ITEM TITLE:
Public Hearing for Variance 24-03 - A Request from Alaska Guide Company, Inc. request to allow construction of a sign advertising Alaska Guide Company’s business within the required front yard setback and which exceeds the maximum sign area allowable in Title 17 at Tract C USS 439 (115 Glacier Haul Road) owned by the City of Valdez
SUBMITTED BY: Nicole Chase, Planner
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
N/A - public hearing only.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The purpose of this hearing is to allow the public to comment on the application submitted by Alaska Guide Company, Inc. to allow construction of a sign advertising Alaska Guide Company’s business within the required front yard setback and which exceeds the maximum sign area allowable in Title 17. The subject property is 115 Glacier Haul Road, Tract C USS 439. The applicant is Alaska Guide Company, Inc. and the property owner is the City of Valdez. Alaska Guide Company leases the property for a commercial recreation guiding business.
The proposed sign would encroach 12’ within the required 20’ front-yard setback off the Richardson Highway. Additionally, the maximum allowable sign area for per VMC 17.96.040 (C) (1) is as follows:
For nonresidential or dwelling uses, the following type and size of signs are permitted:
If there is one business establishment in a building, that business may have three signs, with a maximum total area per sign of three-square feet for every lineal foot of primary building facade. Each business is allowed only one freestanding sign.
The primary structure that is currently permitted on the property is a 8’ x 10’ utility shed, which allows for a maximum sign area of 30 square feet per sign. The proposed two signs are approximately 16 square feet and 62 square feet in size.
The request from the applicant is for a 12’ encroachment into the required 20’ front yard setback for the proposed sign, and for a 32 square foot variance to the maximum allowable sign area.
Applicant: Alaska Guide Company
Property Owner: City of Valdez
Street Address: 115 Glacier Haul Road
Legal Description: Tract C USS 439 (plat 2022-5)
Zoning District: Light Industrial (LI)
Existing Land Use: Commercial recreation guiding business
Access: Glacier Haul Road
Property Size: 260,358 (plat 2022-5)
Adjacent Land Use: Vacant public lands
Notice of the meeting was published in the Copper River Record on September 12 and September 19, 2024, in accordance with VMC 17.12.160. Notice of the hearing was also published in KVAK’s e-blast newspaper on September 9, 2024, and September 16, 2024, in accordance with VMC 17.12.160. Notice of the meeting was also posted on the City of Valdez website on September 6, 2024, in accordance with VMC 17.12.160. Notice of the hearing was mailed on September 6, 2024, to the 2 property owners within 300 feet of the subject property, in accordance with VMC 17.12.160.