Sign on to Protect Homer's Quality of Life as we Grow.

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Homer recently created a Comprehensive Plan with public input on what we want for our community: we identified open spaces, moderate growth, walkability, recreational access, protection from hazards like flooding and landslides, and afforable housing as priorities. These values are essential to a thriving community at the end of the road.

PLEASE SIGN HERE TO SUPPORT CHANGES TO CITY CODE THAT SUPPORT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE!

City Code Should Support: Density & Walkability • Environmental Information to Guide Growth • Creek and Wetland Protections • Large-Scale Development Meets Community Needs.

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Density & Walkability not  Massive Buildings

The City is proposing to change code to allow 30,000 SF buildings - which is about the size of Safeway - without any kind of permit or public comment, anywhere in town. No to this!! Nobody asked for this. People said they wanted moderate development, density and walkability. Huge buildings with huge parking lots are the opposite of that.

Keep the limit of 75,000 sf that was origionally designed to keep box stores out of Homer and keep small and mid-size businesses thriving- the city is proposing to allow these buildings in the in the Light Industrial Mixed Use Zone and in the Gateway Business District. No! We should keep the rule and extend it to include hospitality.

Continue to require a Conditional Use Permit for buildings over 8,000 square ft. This is the status quo, and it should be left in place - the City is proposing to get rid of it, against the recommendations of the public and the Planning Commission. It is good for the Planning Commission to review large buildings to ensure site-suitability, parking, lighting, connectivity, etc. ‍

Require that larger developments create park space and connectivity/walkability with other parts of the city. The public appreciates places where they can walk and see wildlife; parks also raise property values. If developments go in adjacent to trails or bike paths, they should ensure connectivity.

Use Information about our Environment to Guide Development.

Use existing GIS mapping that shows low-, medium- and high-value wetlands, water flow, slope instability, and critical  habitats to guide what kinds of developments go where. This data is on-hand, easy to use, and will improve safety, property values, and quality of life. It will protect folks from the hazards of flooding, septic failure, etc. and it will also ensure that some of our highest-value wetlands (think deep peat) and habitats (think shorebird habitat in Mud Bay) only have low-impact development on them. This doesn't have to be too complicated or expensive. Models for using this type of data to guide development exist in many towns across the USA, including some good examples in Anchorage and across King County, Washington.‍

Focus on Creeks and Wetlands.

Require Clear, Fill and Grade Permits for development in sensitive sites like steeper slopes, high-value wetlands, or areas with large amounts of water moving through them. Mismanaged stormwater is a problem all over Homer and can lead to flooding, ice, clogged drainages, septic system failures, costs associated and more. We have to be careful with cutting and rerounting water in these areas to protect folks downstream. For a good model, take a look at King County, Washington.. ‍

Establish vegetated buffers around creeks and wetlands designated as “medium-” and “high-priority” by the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Mismanaged stormwater is a problem all over Homer that leads to flooding, dangerous roadway icing, clogged drainages, septic system failures, increasing costs and hazards for the city and the public. The EPA has a model ordinance for instituting local buffers. The Kenai Peninsula Borough already has buffers around all anadromous salmon waters; the Bridge Creek Watershed already has buffers around creeks - all of which could be used as models to establish relevant code.

Expand the language describing the kinds of conditions that can be placed on Conditional Use Permits (Homer City Code, 21.71.040) to include measures maintaining riparian waterways, soil stability, woodlands, vegetation, wetland protection, and water quality. These considerations are supported by language throughout the Comprehensive Plan indicating the need to manage hazards associated with stormwater, such as flooding and erosion, and it aligns with the basic legal principle that governments have the power to protect people from harm caused by other people.

Ensure Large Developments Fit Community Needs

Change the definition of who has “Standing” (HCC 21.93.050) to appeal Planning Commission decisions. Should we have a massive prison or data center or Walmart in town? Generally these decisions are up to the Planning Commission. Current code restricts appeals of Planning Commission decisions to people living within 300 ft of a development. We think that people who are impacted by decisions should be able to appeal a decision. If Planning Commission decisions can cause flooding, traffic issues, slope instability, road or property damage that impacts a broader public, people impacted should be able to appeal. People should also be able to appeal when developments are in areas of significant public interest, such as the shorebird habitat along the spit, or if we are talking about a development that would change the character of our town, such as a box store, data center, prison, or cruise ship facility...

Sometimes we need larger buildings, like the high school or hospital. But the permit that allows for these larger buildings, a "Planned Unit Development" permit or PUD, also functions as a loophole that lifts the lid on development guidelines, like height and footprint, anywhere. It opens the door for unequal application of the law, and is vague and confusing. Code should specify that PUDs are only for projects that will benefit the community, like schools, rec. centers, hospitals and essential infrastructure, etc., not eg. very large hotels.