LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

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28 Mar 2024 14:52

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28 Mar 2024 14:50

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27 Mar 2024 12:26

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Other Articles

Daily Sitka Sentinel

Planning Panel Again Says No to B&B Permit Request

By TOM HESSE
Sentinel Staff Writer
    An ongoing bed and breakfast permit request hit a roadblock Tuesday night when the Planning Commission unanimously recommended denying an application for a conditional use permit to a charter fishing business looking to operate as a bed and breakfast.
    Commissioners spent large parts of the last two meetings discussing the B&B application by Brian Jardine before voting Tuesday night to reject it.
    The commission briefly discussed the issue before going through each individual finding required for a conditional use permit for a bed and breakfast in a Residential zone neighborhood. One issue that was brought up several times was that Jardine was continuing to operate a charter lodge in his home at 105 Shelikoff Way despite lacking the appropriate permits and having been told by City Administrator Mark Gorman to stop.
    “We already have documentation from Mark Gorman that he was to stop,” Commissioner Chris Spivey said, adding that actions showed Jardine was continuing to run his home like a lodge.
    “He is obviously doing this anyway and that is an issue for me.”
    Previously, Gorman and City Attorney Robin Koutchak had expressed concerns about the B&B application, and Koutchak cited potential legal action against the city from neighbors who have objected to the lodge operation. As a matter of procedure, the commission went one at a time through more than a dozen findings required to find in favor of a conditional use permit. In the majority of the findings the commission found the property did not meet the standards for a conditional use permit.
    As a final step the commissioners voted unanimously to recommend denial of the application. It was not the first time that had happened. The Jardines have applied for the same permit twice in the past, only to have it voted down, most recently in 2006.
    Day Care
    The commission held a public hearing on a conditional use permit that would allow for a daycare/kindergarten at 304 Baranof St. across from Baranof Elementary School.
    The applicant, Emily Davis, already has a permit for the same uses at another location in town. The 304 Baranof St. property would serve as a secondary location for Davis’ Pacific Learning Center. In their discussion of the application, commission members expressed concern about potential parking and traffic conflicts around the Baranof Street location, as well as inconsistencies they noted in the application.
    The commission took no action on the request, and the agenda item ended with little direction for action although the issue is scheduled to reappear at the next meeting.
    Home Horticulture
    Commission members and planning department staff began consideration of a zoning text change that would allow residents of areas zoned R-1, R-1 MH, R-2, R-2 MHP, GI and LI to have large gardens and authority to sell excess produce from their home.
    Lisa Sadleir-Hart and Thomas Hart filed the application. The idea is for green-thumbed people in Sitka to be able to sell their produce from a produce stand on their property in Residential zones. Additionally, Planning Director Wells Williams said, it’s a chance to clean up some old code regarding greenhouses.
    Sadleir-Hart said it’s part of an effort to make Sitka more food secure.
    “This is one way to move that further,” Sadleir-Hart said, adding that it will be a challenge to sort out the regulations.
    “This is brand new territory for Sitka.”
    The commission members were generally in favor of the idea, which will come up at future meetings. Commission member Debra Pohlman brought up a number of concerns related to the issue that she said would need to be fleshed out. She was particularly concerned with issues of parking and how to regulate fertilizer use to avoid offensive odors.
    Williams said the planning staff would return to the commission with a “framework” of what the potential change could look like so that commissioners could sort out the specific issues.
    Crescent Harbor Park Playground
    The commissioners unanimously voted in support of expansion and renovation of the Crescent Harbor Park playground located across from the SJ Campus.
    The new plans would replace aging playground equipment and expand the facility into one of the tennis courts located next to the current park.
    The applicant, Kat Turner, said it’s something that has been a goal since the 2011 Sitka Health Summit and it’s also a priority of the City Parks and Rec department.
    “Parks and Rec has been very favorable. It’s been a priority for them,” Turner said.
    The playground would be the first handicap accessible playground in Sitka, and the measure has received support from childcare providers and preschools in town.

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

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