ITEM TITLE:
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Approval of Amendment to Temporary Land Use Permit 26-03 for Chugach Outfitters, LLC for an up to 25-acre portion of City of Valdez owned land at the Valdez Pipe Yard (USS 439) for up to 90 days from May-September 2026 with conditions.
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SUBMITTED BY: Kate Huber, Community Development Director
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: n/a
Unencumbered Balance: n/a
Funding Source: n/a
RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve the amendment of Temporary Land Use Permit 26-03 for Chugach Outfitters, LLC for an up to 25-acre portion of City of Valdez owned land at the Valdez Pipe Yard (USS 439) for up to 90 days from May-September 2026 with conditions.
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SUMMARY STATEMENT:
On January 28th, 2026 the Planning & Zoning Commission voted to approve a temporary land use permit for Chugach Outfitters to operate dog mushing tours at Gold Fields and on Walter Day Memorial Road.
Since that approval, Community Development Staff have been working with the applicant to meet the required conditions but have not fully executed the temporary land use permit itself. The final issues preventing issuance have been resolved, however upon touring the site last week, Mr. Fowler of Chugach Outfitters has determined that the conditions of Walter Day Memorial Road are not suitable for offering a positive guest experience for dog mushing tours. Due to the current conditions, as well as concerns raised by the commission, public, and city staff regarding potential conflicts with other users of the area and bears, Mr. Fowler has requested that the commission consider an alternative location for his summer tours.
The request before the commission is to approve an amendment of the original TLUP request which will override the previous approval. This request is for a temporary summer location for Chugach Outfitters tour operations while the applicant and city staff reevaluate the other possible locations for summer and/or winter operations.
The new proposed location at Valdez Pipe ...
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