Planning Commission talks stop signs, variances

June’s meeting of the Nome Planning Commission was short and efficient, finishing the two items of business in under 30 minutes. The panel discussed removing stop signs on E. 3rd Ave at two locations and granting a parking variance for the upcoming HomePlate housing complex.

The City of Nome’s Public Works Supervisor Cole Cushman asked the commission to discuss removing four stop signs on E. 3rd Ave. He explained that the four signs, east and west bound signs at both Campbell Way and Carstens Way, had been moved to their current location due to drainage issues which had since been rectified. One is located in such a way that if you stop at it, you’re already in the right of way.

All five of the present commissioners voted yes on the motion to ask the Nome Common Council to remove the stop signs.

The second order of business was a variance application requested by the Nome Community Center for the HomePlate project, a project to create permanent housing and support services for the chronically homeless. The variance was needed because the zoning code requires one parking space per unit of new housing. This project, with 15 efficiencies and one two-bedroom apartment for the building manager, would normally require 16 spaces. Instead, NCC’s Rhonda Schneider explained that they want to use some of that space for basketball hoops, seating, and other outdoor space for the community to congregate. Because the project also includes support services, there will be eight units of parking for staff.

Commissioner John Odden, who was chairing the meeting, noted that as this was housing for the currently homeless, it is understandable that those without vehicles wouldn’t need parking.

As with all variances, the commission went through the eight-point checklist in the City Code to ensure it met the requirements. The checklist ensures that the variance isn’t being requested for cost-cutting, convenience, or inappropriate usage of the space.

All present commissioners voted affirmatively to grant the variance, as it met all eight of the criteria.

The next meeting of the Planning Commission is scheduled for July 12.