Planning & Zoning Commission

The Planning and Zoning Commission is a nine-member board appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Assembly. The Commission prepares and recommends to the Assembly policies, plans, and ordinances relating to land use planning within the Municipality.

In most cases the Commission first holds a public hearing before recommendations are finalized. This Commission, staffed by the Planning Department, generally meets the first and second Mondays of each month in the Assembly Chambers in the Loussac Library (see calendar).

Duties of the Planning and Zoning Commission:
  • Develop, review, and recommend policies, plans, and ordinances to the Assembly, to implement the Municipal function of planning for the economic, social, and land use needs of the community
  • Develop and recommend to the Assembly a Comprehensive Plan and its elements
  • Review and recommend to the Assembly requests for changing any regulation in Title 21 (Land Use Regulations) except those concerning subdivisions (which are the responsibility of the Platting Board)
  • Review and recommend to the Assembly requests for changing a zoning district
  • Review and decide all conditional uses
  • Review and recommend to the Assembly and the School Board the annual capital improvement program and operating budget proposals of the Municipality and the Anchorage School District
  • Review and recommend to the Assembly the location of public streets (collector or greater capacity), dedicated parks (greater than 1 1/2 acres), and public facilities (more than 4,000 sq. ft.)
  • Investigate and report to the Assembly regarding location, design, demolition, or disposal of any public building, facility, major road, park, greenbelt or playground
  • Review and recommend transportation planning documents and road designs to the Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS) and the Assembly
  • Review and recommend to the Mayor the annual work program of the Planning Department.