After public testimony on Tuesday that went both ways, the Anchorage Assembly voted to take apart the single-family zoning in Anchorage neighborhoods.
The change to the Title 21 zoning that makes all single-family zones subject to duplexes exempts Eagle River, Chugiak, or Girdwood. But for all other neighborhoods, the housing can double.
The vote was split, 7-5 on the HOME Initiative.
Voting in favor was Anna Brawley, Daniel Volland, Chris Constant, Meg Zaletel, Felix Rivera, Karen Bronga, and Kameron Perez-Verdia. Voting no was Mark Littlefield, George Martinez, Scott Meyers, Zac Johnson, and Randy Sulte.
The final version voted on was a compromise after an earlier version made a free-for-all zoning plan or all residential zones. The Assembly majority believes this new plan will alleviate the housing shortage in Anchorage.
An amendment approved srequire administrative site plan review for two-family construction in the R-10 Zone, a zone intended for areas with environmental factors including slopes, alpine, forest vegetation, and geologic hazards.
Critics raised concerns about how parking and snow storage will be handled, with neighborhoods already unable to cope with heavy snows in Anchorage.
