Atlin Drive rezoning to come before Assembly again

The two-acre parcel was once owned by the U.S. Forest Service.  It has served as a buffer between busy Mendenhall Loop Road and the Atlin Drive residential area.
The two-acre parcel was once owned by the U.S. Forest Service. It’s been a buffer between busy Mendenhall Loop Road and Atlin Drive residents, who oppose a zone change to light commercial.

The old adage, “the third time’s the charm” didn’t work for Juneau developer Richard Harris, so now he’s working on his fourth attempt to get property he owns on Atlin Drive rezoned.

The Juneau Assembly on Monday afternoon will take up Harris’ appeal of a Planning Commission decision denying a change from residential to light commercial.

The Planning Commission first denied the rezone in 2011, because it doesn’t comport with the city and borough’s comprehensive plan for the area.  Harris appealed to the Assembly and won – temporarily.  The action was rescinded when the city attorney found it was illegal.

In 2012, he received a CBJ Conditional Use Permit to build 22 residential units on the two-acre parcel, with Duck Creek running through it.  Soon after, he asked the city to amend the comprehensive plan for the area, which was rejected.

So Harris went back to the Planning Commission last fall with another request to rezone the parcel to light commercial. Commissioners denied it again, based on the comprehensive plan.  Harris appealed to the Assembly.

The Assembly will hear both sides today at 5 p.m. in Assembly chambers at city hall.

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