ITEM TITLE:
Approval of Temporary Land Use Permit 26-03 for Chugach Outfitters, LLC for an Approximately 5,000 Square Foot Portion of Tract D ASLS 79-116 (Gold Fields) and Walter Day Memorial Road
SUBMITTED BY: Nicole Chase, Senior Planner
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve temporary land use permit 26-03 for Chugach Outfitters, LLC for an approximately 5,000 square foot portion of Tract D ASLS 79-116 (Gold Fields) and Walter Day Memorial Road with conditions
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Community Development staff received a temporary land use permit application for Chugach Outfitters, LLC for an approximately 5,000 square foot portion of Tract D ASLS 79-116 (Gold Fields), 3100 Richardson Hwy for a commercial recreation dog sledding (see attached application and narrative). Chugach Outfitters, LLC wants to run a commercial dog sledding operation intermittently with client parking and staging at the Gold Fields, and taking clients down the Walter Day Memorial Road via dog sled in winter, or dog sledding cart in summer (see attached narrative).
Staff worked with the applicant, Chugach Outfitters, LLC, Animal Control, and the Parks and Recreation Department to determine the proposed temporary land use permit location and conditions to allow for this requested use while factoring in the existing uses and potentially competing uses of the area.
Staff recommends approval of temporary land use permit 26-03 with the following conditions:
- Vaccine records (parvo distemper and rabies) for the dogs are required
- Applicant must meet with Animal Control Officer prior to the permit commencement to discuss animal control ordinance and required safety measures
- Dogs must have a place to get out of the weather in between sled rides
- Winter hours of operation are limited to 10am-6pm, summer hours of operation are limited to 8am-4pm on permit days
- A minimum of 2 signs must be posted at the entrance to the Goldfields by the applicant alerting the public that a dog sled is operating in the area on the days of operation
- Remove the Mayor’s Cup dates from the permit approval (no use of the area by Chugach Outfitters authorized March 20th- March 22nd
- The Gold Fields facility and Walter Day Memorial Road will be closed to off-leash animals during the permitted operations.
If approved, the applicant will be required to submit documentation of the conditions above, as well as demonstrate adequate liability insurance and participant waivers for legal review.
Community Development will work with the Communications Department and Animal Control to do public outreach about the dog sledding activity in the area. The Animal Control Officer has agreed to patrol in the area during the permit dates and hours of operation.
Per Valdez Municipal Code 17.12.120 (F) (2) , temporary land use permits greater than ten days in duration and not to exceed six months may be granted by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Fees for temporary land use permits of this type were established by City Council with Resolution #23-43 and will be $11.00 per day.
Pursuant to Valdez Municipal Code 17.12.120 (G) Approval Criteria, staff review of the proposed temporary use request found that all 10 approval criteria were satisfied.
Per VMC 17.12.120 (I) (5), if temporary land use permit 26-03 is approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission, the decision will be reported to City Council.