Daily Sitka Sentinel

Front Yard Stands For Local Produce Approved

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The Sitka Planning Commission approved a process Tuesday that will allow home gardeners to sell their produce at garden stands in Residential and Islands zones.
    The commission voted 3-0 to recommend Assembly approval of a zoning text change that would create an expedited review and permitting process for those living in Residential and Islands zoned neighborhoods to sell produce on their property.
    If the Assembly approves the zoning text changes, the Planning Commission will be able to issue permits, and a conditional use permit that requires Assembly approval won’t be needed.
    Lisa Sadleir-Hart and Tom Hart brought up the proposal in August, asking the commission to consider changing commercial home horticulture from a conditional use in Residential and Island zones to a permitted use. The Harts have a large vegetable garden and greenhouse in a residential zone, and asked for the changes to allow this limited activity without a conditional use permit.
    The item has been on the commission’s agenda several times since then. In the end, members agreed to recommend revising other zoning code sections to facilitate this activity. That included sections on special use permits, retail and business uses, and commercial home horticulture.
    “The current proposal is in lieu of making the use a permitted use in these districts,” the planning office wrote in the Planning Commission packet. “The proposal represents a consensus developed between the planning commission, Lisa Sadleir-Hart and Thomas Hart.”
    The current zoning code for home horticulture is written to allow You-Pick gardens, but doesn’t address garden stands.
    The commission proposed a number of rules and criteria in the review process for garden stands, including the size of the stand, hours of operation, and months of operation. The panel will review the proposed operation plan for each stand, as well as possible impacts on neighbors, and buffers if needed.
    Sadleir-Hart said today she was pleased by the commission’s decision, as well as with the process.
    “I believe the public collaborative process works – it was good being able to work with the commission to make adjustments they were concerned about,” she said. “It will move us closer in terms of increasing the presence of locally produced food in our community. It will give Sitkans an opportunity to sell their produce to their neighbors, and benefit their pocketbooks as well.”
    The commission may issue variances and minor subdivisions without Assembly approval, but zoning text changes, major subdivisions and conditional use permits need the Assembly’s OK. The new process will allow the commission to grant a special use permit, although appeals will still go through the Assembly.
    “This is a first for Sitka,” Planning Director Wells Williams said today. “This type of trend toward administrative reviews and Planning Commission reviews is more common in the lower 48, but this is new for us.”
    Prior to the vote, commission members did not comment on the proposal, which has been reviewed and debated over the past few months. Commission members present, Chris Spivey, Debra Pohlman and Darrell Windsor, voted in favor.
    The fact findings, also approved, said that the process will fulfill a community need, and is consistent with the comprehensive plan.
    In other business, the commission approved a variance for Stewart Pook at 104 Kelly St., to increase the allowable fence height from 8 feet to 10 feet. Pook said he plans to build the tall wooden fence between his property and the neighbor’s.
    It was Williams’ last meeting before he retires next week. He thanked the commission members for their service.