From time to time, upon recommendation of the City Council, the Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly shall by ordinance modify, adopt and implement the Seward Comprehensive Plan. The plan is a public declaration of policies reflecting community goals as expressed by citizens, and is meant to guide the actions of elected officials in setting forth the goals, objectives, and policies governing the future development within the City.

(Ord. 626, § 3, 1989)

For the purposes of this title the following documents as initially enacted and thereafter amended are adopted by reference as part of the Seward Comprehensive Plan:

1.

Seward Airport Land Use and Development Plan (Dec. 1985).

2.

Emergency Preparedness Plan (May 1986).

3.

Plan of Action—Seward Fire Department (May 1986).

4.

Seward Small Boat Harbor Uplands Management Plan (Nov. 1983).

5.

Seward Marine Industrial Center Development Plan (Jan. 1995).

6.

Seward Boat Harbor Master Plan (March 1993).

7.

Municipal Lands Management Plan (May 1995).

(Ord. 626, § 3, 1989; Ord. 95-17, § 2)

A part of the comprehensive plan is the development of a land use classification system on which to base zoning and to guide the land use regulation system. Such a classification system should provide a balanced, compatible land use mix, in order to separate incompatible uses and minimize conflict between land uses.

(Ord. 626, § 3, 1989)

A.

Established. The City is hereby divided into land use districts which shall be bounded and defined as shown on the official land use map. This official map, together with all explanatory matter thereon, as exhibited at the time of public hearing, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter.

B.

Definitions—Purpose.

1.

Rural residential district (RR). Intended to provide for stable, quiet, low density (one or two dwelling units per acre) detached single-family residential development, free from other uses except those which are both compatible and convenient to residents of such a district including recreational, religious and educational facilities of an appropriate scale and design complementary to the neighborhood character.

2.

Single-family residential district (R1). Intended to provide for stable and quiet low to medium density (one to five dwelling units per acre) detached, single-family residential development, free from other uses except those which are both compatible and convenient to residents of such a district.

3.

Two-family residential district (R2). Medium density (one to seven dwelling units per acre) transitional housing area with a mix of single and two-family units, free from other uses except those which are both compatible and convenient to residents of such a district.

4.

Multi-family residential district (R3). Intended to provide opportunities for a higher density residential setting with a mix of housing units which are predominately multi-family units close to concentrations of public services, employment and/or recreation. This district may provide a transition between more intensive districts and lower density residential areas if sufficient screening and design features are provided to protect multi-family residences from undesirable effects.

5.

Urban residential district (UR). Intended to allow an area of higher density mixed residential uses from detached single-family housing to multi-family apartments in conjunction with compatible low impact professional office uses in the area surrounding the downtown business district.

6.

Office/residential district (OR). Intended to provide for medium density residential, commercial and office development designed to act as a transition zone between the high density central business district and surrounding medium-high density residential districts.

7.

Harbor commercial district (HC). Provides an area for water-dependent or water-related uses with particular emphasis on transportation, tourist, recreational, commercial or industrial enterprises which derive major economic or social benefit from a harbor location.

8.

Auto commercial district (AC). Intended to provide areas to accommodate highway-oriented commercial activities such as offices, certain institutional uses, and limited personal services and retail uses requiring substantial outdoor activity, traffic and parking, and which also serve the offices and nearby residential areas, and which do not materially detract from nearby residential areas.

9.

Central business district (CBD). Provides for an area of convenient, attractive, concentrated commercial development primarily intended for retail, financial, entertainment and professional services occurring within enclosed structures. Regulations applying to this zone are designed to encourage a compact group of businesses of the type which are mutually beneficial and located close enough together to encourage walk-in trade.

10.

Industrial district (I). Established as a district in which the principal use of land is for business, manufacturing, processing, fabricating, repair, assembly, storage, wholesaling and distributing operations, which may create some nuisance and which are not properly associated nor compatible with residential land uses. It is intended to provide environmental safeguards for people employed in or visiting the district. Some visual amenity is expected in this district to make it compatible with adjoining residential or business districts.

11.

Institutional district (INS). Public and private educational, administrative, government and health care uses, including public land reserve for future public development. The development standards are intended to set a high standard to assure that the activities provide visual amenity to the surrounding area.

12.

Parks district (P). Is intended to designate park, recreation and commemorative property owned by the City, state or federal governments for recreation and other compatible public purposes.

13.

Resource management district (RM). Lands which are generally undeveloped and cannot be precisely zoned due to inadequate information on the extension of public services and utilities; the suitability of the land to support commercial, residential, industrial or public uses; and other possible environmental consideration.

(Ord. 626, § 3, 1989: Ord. 649, § 2, 1991)