you're participating telephonically, please mute your phone unless you are speaking. Also, when speaking, please state your name for those streaming the meeting. As a reminder to attendees, the meeting is being streamed live. The camera is located in the back of the council chambers above the clock. Will the planning clerk please call the roll?

Thank you, Commissioner Seals. Commissioner Stafford? Here. Commissioner Brown? Here.

Commissioner DeYoung? Here. Commissioner Langell? Present. Commissioner Seals, you do have a quorum with Commissioners Stafford, Brown, DeYoung in the chambers, as well as Langell participating online.

Thank you. Will the— please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Brown, will you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Yes, sir. My pleasure.

To the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you.

First item of business is approval of the agenda before changes are discussed. Are there conflicts of interest to declare?

Seeing none, are there any changes to the agenda?

Hearing no changes to the agenda, the agenda will stand as presented unless objections is raised.

Next item of— on the agenda is reports. Do we have a report from our planning department clerk?

Uh, thank you, Commissioner Seals. Uh, while there have been a lot of changes in recent, and there are still a lot of unknowns, what I do know is that the Planning Department continues to manage permit reviews, code compliance cases, long-range planning initiatives, and Planning Commission support while maintaining responsive customer service and timely application processing. You do have an October monthly update from Dowell in regards to recent achievements through for our comprehensive plan, and it also has a proposed schedule outlining what to expect the next couple of months leading up to an eventual, uh, final draft of a comprehensive plan that will go before the Planning Commission and City Council. So that is on the agenda. What is not on the agenda and what you have as Uh, as well with your attachments is a letter received from Mr. John Claprick in regards to permitting concerns associated with Last Frontier Brewing expansion.

Um, we received the letter and it has been distributed to the mayor's office, city council, and now the planning commission. Staff is addressing the concerns through the mayor's office, and the mayor will respond directly to Mr. Claprick.

Secondly, so there's 3 items. So, secondly, with your packets is a staff summary report from Miss Stephanie Queen with Resolution 26-12 in support of the Parks and Trails Master Plan rewrite. She's not able to participate in this meeting, so this is her written report. For you to review. And then lastly, uh, including— included in, um, your materials is a copy of a notice of violation and enforcement order, uh, for 115 East Glenwood Avenue.

This notice went out, uh, the day after this agenda packet was published, so it wasn't able to be included in the actual reports, but we wanted to include it in your materials for tonight for information purposes only. It is not up for discussion, um, but it will be, uh, recorded in the reports for the next meeting in November. And that's all I have. Thank you. Are there any questions for me at this time?

No, looks like no questions. Thank you. Do we have a report from our city attorney tonight? Yes, we do. Thank you, Commissioner Seals.

Perfect. As Julia just outlined, there have been a lot of changes, and so with the exception of Resolution 26-12, you might hear me advising tonight to postpone acting on substantive matters until we can talk to the new administration and figure out where we're going. And Holly and I with my law office are working on a calendar to plan your legislation actions and roles according to the code. And this will also include Title 16 updates so that we can keep things on track. And Julia mentioned this about the notice of violation for informational purposes only.

It's not up for discussion. Because the Commission has a role to play in the appeal.

Thank you.

Next on the agenda is public participation.

Public participation is a time for the public to comment on any matter except agenda items that are scheduled for a public legislative or quadjudicial hearing.

We are now at persons to be heard. Time for members of the public to share their views with the Planning Commission. This is not a question and answer period or a time for dialogue. Speakers may be referred to administration, or issues raised may be taken into advisement by the commission or administration. Anyone wishing to step forward may do so at this time.

Seeing no one to step forward, uh, will the— we're going to move to approval of the minutes. Will the planning clerk please read the items under approval of the minutes into the record? Thank you, Commissioner Seals. Uh, we have regular meeting minutes for August 11, 2026, and September 22nd, 2026.

Is there a motion to approve the August 11th and September 22nd, 2026 minutes?

Uh, Commissioner Stafford, I move we accept the minutes as presented. Do I have a second? Commissioner DeYoung second. Commissioner Landell second. Thank you, Commissioner Landell.

It has been moved by Commissioner Stafford and seconded by Commissioner Langell to approve the August 11th and September 22nd, 2026 minutes. Are there objections to the motion?

Hearing none, the motion is approved.

Next on, uh, agenda is Les Legislative recommendations, actions. Will the planning clerk please read the first item under legislative recommendations, actions? Thank you, Commissioner Seals. Uh, this evening we have Resolution Serial Number 26-12, a resolution of the Wasilla Planning Commission supporting the update of the City of Wasilla Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

Um, do you have a report? Uh, what I can share is, uh, I can refer back to the report that was given to us by Stephanie, and I could read the summary statement for the record. Um, at the September 22nd, 2026 regular Planning Commission meeting, the commission received a memorandum from the public works director, which is also included in the packet for tonight, just under communications and for information purposes. Uh, so that memo outlined the public works director's planned updates with the roads and parks and rec master plans and discussed the parks plan update with staff. Commissioner Stafford moved and Commissioner Brown seconded a motion directing staff to prepare a resolution in support of the update.

The motion passed without objection. The attached resolution responds to that direction. Thank you. Now, may I have a motion to approve Resolution Serial Number 26-12?

Mr. Chair, Commissioner Brown, I move For Resolution 2012 of the Wasilla Planning Commission supporting the update of the City of Wasilla Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Thank you. Now, do I have a second? Commissioner DeYoung, second.

Is there any discussion by the commission?

Mr. Chairman, Commissioner Landshild, first request: is the Public Works Department memo part of this, uh, Resolution 2612?

Uh, Commissioner, uh, Planning Clerk through the chair, this memo was in part— it is part of the origin of how this resolution came to be. Yes, and it has been included on the agenda for informational purposes only, but it is not an attachment to the resolution.

Does that clear? Okay, thank you. Commissioner Lanchel with a question. I noticed that at last night's council meeting, the council did approved 2663, the Parks Master Plan, uh, to hire COBIS. Does that affect this resolution?

Planning Clerk through the chair: No.

Does that answer your question, Commissioner Langell? Uh, I believe so.

Thank you. Is there any other discussion by the commission?

With no further discussion, will the planning clerk please call for a roll call vote to approve Resolution Serial Number 26-12? Thank you, Commissioner Seals. Commissioner Stafford? Yes. Commissioner Brown?

Yes. Commissioner Langel? Yes. Commissioner DeYoung? Yes.

Commissioner Seales? Yes. By unanimous vote, Resolution Serial Number 26-12, uh, where is it, Resolution of the Wasilla Planning Commission Supporting the Update of the City of Wasilla Parks and Recreation Master Plan, is approved. Thank you. Next on the agenda is quasi-judicial hearings.

With no items under quasi-judicial hearings, we move on to unfinished business. We are now at unfinished business. With no unfinished business, we move on to communications. We are now at communications. Would the planning clerk please read the items for approval under the communications into the record?

Thank you, Commissioner Seals. We have a memorandum re public works director update on roads master plan and Parks and Trails Master Plan. And then we also have permits and licenses issued September 16th through October 20th, 2026. Code compliance activity from September 16th through October 20th, 2026, and the October 5th and October 19th agenda for the Matsuburo Planning Commission. Thank you very much.

We are now at audience comments, a time for members of the public to share their views with the commission. This is not a question and answer period or a time for dialogue. Speakers may be referred to administration, or issues raised may be taken into advisement by the commission or administration. Is there anyone present who would like to address the commission?

This is Chairman— Commissioner Lanshaw again with another question. Going back to the communications 10.1, the Planning Commission Roads and Parks and Recreation Master Plan plan updates. The reason I asked the question earlier, was it part of the resolution? Because in the Public Works Director memo, the last sentence states that he would appreciate the Commission's feedback on how it would like to formally be involved in each master plan process. In particular, please let me know when the Commission review or discussion would be most useful as the plan develops.

Shouldn't the Planning Commission be looking at this and making that determination?

Commissioner Seals.

Uh, City Attorney. Commissioner Langeau, we have two options under the memorandum from the Public Works Director. Tonight, each commission member can tell us what they would like to see, and then we can talk to the new administration and bring that information to them, or we can plan a work session in the future to discuss what the commission would like to see in the future.

Commissioner Landschul here. I would really like to see that work session. Or at least a discussion. I was very pleased to see this from the Public Works Director. It's needed very much so, and I think it's the Planning Commission's opportunity to avail ourselves of this opportunity to do so.

I appreciate your comments, and I think at this conjuncture, we're with things the way they are, we can possibly schedule a work session or a discussion at our next regular meeting. That would be good. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Commissioner Brown. Then with that, I move that the commission direct the planning clerk to get with the administration and plan for a meeting at their most earliest convenience.

I would second that. Commissioner Landschulz, is there any discussion? I think it should be more of a work session, but whatever. Did I not say work session? You did not.

That's what I meant. Okay, I'm sorry. So I would simply friendly amend that, uh Approved. Planning clerk, through the chair, can I just reclarify the motion so I have it under— I have it clear for in writing? So the motion is to direct the planning clerk to work with the administration on scheduling a work session at the most—.

With the things that's going on, at the most at their convenience. And this is in regards to the roads plan and the parks and rec master plan? Yes. Refer to memo that they put out. Okay, so the motion is to direct the planning clerk to, uh, work with the administration on a work session for the roads and parks and rec master plan at our— their earliest convenience.

Yes. Okay, Langell. Commissioner Langell, go ahead. Commissioner Langell second.

Is there any further discussion? One thing I would like to point out, at last night's council meeting, they did approve this contract, uh, and so it is set up and it's already got Task 1, 2, and 3 as part of the contract. So I think that needs to be, uh, considered as we schedule this work session.

Okay, I don't see a problem in that.

Do you? Okay, thank you. Thank you. Do you have that written down? Do you need any clarification on that?

I believe I have it clear. Thank you, Crystal.

Oh.

Is there any further discussion? Call for the vote, Mr. Chair. Yeah, let's, let's do a roll call vote on this.

Commissioner Stafford? Yes. Commissioner Brown? Yes. Commissioner DeYoung?

Yes. Commissioner Langell? Yes. Commissioner Seals? Yes.

By a unanimous vote, the motion to direct the planning clerk to work with the administration on scheduling a work session for the roads and parks and rec master plan update is approved. Thank you, Commissioner Langell.

Okay, since we have no audience comments, does the planning clerk have any comments this evening? No comments. Does the city attorney have any comments this evening? No comment.

Commissioner Brown, do you have any comments this evening?

Well, I have a comment, but I'm not— Commissioner Brown. Yes, but I'm not for sure the— for this proper night and look for guidance from the city attorney. Is it within our reasonable power to ask for some direction update from the administration since there's been changes. And as of right now, there's no planner in the audience, and our job depends on having a planner and some directions for us to move forward because we cannot sufficiently serve and advise the public without certain things, which is missing right now. Commissioner Seals.

I don't have an update at this time, but as soon as we know, we'll let you know.

Maybe the chairman can ask those questions. Well, I would say, um, for tonight, with things in the flux that they're in this week, um, I expect the administration to, uh, complete all their tasks and so that we have the proper information and the proper representation by the city. And I would expect that that should be done prior to our next meeting. I can't, I can't make that a guarantee to you, but, um, I know that the new administration is working very hard to get all these situations resolved. That's about all I can say tonight.

Yeah, not any reply, but I'm concerned because I'm assuming now the planning clerk is signing off on permits and stuff, and I'm just worried about that coming back as not being legal, having a legal official sign those documents and approving those Permits and requests.

Planning clerk through the chair. Go ahead. I can assure you, Commissioner Brown, that nothing comes out of that office with— that has any risk of legality without going through either a contract planner or our legal counsel. Okay. All right.

Commissioner Langer— Langell, do you have any comments tonight? Well, I would like to add to Commissioner Brown's concern. I guess my question to the city clerk, planning clerk, would be, have you been delegated the authority to sign these documents on behalf of the city planning department? Uh, Commissioner, Planning Clerk through the chair, no, not these, not the resolution, and not— I can't sign off for the minutes. Uh, yeah, so I, I report directly to the mayor at this point in time.

Okay, then I would share Commissioner Brown's concern about the legality of the documents, but That's for the administration to get figured out, or the attorney, through the guidance of the attorney.

Do you have any further comments, Commissioner Langell? Uh, yes, yes. I wanted to thank everyone. I know I've been out for some time. I wish I was over this, but that's what Mother Nature put up for me.

I wanted to thank everybody for the wonderful gifts you sent over to me. I haven't been able to work outside, so the live plant, the flowering plant, is just beautiful in my living room. At least I can see some flower colors. So thank you all, and the gifts were most welcome.

Thank you, Commissioner Langille, and we look forward to having you in our presence at future meetings. Commissioner DeYoung, do you have any comments tonight? No comment. Commissioner Stafford, do you have any comments tonight? I just want to thank the planning clerk.

Transitions are never easy, and so I'm sure you have a tough job right now. Not tough, you have a, you have a job right now. Challenging, that's the word I was looking for. I knew there was something there. And so I just, I want to thank you that you were available to do all this for us today, and, and we just appreciate what you do for this this body.

And, um, yeah, thank you. Uh, no other comments, Mr. Chair. Yeah, Chairman Seales, I have some comments, and I want to ride on Commissioner Stafford's coattails about our planning clerk. Uh, we really appreciate what you do.

We appreciate, uh, what you're going through in this transition period. And if there's anything that I or my fellow commissioners can do, will be more than happy to help you. Thank you for getting Commissioner Langille's gifts together so that we could present them to her. And I also want to ride on Commissioner Brown's coattails tonight. Um, I definitely— I'm looking forward to the new, new administration to supply us with the people that we need.

To move forward for the citizens of the city. That's all I have tonight. With no further business at hand, I'm adjourning the meeting, uh, unless an objection is raised.