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Public Facility Planning
Definition of a Public Facility
A public facility is defined as a building in which government operations or activities occupy more than 4,000 square feet, a park exceeding 1.5 acres, a street of collector or greater capacity, or a snow disposal site.
Role of the P&Z Commission
Municipal land use regulations (Title 21) require that the Planning and Zoning Commission review proposed site selections and site plans for public facilities such as fire stations, schools and libraries. The Commission reviews plans for consistency with the goals, policies and land use designations of the Comprehensive Plan and other municipal plans adopted by the Assembly, as well as conformity with Title 21.
Role of the Physical Planning Division
The Physical Planning Division coordinates the review process, meets with the agency and its design consultants to determine how the project may best conform to code requirements, and prepares the department's recommendation to the Commission.
Site Selections
Physical Planning assists with site selections for a variety of public facilities. In the case of public schools, for instance, the Anchorage School District contracts with the Physical Planning Division to conduct school site selection studies. Once a school site is proposed, planners in the division do a public facility site plan review. Physical Planning prepares the site selection final report for review by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Commission considers the effects of a site proposal on the surrounding area. The type, size, number and location are important factors in the distribution of such facilities in a growing and changing community.
Site Plan Review
The municipal land use regulations require public facility site plan review. Physical Planning staff considers off-site impacts of the facility site plan, pedestrian and vehicular traffic circulation and safety, and efficient public use.
Public Facility Project Landscape Review
Municipal land use regulations require that the Urban Design Commission (UDC) review and make recommendations regarding public facility project landscaping plans.
This includes new construction as well as facility alterations that cost either more than $500,000 or 20 percent of the value of the facility, whichever is less. The UDC review criteria includes cost, feasibility, and planning and design considerations.
Planning and design criteria include an assessment of how the landscaping:
- complements adjacent areas
- enhances on-site use of the facility
- contributes to the visual attractiveness of the project
- integrates the architectural design of the facility.
As with other public facility project reviews, Physical Planning staff coordinate the landscape plan review, meet with the agency and its design consultants to determine how the project may best conform to code requirements, and prepares the department's recommendation to the UDC.
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