Cordova: Planning Commission Regular Meeting on Tuesday, September 08, 2026, at 6:30 pm

Okey dokey, let's call the Planning Commission regular meeting, uh, to order Tuesday, September 8th. At 6:30, we'll start with roll call. Tanya Harrison? Here. Mark Halter?

Sarah Tremblay is absent. Chris Rainey? Here. Gail Pootie is absent. Sean Donadel?

Here. Christian Ohm? Here. That's a quorum. Okay, do we have approval of the agenda?

Madam Chair, I move to approve the agenda. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Aye.

Aye. Hearing no opposed, the agenda is approved. Okay, approval of the consent calendar. Record excused absence of Shania Harrison from the special meeting on Monday, July 27th, 2026. Madam Chair, I move to agree to consent calendar.

All those in favor? Aye.

Aye. Aye.

Aye. Okay, motion, consent calendar is approved. Are there any disclosures, conflicts of interest, or ex parte communications? Meyer? I was walking down the hill 2 weeks ago, I ran into the neighbor just to the east of him, and we talked for a bit about him putting in the sewer in that driveway that he's sharing.

So I do have some foreknowledge of it, but I didn't know it predated this. So I was told, hey, let you guys know. Ask him, you talk about that, huh? I assume you're talking about finance.

Whichever the one of— yes, on Davis. Yeah, yeah.

Okay, um, any other disclosures, conflicts of interest, participation conditions? Regarding agenda items. Okay, doesn't look like we have any correspondence, um, any guest speakers, audience comments regarding agenda items. So this is an opportunity where the audience can comment on agenda items. Um, there's also an opportunity for audience comments at the end, but if you want to tell us anything this is your opportunity to come forward and talk to us.

We're not really asking you questions, but this is your opportunity for us. Yeah, I would like to. Okay, if you want to—. Yeah, if you want to just come up here and say your name and your address. Cool.

And it's helpful to use microphones so that folks online can hear. Okay, my name is Michael Shum and I go by Van. Um, but yeah, I own the new build at 305 Davis Avenue, which— and I'm the one who put in for this proposal for the bid for the lot for disposal through the City of Cordova. And I guess I would really like to just, you know, point out a couple of things. Hopefully we're all familiar with where this is on the hillside there.

And I think we all know that the hillside and just how steep it is makes for building in general very difficult. And for just how the old original townsite of Cordova is set up, I'm not quite sure where any access into those lots of disposal would come from, except for through my property. And my neighbor, Bod Moore, as well, where we have an easement together. So it just kind of makes sense to me that, um, that, that block, it's only one lot, would be completed and, um, would just be absorbed, I guess, into my property to avoid any, like, awkward building between two parcels in the future. And, um, I I know that it's a point to the, uh, committee or the planning committee for development, and, um, I've, I've shown development with my, um, my home, uh, on Lot 3.

And I can't— I'm not going to, you know, I, I don't know exactly how this process works, but I, I'm not saying that I'm going to build anything on this lot. I would just, uh, like it to complete my property. It would allow me to have a little bit more space, and then maybe in time if there was a need. But honestly, it's a very, uh, natural hillside of Cordova in town, and if you ask anyone, they have memories of going through hikes, and there are even wild game and birds that all live in the forest there. And my goal would actually be to encourage those things, encourage bird habitats, selectively cut trees, and not develop.

So I just want to be truthful with that. And if that's an issue, then maybe I'm not— maybe I won't be awarded the bid. But that's my intention with the property is to to, um, just kind of preserve it more than anything because it's a— it's part of this, the history of the town. And yeah, so I guess that's really all that I have to say, and I appreciate everyone's time as well. Thank you.

Thank you.

As there are no other Anyone online? I should also make sure. Any audience online who would like to comment on any of the items? No, not anyone online. Okay, Planner's report is extensive.

Thank you. Does anyone— do you have anything you wish to add? Okay, there's— Does anyone have any questions for the Planner?

Questions? Okay, very thorough. Thank you. Uh, okay, looks like we don't have any unfinished business, so we're moving on to new business. Um, land disposal letter of interest for Lot 1, Block 26, original town site, on page 5.

Madam Chair, yes, I move to recommend the City Council dispose of Lot 1, Block 26, original town site, approximately 6,740 square feet in size, as outlined in COB Municipal Code 7.40.060.

Um, I don't like doing this, but, uh Request sealed bid proposals. Second. Is that number 4? Yes. Okay, um, Vice Chair Howell, would you like to speak to your motion?

Um, mostly going to proposals because that's what the city's— the city council generally likes to see, um, unless there's some extenuating circumstances to make it somewhere Um, I don't see this one getting many offers because it's been on there for at least 7 years that I know of, if not longer. Um, but, um, like he was pointing out, the only access is through his easement that crosses Bud's property next door to him, and it would allow you to put a driveway across the front of your house into that area and possibly put additional parking, if nothing else, up there. Um, but that's the only way you're going to get to that lot. I've looked at that lot for years personally, and I can't figure out how to develop it. So, um, I think getting it on the tax rolls about the only thing we can do with this one.

Anything else? No. Okay, Commissioner, would you like to speak to your second? Yeah, no, I think that, uh, uh, if the applicant thinks that, uh, he can get utility out of the property, then, uh, it's been on record as, uh, saleable property for a long time at this point. Um, hasn't been any interest.

It would be a very difficult property to build on. Um, so yeah, I think, uh, if it's getting utility and if it's on the tax rolls, that is in the city's best interest. Any other commissioner comments? Commissioner Woody? Oh, I'm supportive.

Yes, I was thinking we could just sell it, but if we do sealed bids, then we don't have any questions later if he decides to Put a bird habitat in, or parking, I guess. Is that the main reason to go to proposals? Is it gives public notice, and it's just this— the city got in trouble years ago, and they didn't do it, and there wasn't a good reason not to. And so this gives other people a chance to say, hey, wait a minute, I want— well, I can do this and they can do it. It's been there.

I wouldn't expect to get more than one proposal. I'm not even sure if he wants to write a big long proposal.

No. Mr. O— is that— I want to make sure I pronounce your name right. Yes, right. Yeah, I concur with what has been said. Uh, I don't think, uh, building of a— from another third party would be, uh, super feasible Um, I do agree that it could just be directly sold to him, but for sanctity's sake and what has happened in the past, I see no reason not to just go sealed bids.

Pleasure.

Yeah, um, I, I think that, I mean, I think Mark kind of laid it out that it needs to go to sealed proposal. So, um, Yeah, I think that we're making the right choice.

Okay, I concur. I am generally in favor of development again, but tax on property is better than no tax at all. And if it goes to proposals, if someone has some magical ideas, they can put in a proposal. Any further discussion?

Hearing none, all those in favor of, um, the motion to dispose of Lot 1, Block 26, um, original town site by Option 4, sealed proposals, lease or purchase the property, signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye.

Any opposed? Hearing none, motion passed.

Uh, moving on. Letter of interest for a portion of ATS 220, page 16.

Madam Chair? Yes? I move to recommend the city council dispose of the requested portion of ATS 2020, approximately 1,116.2 square feet in size, is outlined in Municipal Code 7.40.060.

And this one I'm going to go with, uh, negotiate an agreement with the party who submitted the letter of interest. Did—. Sorry, did you mean ATS 220? Yes. Did I do that wrong?

You said ATS 2020. Double checking. Thank you. I saw an extra zero. Sorry, I don't have—.

I heard what I was reading. Ah, okay. Uh, Vice Chair Hall, would you like to speak to your motion? The only reason why is because of the location of this, the size of this, and it's the only applicable piece because it's too— it's a substandard lot size, can't be used. And the only person that can use it would be the applicant.

Anybody else would be just there to annoy the applicant, you know, to just block that, and that's all it would do. So I don't see any reason to go through proposals. Um, somebody really objects, they can do so to the city council. And this go— because these will both go to the city council, we just do a recommendation. So that one should be a lot simpler.

Yeah, uh, I would like to, uh, um, affirm with staff that, uh, it does— it is currently not serving a, uh, use with the city, right? It— yeah, it's just tidelands. I believe that the applicant has storage on there already. So that's— and it's not even really tidelands. It's kind of like more or less filled tidelands.

So it's between Baja Taco and the backsides of those houses there. Yeah, I also saw a store out in the past, so I was wondering if that was city equipment that was back there. I don't believe so.

Yeah, so I would, uh, uh, disagree with Commissioner Hall on the point that there is no other applicant that could find use of property. Uh, it could conceivably be purchased as like a dedicated storage lot. Um, certainly I don't think it is an ideal side for that, but I do wonder if we should go with option 4 for that reason.

But again, I don't really see that as a likely outcome, but just for the sake of dotting all our i's, crossing all of our t's.

Any other thoughts? That's all my thoughts. Other commissioner comments?

So on the—. I guess you want to sell the motion as it is currently, negotiate an agreement? I like selling this little chunk to the owner of property next door to it. It makes sense. It increases the value and use of our property owners, and that increases our viability and taxability over long term.

I think selling that, although, you know, the idea of having a little piece of property and turning it into something, it's good, but my thought is it's more valuable to us in the long term as a community to not be parting out every little piece of property in odd shapes in front of other ones.

So I'm in person negotiating this, you know. Maybe we could share it between two. Okay.

Any other comments? I'm in concurrence with Option 1. I'm inclined to disagree with Commissioner Ervin.

I feel with the existence of storage that may or may not already be used by the property owner next to it, I think the public opinion of that lot is the assumption that it is owned already. I struggle to see it being sought after very, very hard by other members of the public.

I think it makes sense to negotiate, negotiate an agreement with the party that submitted the letter of interest. Um, I think it's in a increase the value of their property and give them access to the other side of their lot that they currently have limited access to. So, um, yeah, I think it makes sense.

I would tend to concur. Um, I guess my only question was, if people say that there's already stuff being stored on the property, is that The applicant's, or is that someone else's? I mean, I, I don't know, so I'm not sure. I drove past there and I saw it. So I'm, I'm not exactly sure.

I guess we will come down to that after we make some kind of recommendation to City Council. We find out what City Council wants to do and kind of go from, from there. Because if it is the applicant's and they do decide to directly negotiate with them, then it's there already, I guess. Or, you know, we can find out if that's something that we need to, to speak with one of the neighbors about removing their items, or exactly where the property line lays. So yeah, I mean, in my I guess that would be the only reason that I could think of that other than that, I think going to direct negotiation makes the most sense, especially for such a small piece.

Um, but the fact that there be on it just made me wonder whose that might be. Um, but if someone has an issue with it, they would come to council. Well, also, maybe the property line is just on the other side of those items that are stored because it is such a small portion of the lot. Yeah, it might be right in front of that. That's the city-owned portion.

Yeah. So, okay, all those in favor of the motion with Option 1, signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.

Any opposed? Hearing none, motion passes.

Okay, Resolution 2-26, 2026 Capital Improvement Projects List, page 22. Madam Chair? Yes? Uh, I move to approve Resolution 02-26. Second.

Okay, Commissioner Rainey, would you like to speak to your motion? Um, yeah, I think that, uh, this list is still, uh, up to date. Um, yeah, and if we have any discussion about it, like to hear, but I think it's it. Vice Chair Hall, your second? Been doing this for 7 years, so changes but not that much.

Some of these items have been on most of that time.

Any other commissioner comments on the, uh, CIP list?

Say it in a club question. I'm just going to first see if there's any discussion first. Any, any other comments? No.

Commissioner Dale, any comments?

No.

Okay, so all those in favor of approving Resolution 2-26, signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed?

Hearing none, resolution is approved. Uh, okay, nomination of Planning Commission member for the Historic Preservation Commission, page 29.

Okay, so nominations.

Are now in order for the Office of Planning Commission member to serve on Historic Preservation Commission. You are on it currently, right? Uh, Chris Bullen is on. Chris Bullen. That's why we need to do this again.

Okay, he was, he was on it prior. I was on it and I call not it.

Got a new guy. Are you interested?

Uh, at the current moment, no, I'm not.

Are you interested?

Um, let's see. Richard D'Nailo.

I don't have a strong interest.

Are you strongly opposed?

Is there a way that we could play a game and someone who comes up with the short end of the stick gets the appointment?

Um, if, um, Commissioner Hall is willing—. Do you—. Are you willing to be nominated? I'm willing to be nominated.

Okay, Madam Chair. Yes, I would like to nominate Commissioner Hall.

I'll be a second for that.

I'll second. Okay. Um, close the nominations. Does anyone else have any other nominations?

Hearing none, nominations are closed. We have one nominee. All those in—. Where is the roll call? It's a roll call.

Okay, if there's no one on vacation, then Uh, a voice vote is recommended if there's only one, so we can just do voice vote. So, um, all those in favor of Commissioner Hall as our, um, Historic Preservation Commission member, signify by saying aye. Aye.

Any opposed? Hearing none, congratulations and thank you very much.

Take your time. You'll find out shortly. Made in short, we're going to make you do a long time before you meet again. Okay, um, let's see. City of Cordova 2026 Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan, page 35.

After? Yes. Uh, I move to recommend the City of Cordova 2026 streets, safe streets for all safety action plan be finalized, but no additional comments from the safety, from the Planning Commission. Okay, Mr. Rainey, would you like to speak to your motion? Yeah, no, we've discussed this fairly extensively the last few meetings, and yeah, I think that it is a good document.

It's fine. Commissioner Moody? Yeah, nice planning, nice setup, and it's just time to keep it alive and keep moving.

Any other commissioner comments?

Commissioner Mayo, any comments? Nope. Okay, same. I'm, uh, happy to see this moving forward. And all those in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed? Hearing none, motion passes.

Okay, are there any audience comments? No. Okay, um, let's Questions, comments? Going around the room, we'll start with Patricia. Hi.

Sorry for being 4 minutes late. I went to the Science Center talk. Little young lady talking about the Neanderthals and their art.

And I bet you needed 10 minutes to get back here, but I had people in front of me. Sorry.

We're glad you could make it.

Commissioner Holt. Welcome first, and thank you for volunteering for this duty. And thank you to Amanda for what she does. Thanks to the rest of us for doing what we do. Commissioner Reed.

Yeah, I'd like to welcome Commissioner Holt as well. And once again, thank Commissioner Arroll for taking the seat on the Historic Preservation Committee.

Commissioner Arroll? I'd just like to thank you all for allowing me to be a part of this. I'm very excited.

Thanks for pulling out that sword.

Commissioner Donato?

Uh, thank you, Mr. Hall, Commissioner Hall, for volunteering to be on the Historical Society Committee. And thank you, Amanda, for another, uh, well, thorough put-together agenda. And, uh, I enjoyed this one. It was, uh, I actually, I learned that Van's name is Michael. I I did not know that, so that was fun.

Okay, likewise, welcome. Always good to have new faces around the table. And thank you, Amanda. Thank you, Commissioner Hall, for taking on Historic Preservation Commission. And unless there's anything further Madam Chair, I move to adjourn.

Second. Okay, we are adjourned at 6:58.